Sources: Minaya's job isn't so safe  —  WASHINGTON - Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel received votes of confidence from chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon two weeks ago, the GM said Monday night after joining the Mets in Washington to watch their 6-2 victory over the Nationals.

Game 93: Orioles at Yankees  —  YANKEES (55-37)  —  Pitching: RHP Sergio Mitre (4-1, 2.32 in minors).  —  ORIOLES (41-51)  —  Roberts 2B  —  Jones CF  —  Markakis RF  —  Huff 1B  —  Scott DH  —  Mora 3B  —  Reimold LF  —  Wieters C  —  Izturis SS  —  Pitching: LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 6.92).

Under The Knife  —  Toeing the Line  —  I'll be honest—I didn't even notice that Schmidt was going to pitch last night until I was checking out the new features of MLB At Bat* and saw “Dodgers—Schmidt.”  I guess I should have been reading Dodger Thoughts more closely, but yes, Jason Schmidt is back in the rotation.

Wakefield to DL; Buchholz recalled  —  ARLINGTON, Tex. — The Red Sox have placed knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on the disabled list with a lower back strain and recalled righthander Clay Buchholz from Pawtucket.  —  Buchholz is with the club in Arlington and will start tomorrow.

Bad blood spills over in Bucs-Crew tilt  —  Benches clear after Karstens plunked by reliever Smith  —  PITTSBURGH — Brewers pitcher Chris Smith claimed it to be unintentional, but the Pirates saw his plunking of Jeff Karstens with an eighth-inning pitch in Monday's 8-5 Pirates win as anything but.

Next two weeks are critical for Florida Marlins  —  SAN DIEGO — Marlins President Larry Beinfest may be altering his approach after watching his team lose three straight to the Phillies over the weekend.  —  Just a week ago, Beinfest said the Marlins would like to add to the roster as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

Pedro Martinez of Philadelphia Phillies throws 64 pitches in simulated game  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pedro Martinez has taken a “really big step” forward after throwing 64 pitches over four innings in a simulated game.  —  The Philadelphia Phillies' new right-hander faced hitters …

Phillies Have Interest In Nats' Willingham  —  With the trade deadline just ten days away, the clock is ticking for big moves to be made as the season suddenly gets very serious.  The Phillies may have found a solution to their right-handed bat issue just down I-95 in the nation's capital.

Danks (blister) to miss 1 start  —  CHICAGO (AP) — John Danks will miss his scheduled start Wednesday for the Chicago White Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays because of a blister on his left index finger.  —  Carlos Torres will be called up from Triple-A Charlotte and start in his place.

Gaby Sanchez recalled by Marlins  —  Gaby Sanchez, the Marlins prospect who could not hold onto the first base job in spring training, has been called up to fill the roster spot vacated by demoted pitcher Andrew Miller.  He will be available for tonight's game against the Padres.

Trade news: Team unlikely to move Qualls, more  —  DENVER - When Felipe Lopez was speaking with a reporter over the weekend, a teammate interjected.  —  “So Felipe, where you getting traded to?” he asked.  —  For a team well out of contention, talking trade is a popular pastime …

Tuesday Dish: Carlos Torres, Ike Davis Updates  —  Carlos Torres struck out two batters and allowed one hit in his inning of work last Wednesday in the Triple-A all-star game.  It was a fitting stage for the 26-year-old righthander, who seems to have put all the pieces together this season with Charlotte.

All-Star recap and more first-round info  —  Back from the All-Star festivities in St. Louis and I have to say, they did a great job as hosts.  It's hard not to like a town that loves baseball that much.  From our standpoint (our meaning writers/media types), having the game in a more manageable city makes life a lot easier.

Guillen: ‘I suck’ and am 'embarrassed by the money I'm making'  —  When Royals outfielder José Guillen goes off, as he did Monday afternoon, he seldom minces words.  That didn't change simply because he chose to go off on the guy in the mirror.  —  “I hate making excuses,” he said.

Greg Maddux: You Beat Lineups, Not Hitters  —  Greg Maddux beat everything, including Father Time.  Some point to his long tenure in Major League Baseball and say that his lack of velocity helped preserve his pitching arm.  What really helped save his pitching arm was brilliance …