WILPON'S DECREE ENSURES MINAYA, MANUEL BACK IN '10  —  Omar Minaya evidently won't be the scapegoat for the Great Flushing Train Wreck of 2009.  —  HUBBUCH ON TWITTER  —  Mets owner Fred Wilpon broke his extended silence yesterday, just long enough to take one question from The Post …

Rockies to sign Ortiz; Giambi deal close  —  Pact with righty likely official Sunday; slugger would add depth  —  DENVER — The Rockies will announce on Sunday the signing of veteran right-hander Russ Ortiz to a Minor League contract, and they're close to signing slugger Jason Giambi to a Minor League deal …

Burnett, Posada not on the same page  —  BOSTON — The Yankees' renaissance summer might look pretty from afar - and it appears to be collapse-proof in the standings - but here's something to remember as the postseason looms: There's an unmistakable gulf between A.J. Burnett and Jorge Posada …

Unassisted triple play ends Phils' win over Mets  —  Buzz up!  —  NEW YORK (AP)—It happened so fast, Eric Bruntlett  —  needed a few moments before he realized he had just ended a game with an unassisted triple play.  —  Bruntlett became the second player in major league history …

Manager Ozzie Guillen optimistic Jake Peavy will pitch for Chicago White Sox this year  —  CHICAGO — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen remains optimistic that Jake Peavy will pitch again this season, even if he's not relying on the right-hander's return.  —  “I don't count on him,” said Guillen.

In Red Sox' Bullpen, Arms Not Exactly Open  —  BOSTON — Jonathan Papelbon is a superb closer for the Red Sox, but he has moonlighted as a general manager for the past two days.  Papelbon has shown why he is better at firing fastballs than he is at assembling a bullpen.

Dodgers' bullpen sees a role reversal  —  (Jeff Gross / Getty Images / August 22)  —  Jonathan Broxton sets up the save for George Sherrill in victory over Cubs.  —  Eighth inning, Dodgers leading Chicago Cubs by two swings, phone rings in the Dodgers' bullpen for their setup reliever.  —  Hello?

Smoltz dominates Padres in Cardinals debut  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — John Smoltz (FSY) cleared his mind of all the bad things that happened to him with the Boston Red Sox, fixed his delivery and had a brilliant debut with the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Smoltz struck out a season-high nine …

Jimenez … DENVER(AP) Ubaldo Jimenez had to pitch like an ace to beat Tim Lincecum , and that's exactly what he did.  —  Jimenez threw eight strong innings, outdueling Lincecum, and Seth Smith hit a two-run homer in the seventh that carried the Colorado Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 4-2.

Rockies' Gonzalez cuts hand, will miss about a week  —  Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is not in the lineup today and will miss at least a week after accidentally cutting his left hand after last night's game.  —  Seth Smith is starting in his place today in left field.

Jake Fox leads Cubs to 3-1 victory over Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Jake Fox went 4 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday to avoid a four-game sweep.  —  Fox had the first four-hit game of his career …