Joba's job on the line  —  Yankees starting pitcher Joba Chamberlain reacts on the mound after giving up a three-run home run on Sunday in Seattle.  —  “It's time for him to step it up,” the manager said.  “He needs to step it up.”  —  As Girardi spoke in the Yankees' dugout before Monday night's …

Mets' top official for Latin American talent canned  —  Fred Wilpon may have offered a vote of confidence to Omar Minaya, but the GM's inner circle quietly is being dismantled.  —  The Mets have fired Ramon Pena, the organization's top official in charge of signing Latin American talent, the Daily News has learned.

Next season could determine Aramis Ramirez's future with Chicago Cubs  —  He can opt out of last year of contract if he doesn't think club on right track  —  Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez throws out the Brewers' Alcides Escobar during the sixth inning of Tuesday's night's 7-2 victory.

McCann happy for good friend Francoeur  —  Atlanta (81-70) at New York (65-87), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  NEW YORK — It's been more than two months since the Braves traded Jeff Francoeur, and over the course of time, Brian McCann has grown used to seeing his best friend wearing a Mets uniform.

DIVIDED LOYALTIES: WHY ONE SOX OFFICIAL WILL FIND IT HARD TO ROOT AGAINST ZACK GREINKE … digit from 88 to 96 mph on the radar gun with his fastball.  —  But in 2005, Greinke took his lumps.  He went 5-17 with a 5.80 ERA, marks that were puzzling based on his stuff and his feel for the game.

Sluggish offense wastes Laffey's outing  —  Lefty allows just one run; Cabrera's defense shines  —  CLEVELAND — The Indians have found their way back into the American League Central basement.  Getting out is going to require a better effort than the one the Tribe delivered Tuesday night.

On Jackson and tipping pitches  —  One of the things pitching coach Rick Knapp mentioned Sunday that he and bullpen coach Jeff Jones were working on with Edwin Jackson in his morning side session was a quirk that they believed was tipping his slider, letting hitters know it was coming.

Safe at Second, but No Stolen Base to Show for It  —  A player takes an unchallenged lead off first base, dashes to second and makes it safely without a throw.  The runner has advanced but because there was no attempt to thwart him, he does not receive a stolen base.

Bobby Valentine close to making return to TV, nears deal with ESPN  —  It appears that BOBBY Valentine won't be unemployed for long.  —  Television industry and baseball sources say Valentine, completing his final season as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League …

(Excerpts) Interview with Mariners Broadcaster, Dave Sims  —  The following are excerpts from the Dave Sims interview that can be seen here in its entirety on The Biz of Football  —  UPDATE: It was announced Tuesday that Sims will lead the broadcast team for the first season of the United Football League …

Rockies' Cook to start Friday vs. Cardinals  —  Aaron Cook will be rewarded for a month of tireless rehab, starting Friday at Coors Field against the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Cook has been out with a strained right shoulder, but has been making steady progress.

Hernandez, Nationals Are Throttled at Home By Dodgers  —  Livan Hernandez was young once, like his current Washington Nationals rotation-mates, except when he was young, he was on magazine covers.  He was hoisting hardware.  At 22, Hernandez was most valuable player of both the Nationals …

The season pays off for Pettitte  —  Andy Pettitte signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Yankees that — after much negotiation — was laden with incentives.  —  Pettitte was able to earn bonus payments based on how many days he spent on the active roster and how many innings he pitched.

Barmes, Hawpe homer as Rockies win wild one over Padres  —  DENVER (AP) — Brad Hawpe (FSY) homered for the first time since Aug. 29 and the Colorado Rockies beat San Diego 11-10 on Tuesday night despite a rare rough outing from lefty Jorge De La Rosa (FSY) and a four-run ninth-inning rally by the Padres.

Game 152: Yankees at Angels  —  YANKEES (95-56)  —  Pitching: RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0 3.68).  —  ANGELS (90-60)  —  Figgins 3B  —  Izturis 2B  —  Abreu RF  —  Guerrero DH  —  Hunter CF  —  Morales 1B  —  Rivera LF  —  Aybar SS  —  Mathis C  —  Pitching: vs. RHP Ervin Santana (7-8, 5.43).

More On Cardinals Voiding Mateo Deal  —  Wagner Mateo was the crown jewel of the Cardinals' international signing efforts.  The Cardinals celebrated the signing of the 16-year-old outfielder for $3.1 million with a press conference in the Dominican Republic when the international signing period began on July 2.

Rivera apologizes to Scioscia for swagger  —  Slugger shows remorse after gawking at Monday's double  —  ANAHEIM — Angels left fielder Juan Rivera apologized to manager Mike Scioscia for breaking out into a home run trot a little too early during his RBI double in the eighth inning of Monday's 5-2 win over the Yankees.