O's fire Perlozzo … Sam Perlozzo was fired as manager of the Orioles this morning, the club announced at an afternoon news conference.  —  Perlozzo, 56, a Cumberland native who called managing the Orioles his dream job, was removed about 2 1/2 months into his second full season leading the club.

Under The Knife  —  Pray for the Minimum  —  No time for an introduction, but a quick reminder that today is the last day to buy tickets for the BP Event in D.C. It's very close to capacity already, and I hope to see many of you there.  I'll also be at Jamey Newberg's event in Arlington in a couple weeks …

Yankees sign two players from China  —  Greetings from the JetBlue terminal at JFK.  I just got this e-mail from the Yankees ...  YANKEES SIGN TWO PLAYERS FROM PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA  —  The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Kai Liu …

Losses may force Giants into sell-off  —  SABEAN, BONDS WON'T RULE OUT A TRADE  —  BOSTON - The Giants have not been sellers at the July 31 trade deadline during Brian Sabean's decade-long tenure, but with the club 10 games out and firmly in last place in the division …

Hip Hip Jorge  —  Reader DT writes: … This is one I've been meaning to get to for a couple of weeks.  Having started to warm to the idea in my preliminary investigations, I pulled Posada's name out of the air when asked in my recent chat, "Who is one player that you think has turned …

BOMBERS CONSIDER DEAL FOR HILLENBRAND  —  The Yankees have talked to the Angels about Shea Hillenbrand, a right-handed hitting first baseman they were interested in this past offseason when he was a free agent.  —  Hillenbrand's playing time with the Angels has been reduced …

Aching Beltran can see Star trek  —  Carlos Beltran, the NL's leading vote-getter, has no intention of skipping the July 10 All-Star Game in San Francisco, even though he suggested he could use a week off to rest a nagging left quadriceps injury that he indicated was a tear.  —  "Three days?

Millwood, Dunn could be attractive additions  —  Flipping through MLB Extra Innings on Sunday, I stopped on the Rangers-Reds game, bottom of the fifth, Rangers up 6-3.  Three factors made me stop to watch the Reds bat in the bottom of the fifth.  —  First, I wanted to see if the adjustments Kevin Millwood …

Shoulder problem sidelines Schmidt again  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Jason Schmidt is going back on the disabled list because of a right shoulder problem.  —  Schmidt was ineffective Saturday in his third start since missing 45 games because of bursitis in his shoulder, and admitted that something wasn't quite right.

Cubs' Lee, Padres' Young to sit 5 games for fight  —  Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and Padres pitcher Chris Young were suspended five games each and fined undisclosed amounts on Monday for their Saturday fight which set off a a benches-clearing skirmish between the teams at Wrigley Field.

Brewers get back Weeks, demote Gwynn  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rickie Weeks returned from the 15-day disabled list on Monday before the Milwaukee Brewers started a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants.  —  Weeks was hitting .243 with five homers and 16 RBIs as the Brewers' leadoff hitter …

Lo Duca hurt in Subway Series finale  —  Catcher leaves game after getting plunked, likely to miss time  —  NEW YORK — As if June's troubles hadn't already plunged the Mets to a new low — at least the lowest perch any first-place team is likely to see — they added injury to insult …

You Don't Make Friends With Salad And Other Lessons Learned From Injured Athletes  —  Ian Snell will have more time on his hands to kiss random blonds at bars in Seattle since he won't be making his scheduled start Tuesday night.  It's not a sore elbow or tendonitis that will keep Snell from his appointed rounds but a chicken breast.