General Manager Mark Shapiro has no plans to fire Eric Wedge as the Cleveland Indians' manager.

"It would be absurd" to fire Wedge, he said. "He was second in the voting for manager of the year last season. In his first three years, he took a team from 68 to 80 to 93 wins. This has been a horrific, painful year. All of us need to take responsibility and take a close look at what went wrong."

So Wedge will be back next season?

"That's my intention," said Shapiro. "It's too easy to make a manager a scapegoat -- and at the first real sign of adversity, to fire him. We are all accountable, but I also think this season will make us all better."

Shapiro has been impressed that the team has not self-destructed in a season of loss and doubt.

"We haven't had guys criticizing each other in the paper or asking to be traded," he said. "We don't have guys causing problems. Eric deserves some credit for that."

ROUNDUP

YANKS DESIGNATE CROSBY: The Yankees designated outfielder Bubba Crosby for assignment yesterday and recalled right-hander Jose Veras from Triple-A Columbus to give the bullpen another fresh arm. The Yankees had high hopes for Crosby after he made the 2005 Opening Day roster and batted .276 over 76 games. But he was hitting just .207 in 65 games this year. Veras, who never has appeared in a major-league game, was 4-3 with 19 saves in 44 games for the Clippers this year.

CASTRO ON DL: The New York Mets placed reserve catcher Ramon Castro on the disabled list yesterday because of a strained side muscle. Catcher Mike DiFelice was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Castro injured himself during batting practice last weekend at Atlanta.

VERLANDER SIDELINED: Detroit Tigers rookie pitcher Justin Verlander will miss his start tomorrow because of fatigue in his right arm. The right-hander is 14-3 to lead the majors in wins, and his 2.79 E.R.A. is second in the American League. "It's something I think I can pitch through," Verlander said yesterday.

BENSON ON DL: Kris Benson was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by the Baltimore Orioles, who figure the right-hander needs more time to recover from tendinitis in his right elbow.