Major League Notebook: September 3

Here is what's happening around baseball on Friday Sept. 3, 2010:

• If the proverbial vote of confidence is seen as a kiss of death to embattled managers and GMs, how should Neal Huntington and John Russell take Pirates president Frank Coonelly's latest expression of frustration with his team? Asked by USA Today about the job security of his manager and GM, Coonelly replied via email with a missive that read in part:

"I have been extremely disappointed in the team's performance. We are evaluating every aspect of our operation in order to determine how we can get the club moving in the right direction immediately.

"While we have made tremendous progress executing a sound plan to overhaul a broken system and return this once-proud franchise to its tradition of winning baseball, we have only one benchmark by which we measure ourselves and that is wins and losses at the Major League level. By that benchmark, we have badly underachieved."

• Rays manager Joe Maddon was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from Lafayette College, on Thursday. Maddon played baseball at the Easton, Pa., school as an undergrad and also quarterbacked the football team there. About 200 people attended the on-campus ceremony Thursday, and a private reception was held in the evening.

• Reliever Chad Durbin, who will be a free agent after the season, "definitely" wants to return to the Phillies, he says. Durbin, 32, is making $2.125 million this season and will be a free agent for the first time this winter.

• Friday's Red Sox-White Sox game was postponed with strong storms from Hurricane Earl expected to hit Boston. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Saturday.

• Phillies minor league pitcher Alvaro Bacil was suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug policy. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League this season and his ban will be effective at the start of next season.

Injury Ward

• Johan Santana on Friday pronounced himself "good" after leaving his Thursday start early because of a strained pectoral muscle. It remains unclear whether Santana will make his next scheduled start, however.

Transaction Wire

• The Twins called up pitchers Matt Fox, Rob Delaney and Alex Burnett from Triple-A. Fox will start Friday night.

• The White Sox activated Matt Thornton from the DL, purchased the contract of infielder Brent Morel from Triple-A and transferred Erick Threets to the 60-day DL.

• The Reds activated Orlando Cabrera from the disabled list and called up pitchers Matt Maloney and Jordan Smith.

• The Phillies activated Ross Gload from the DL and purchased Greg Dobbs' contract from Triple-A.

• The Rangers activated Dustin Nippert from the DL, recalled Taylor Teagarden and purchased Clay Rapada's contract from Triple-A. They also recalled Omar Beltre and put him on the 60-day DL and announced Brandon Boggs had cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A.

• The Giants reinstated Chris Ray from the DL.

• The Cubs called up catcher Welington Castillo.

• The Nationals transferred Josh Willingham to the 60-day DL and activated Garrett Mock from the 60-day and optioned him to Triple-A.