Manuel: F-Mart can avoid demotion

Jerry Manuel had a brief pregame briefing, considering the previous night's rainout. He even joked that Ed Coleman should just use the unused recording from Wednesday night on the pregame show. The tidbits: • Manuel said Fernando Martinez's performance the next few days will determine whether he sticks when Ryan Church is expected to be activated Sunday. The playing time would be there for Martinez. "I seem to find a way for guys who perform to get into the game," Manuel said. • Gary Sheffield should get a two-day break in a few days with Sunday a matinee in D.C. and Monday a team day off. • There was no thought to skipping Tim Redding , who gets pushed to Friday in D.C. "He needs to get on track at some point," Manuel said. "This is probably a little early to start skipping, flipping at this point." As a result, Johan Santana gets a full week off before facing the Phillies on Tuesday. Manuel recalled Santana doing pretty well with two extra days off the last ... (link)