NEW YORK – With the Red Sox far from first place and their chances of reaching the playoffs slim, Manager Bobby Valentine said Saturday that he’s disappointed with his performance.

“I’m not doing a good job. I didn’t get paid to do anything other than get to the playoffs, win a lot of games, be in the thick of things right down to the end, even be in first place,” Valentine said. “The team I’m managing is not there. Simple. So my job has not been a good job, if I had to assess.”

Boston hasn’t been above third place all season. Twenty-six players have gone on the disabled list, the most for any team since at least 1987.

Valentine, who has a contract running through next season, said it’s hard to tell whether the repeated turmoil caused by losing is weighing on the team.

“It’s my first year. Everyone tells me it’s standard operational procedure. Life in the big city or the — it’s not the big city –“

“Province?” a reporter suggested.

“Provincial town,” Valentine said.

Asked how he keeps players’ spirits up, Valentine responded: “Tell a few jokes. We made sure that the eggs were served properly this morning in the breakfast room.”

“These guys are pro guys. They’re supposed to be down. When you lose, you’re not supposed to be happy,” he said. “I don’t want anybody to think it’s a good thing.”

ROCKIES: Colorado placed outfielder Carlos Gonzalez on the bereavement list after the death of his grandfather in Venezuela.

The Rockies recalled outfielder Charlie Blackmon from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take Gonzalez’s spot on the active roster.

Gonzalez was told after Friday’s game of his grandfather’s death. He’ll be eligible to rejoin the team Tuesday in New York. The maximum time allowed on the bereavement list is seven days.

DODGERS: Manager Don Mattingly was suspended for two games, beginning with Saturday night’s game.

Mattingly also was given an undisclosed fine “for excessive arguing” with plate umpire Angel Campos in Thursday’s 10-6 loss at Pittsburgh. Mattingly and outfielder Matt Kemp were ejected in the game.

The suspension was announced by Joe Garagiola Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for Major League Baseball.

CUBS: Chicago recalled left-hander Brooks Raley from Triple-A Iowa to pitch the second game of its day-night doubleheader against Cincinnati.

Raley, 24, was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA for Chicago in his first two career starts after being called up Aug. 7 from Iowa. He was optioned Monday to Iowa after losing 3-0 to Cincinnati in Chicago last Sunday.

The Cubs weren’t required to send anybody out to make room for Raley. Rules allow teams to add a 26th player to their active roster for doubleheaders.

BRAVES: Catcher Brian McCann has a cyst and a frayed labrum in his right shoulder but insists he should be starting.

McCann was visibly upset to be out of Manager Fredi Gonzalez’s lineup Saturday night for the second straight day.

“I’d like to be playing,” McCann said.

REDS: Cincinnati recalled right-hander Todd Redmond, 27, from Triple-A Louisville to pitch the second game of its day-night doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs.

The start was Redmond’s major league debut.