Mattingly steps down as hitting coach  —  Leaves position for family reasons; will remain advisor  —  LOS ANGELES — Don Mattingly, named by the Dodgers as hitting coach two months ago and the presumed eventual replacement for new manager Joe Torre, stepped aside on Tuesday for family reasons …

Bill Conlin: Get the pitch up  —  It would be unwise for Phillies to take Howard to arbitration  —  FOR 2 YEARS NOW, the Rynomiter has blown them all away.  —  A-Rod . . . Big Papi . . . Pujols . . . Teixeira . . . Cabrera . . . Chipper . . . Bad Vlad . . . Mags . . .

Knoblauch subpoenaed by House committee  —  WASHINGTON — Four-time All-Star Chuck Knoblauch was subpoenaed Tuesday by a congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball after he failed to respond to an invitation to give a deposition.  —  Knoblauch, who played for the Yankees …

Chavez signs two-year deal  —  Speedster set to serve as Mets' fourth outfielder in '08  —  NEW YORK — Outfielder Endy Chavez and the New York Mets agreed Tuesday to a $3.85 million, two-year contract.  —  Chavez, who made $1,725,000 last year, gets $1.8 million this season and $2.05 million in 2009.

dungy's return thrills utecht  —  No one was more excited about the news that Tony Dungy will return to coach the Indianapolis Colts than fellow former Gopher Ben Utecht, a tight end for the Colts.  —  “Really excited; Tony has been such a mentor to me, not only as a coach but also as a man …

Starting point: stability  —  Schilling's right: The durable rotation has the edge  —  Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling last March correctly predicted, in theory, the winner of the American League East when he said, “The rotation that makes the most starts wins the division.  It's that simple.”

Sox trying to add a left-handed hitter  —  The Red Sox are mulling over their options and could add a left-handed bat off the bench by the end of the week.  —  The Sox would love to sign Brad Wilkerson, the former Expo and Ranger, but he might have other options for more money and security elsewhere.

LeBron set to unveil Yankees-inspired sneakers  —  CLEVELAND — LeBron James loves the New York Yankees — from head to toe.  —  The Cavaliers' All-Star forward, who angered some Cleveland fans by wearing a Yankees baseball cap in the Indians' home ballpark while cheering for New York during …

Buzz: Odalis Perez to Meet the Mets  —  According to Impacto Deportivo, free-agent LHP Odalis Perez will meet with executives from the Mets, who had been scouting him this winter in the Dominican Republic.  —  In 26 starts for the Royals last season, Perez was 8-11 with a 5.57 ERA through 137 innings …

Shields deal close  —  Rays pitcher James Shields' agent is meeting with the Rays tonight to with plans to finalize a long-term contract that with options could keep the righthander with the team for the next seven seasons.  —  “My goal is to have this done tonight,” agent Page Odle said.

White Sox agree to terms with pitcher Octavio Dotel; Designate David Aardsma for assignment  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have agreed with veteran free-agent pitcher Octavio Dotel on a two-year, $11-million contract and have designated pitcher David Aardsma for assignment.