Harden to visit shoulder specialist  —  Cubs await word before deciding on option year  —  Rich Harden will see a shoulder specialist before the Cubs have to make a decision Wednesday on his $7 million option.  —  General manager Jim Hendry said Harden would be examined Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.

Don Mattingly is a big hit with the Dodgers  —  Batting coach, one of the great hitters in New York Yankees history, has been integral in L.A.¡¦s late-season offensive resurgence.  —  The offensive awakening of the Dodgers can be labeled a 3-M production: Manny, Mattingly and Maturity.

Yanks decide against a Stadium swan song  —  Yankee Stadium is officially closed for business.  —  A Nov. 9 concert was proposed as a final farewell for the House That Ruth Built, but the Yankees, fearing a less-than-memorable lineup, have bagged the celebration.

Zimmer the ultimate common denominator  —  He's always there in the Red Sox October photos - shaking hands with Carlton Fisk as Fisk rounds third after the midnight moonshot off the left-field foul pole; standing in the dugout hanging his head when Bucky Dent hits the pop-fly homer into the net …

Examining baseball's final four (cont.)  —  Philadelphia Phillies  —  This Phillies team has major stars, including the last two MVPs in Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, and starting pitcher Cole Hamels, whose changeup has been devastating.  But the thing that stands out about these players …

Report: Japan to ban amateurs from going to MLB  —  Established Japanese professional players have been coming to Major League Baseball for several years.  However, Japan's 12 pro baseball teams are trying to make it so the country's amateur players don't follow suit.

Marmol injured in car accident; surgery possible for Harden  —  The Cubs were assured by Carlos Marmol's agent Tuesday that their All-Star pitcher was fine after being involved in a car accident early Tuesday morning in the Dominican Republic.  —  According to an Associated Press report …

George Kissell: 1920-2008  —  February 23, 2005 — Cardinals instructor George Kissell addresses the team after the unveiling of a plaque recognizing Kissell's longtime dedication during spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. (CHRIS LEE/P-D)  —  Early one morning several years ago …

Mariners to begin GM interviews  —  The Mariners, jump-starting the process of hiring a general manager, will interview five candidates this week, according to industry sources...  The Mariners, jump-starting the process of hiring a general manager, will interview five candidates this week, according to industry sources.

Rotation set; Matsuzaka to pitch Game 1  —  Terry Francona announced the Red Sox ALCS at a press conference:  —  Game 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka  —  Game 2: Josh Beckett  —  Game 3: Jon Lester  —  Game 4: Tim Wakefield  —  Game 5*: Daisuke Matsuzaka  —  Game 6*: Josh Beckett  —  Game 7*: Jon Lester

NLCS: Dodgers Versus Phillies  —  17.0 (1st)  —  This series matches the strength of the Phillies lineup, their power, against the strength of the Dodgers pitching staff, their ability to prevent home runs.  Against the Brewers the Phillies lineup lived up to their season stats.