Official: Lester in Game 1, Beckett in 2  —  With both Jon Lester and Josh Beckett healthy after recent scares — a ball to the knee for Lester, cortisone shots in the back for Beckett — manager Terry Francona announced the Red Sox' postseason pitching rotation after today's game.

Twins force one-game playoff with Tigers  —  MINNEAPOLIS - Hang on to those Homer Hankies: The Metrodome isn't ready to close for baseball just yet.  —  Jason Kubel got those familiar white towels waving with a pair of three-run homers and Minnesota beat Kansas City 13-4 Sunday …

Piniella: Sandberg would be ‘in mix’  —  Skipper warns managing Minors is different than Majors  —  CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg is expected to ride buses for at least another year before he has a chance to fulfill his ambition of succeeding Lou Piniella as manager of the Cubs.

Macha back with option  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  St. Louis - Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed Sunday morning what had become increasingly obvious in recent days, that manager Ken Macha would be returning in 2010 for the second year of his two-year contract.

Yanks set club record with 243rd homer  —  With two in one inning, A-Rod breaks '04 record, ties McGwire  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Alex Rodriguez helped the Yankees set a new franchise record for home runs in a single season, punctuating the final day of the campaign by sending two homers …

Could Valentine be Marlins' manager? … Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is said to be less than satisfied with his team's standing, and in a fairly shocking development is apparently considering replacing well-regarded manager Fredi Gonzalez, who has been widely praised for his performance this season.

Parnell elects not to pitch in winter ball  —  Mets righty is fatigued from his first full big league season  —  NEW YORK — Even now, months before the Mets assemble in Port St. Lucie, Fla., some definition may have been added to their plans for 2010.  Nothing is for certain of course …

Pitches up, Clay Buchholz down  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  Two garbage-time starts in what amounts to glorified spring training aren't cause for concern about Clay Buchholz' postseason readiness, right?  —  Right?  —  For the second straight outing …

Hoffman close to returning  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  St. Louis - Trevor Hoffman just dropped a very interesting bit of news to us after the final game of the season: he already is deep into discussions to return to the Brewers in 2010.