Howard's RBI streak sets playoff mark  —  Phillies slugger drives in run for seventh straight contest  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard has already produced one record-setting RBI streak and he's within one game of matching a record that Lou Gehrig set in 1932.

Kenji Johjima opts out of final two years  —  One of the thorniest issues the Seattle Mariners faced - what to do with catcher Kenji Johjima - has been resolved: The 33-year-old catcher has decided to return to Japan with two years left on his contract.  —  “After lots of very deep thought …

ALCS Game 3: Yankees at Angels  —  YANKEES  —  Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.42 ERA)  —  ANGELS  —  WEATHER: Take a wild guess - it's Southern California!  Temps in the 70s, clear skies.  It should be a beautiful day for baseball.  The full forecast is here.

Saturday's AFL roundup  —  Simmons, Snyder lead Dogs to fourth straight win  —  Desert Dogs 11, Rafters 2  —  Athletics prospect James Simmons tossed three scoreless innings and Phoenix used a pair of five-run outbursts to post its fourth straight win.  The former first-round pick yielded …

Veteran manager Bobby Valentine a finalist for Cleveland Indians' vacancy  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — Bobby Valentine, whose New York Mets reached the World Series in 2000, is one of the finalists for the vacant Indians manager's job.  —  Valentine, 59, it has been learned, will come to Cleveland this week for a second interview.

Agent Scott Boras compares Matt Holliday to Yankees Mark Teixeira  —  ‘These guys are blue-collar superstars,’ he says of his two clients.  The Cardinals outfielder is expected to be among the top free agents available this winter.  —  Scott Boras threw out the ceremonial first pitch in free agency today …

Blogger Nine Innings: Steve Keane  —  The Mets haven't been playing for weeks, but Mets fans are still taking their time to get over the disastrous season that transpired in Flushing this year.  That includes blogger Steve Keane of The Eddie Kranepool Society, who stops by Touching Base today …

Cards' options at third will start with Freese  —  Last season third base represented the Cardinals' greatest offensive frustration.  —  Next season the position provides a most obvious choice between pricey experience and more economic potential.  —  Only a week has passed since team …

Jeff Mathis' RBI double in 11th wins it for Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jeff Mathis hit a two-out double in the 11th inning to drive home the winning run and the Los Angeles Angels survived a second straight thriller, beating the Yankees 5-4 Monday and trimming New York's lead in the AL championship series to 2-1.

Cubs close to agreement with vaunted hitting coach Jaramillo … Highly respected hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo is in serious talks with the Chicago Cubs about becoming their new hitting coach, and it appears likely that the sides will reach an agreement for Jaramillo to join the Cubs soon, SI.com has learned.

Leyland, Guillen mend rift over role  —  Understanding reached regarding position, playing time  —  DETROIT — If there was any question that the frustrations from a Tigers season that ended in disappointment are still fresh, the proof came this weekend and Monday, when they exposed a rift …

Hawpe Not On Market  —  Brad Hawpe found himself watching more than playing in the post-season for the Rockies.  He, however, rmeans a key part in the Rockies long-range planning.  —  Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd has been surprised by media reports that the Rockies wll look to trade Hawpe …

The iPhone app is out: 2nd Guesser  —  Hey, it's time for naked promotion time, and a small part of why I haven't been posting so much lately: you can now check out and buy the iPhone app that's been in development for the last few months, built by my dad and I (mostly my dad, who has a couple of other fine language apps in the store).

Inbox: No reunion likely for traded Bucs  —  MLB.com's Langosch answers fans' questions … Do you think the Pirates will try to sign any of their traded players as free agents this winter, especially John Grabow or Jack Wilson?  — Fran P., Overland Park, Kan.

Joe gives CC OK for Game 4 start  —  ANAHEIM - The worst-kept secret of the ALCS is out.  —  CC Sabathia played catch in the outfield at Angel Stadium Sunday in lieu of a bullpen session, saving his bullets for tomorrow, when he will start Game 4 against the Angels on three days' rest.