han two weeks after they met in the league at C

[lw789]

NEW YORK -- If anything, the Yankees like Joe Girardi even more now than when they hired him to manage the team six years ago. General manager Brian Cashman praised Girardis handling of the team during a disappointing season and is about to offer him a new contract. "He knows wed like to have him stay and continue as manager of the New York Yankees as we move forward," Cashman said Tuesday. "I feel we hired a good one. Hes been a world champion player for us. Hes been a coach, a broadcaster and obviously a world champion manager. So weve benefited from having him and wed like to do that going forward, but well have to speak with him and see how it plays out." Girardi has led the Yankees to a 564-408 record and a World Series title. Crippled by injuries, New York had its poorest season since 1992, missing the playoffs for the second time in 19 years and finishing tied for third in the AL East at 85-77. Cashman met Girardi for coffee on Monday, a day after New Yorks season ended, and plans to have lunch Wednesday in New York with Girardis agent, Steve Mandell. "Were entering the sensitive conversations that will either lead to a deal or lead us to the understanding that there wont be a deal," Cashman said. Girardi won out over Don Mattingly to replace Joe Torre after the 2007 season and was given a $7.8 million, three-year contract. He is completing a $9 million, three-year deal. The Chicago Cubs may be interested in Girardi after firing manager Dale Sveum. Girardi grew up in Illinois, went to Northwestern and played for the Cubs. But Girardi is under contract through October, and Cashman wouldnt say whether he would give the Cubs permission to speak with the manager. "I think he likes it here," Cashman said. "Were going to give him a real good reason to stay, and hes earned that through his six years with us so far." Heading into the off-season, the Yankees face numerous questions, especially about their pitching staff and infield. Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte are retiring. Second baseman Robinson Cano is a free agent, as are pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and outfielder Curtis Granderson. Shortstop Derek Jeter played just 17 games this year after breaking an ankle last October and third baseman Alex Rodriguez didnt return from off-season hip surgery until August, and he may have to serve a lengthy drug suspension next season. Cano, a five-time All-Star who turns 31 on Oct, 22, can become a free agent after the World Series and may be seeking a 10-year deal worth $305 million or more. Cashman will meet with the Yankees professional scouts starting Monday to formulate his off-season plan. "Wed love to have Robby back," Cashman said. "Hes been a great Yankee. I think if he stays he has a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw for instance a little bit from Mariano, where maybe he has a chance to be the first Dominican-born player to be in Monument Park." Cashman also said its unclear whether the Yankees will be able to get under next years $189 million luxury tax threshold, which includes about $177 million for player salaries. "Its not a mandate. Its a goal that we have if its possible," Cashman said. "Theres a lot of benefits to staying under that, but its not a mandate if its at the expense of a championship run. It just depends on what the opportunities are before us, and the costs associated with it." He also plans to address the Yankees lack of power this season. Injuries and the departures of Raul Ibanez, Nick Swisher, Russell Martin and Eric Chavez as free agents caused home runs to dropped from a team-record 245 last year to 144, the Yankees fewest in a non-shortened season since they hit 130 in 1989. Not counting strike years, it was the largest falloff in baseball history, topping a decrease of 96 for the 1988 Chicago Cubs. "We love guys with plate discipline and power from the offensive side. And thats been our history, and thats been our philosophy for a long time thats worked," he said. "We got derailed this year by decision-making as well as injuries. Theyre all my responsibility, and the best we could produce unfortunately was an 85-win team. Thats not Yankee standards." Pete Maravich Hawks Jersey .com) - Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies withstood 18 Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings. Winners of 15 straight, with a healthy roster, the Spurs have overtaken the Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the number one ranking. http://www.nbahawksofficial.com/womens- ... ll-jersey/. - Dolphins safety Louis Delmas has been carted off the field with a right knee injury against the Ravens. Hawks Jersey . Roy says he will know more about Duchenes potential playing status Sunday. Duchene has been out since damaging the MCL in his left knee when he ran into a teammate against San Jose on March 29. Hes been skating on his own all week, before joining the team Saturday hours before a pivotal game in a series tied at 2. Swingman Dikembe Mutombo Jersey . Cabrera-Bello shot a 1-over-par 73 and was caught by Webster, who carded 70 at Doha Golf Club for three-round totals of 12-under 204. They were only one stroke ahead of Adrien Saddier of France, the biggest mover with six birdies in his opening seven ........... in a round of 64, South African Thomas Aiken (70) and Denmarks Thorbjorn Olesen (68) on a packed leaderboard.BARCELONA, Spain - A matchup worthy of the final will knock out Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.Barcelona hosts Atletico on Wednesday in the opening leg, less than two weeks after they met in the league at Camp Nou, where Lionel Messi ended a scoring drought that lasted through six winless meetings with Atletico by scoring once and setting up fellow forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez for a 3-1 victory.Atletico, however, arrives on firm footing after eliminating cup holder and crosstown rival Real Madrid in the round of 16.It will be an intense and tough tie, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says. Atletico is a difficult rival. We will have to play our best without making mistakes.Here are some things to know about this weeks quarterfinals:____WHAT CRISIS?: Barcelona appeared to be on the verge of a breakdown before it last faced Atletico on Jan. 11 following a loss at Real Sociedad, the firing of its sports director, and club president Josep Bartomeu calling for early elections.But since then it has roared to four straight lopsided wins by the combined score of 16-1.Messi has been his usual ..... self, with five goals in that span — despite sitting out one match — including his 30th career hat trick for Barcelona at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.THE BOY IS BACK: Fernando Torres two goals to seal Atleticos elimination of Real proved that the 30-year-old striker, who once shone as Atleticos brightest rising talent, can make a strong contribution in his second stint at his boyhood club.ddddddddddddWith his ability to work well in open space, Torres gives coach Diego Simeone a third option in attack to combine with the bigger Mario Mandzukic and the quicker Antoine Griezmann.Torres likes his teams chances against Barcelona.After Madrid and Barca, there is a third team in Atletico, and it has shown it can beat them, Torres said. We are an uncomfortable rival.V FOR VICTORY: Villarreal hosts Getafe also on Wednesday, with the winner meeting either Barcelona or Atletico in the semifinals.Manager Marcelino Garcia has Villarreal playing both the most vibrant and the most consistent football in Spain.Villarreal has risen into sixth place in the league and has reached the knockout rounds in the Europa League after not losing once in a 15-game span across all competitions.BRUISED BILBAO: With 23 cups, Athletic Bilbao trails only Barcelonas 26 as all-time winners in the competition.And Bilbao visits Malaga on Wednesday needing another strong performance in the cup with pressure increasing on coach Ernesto Valverde after the Basque side lost four of their last five matches.SNEAKY SEVILLA: While Spains top teams get most of the attention, Sevilla is quietly having an excellent campaign and positioning itself to fight for silverware.Six points off the pace in the league with a game in hand against pacesetting Real, Sevilla is also opting to challenge for the cup as it visits Espanyol on Thursday. China Jerseys ' ' '