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." jerseys from china .Y. -- Kyle Williams has taken the next big step forward on a surgically repaired left foot. cheap nfl jerseys . CC Sabathia pitched six innings in the start for the Yankees, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven. The New York bullpen shut down the Tigers from there, tossing three perfect frames. http://www.cheapnfljerseyschinaplay.com/ . Manager Jim Leyland says Peralta will leave Wednesday for the instructional league in Florida, where hell play in the outfield. Peralta was Detroits starting shortstop, but the Tigers acquired Jose Iglesias from Boston just before Peralta was suspended following baseballs investigation into Biogenesis of America, a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. wholesale jerseys . For his star power, he still ranks ahead of any other athlete. Woods, whose last win came 18 months ago at the Australian Masters, will drop to at least No. cheap jerseys from china . Forte sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee early in a loss to Kansas City on Dec. 4 and sat out the rest of the season.OXFORD, Miss. -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. Then he watched with dread as it started drifting right. By the time it reached the uprights, it was dangerously close. The senior held his breath. So did the rest of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It sailed through with about a foot to spare. The crowd exploded. It was the finishing touch on Mississippis 27-24 upset victory over No. 6 LSU on Saturday night. "Can you believe it?" Ritter asked. It was a happy ending for Ole Miss (4-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) after the Rebels let a 17-point lead slip away when LSUs Zach Mettenberger hit Jarvis Landry for a 4-yard touchdown to tie it at 24 with 3:19 remaining. But the Rebels responded with a methodical, 14-play drive that ended in Ritters field goal with 2 seconds remaining. "This is the biggest win of my life," Ole Miss defensive end Cameron Whigham said. "Im just so proud to be a part of the Ole Miss family and be able to compete with my brothers each Saturday." It capped a remarkable day of upsets across the league. LSU joined Georgia, Texas A&M, Florida and South Carolina as ranked SEC teams to lose Saturday. It was another thrilling game for the Rebels, who lost last week against Texas A&M on a last-second field goal. "What (the team) went through this week, with the outside world having their opinions, you can imagine how proud I am," Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. Bo Wallace completed 30 of 39 passes for 346 yards and Jaylen Walton rushed for a career-high 105 yards and two touchdowns for the Rebels, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Ole Miss finished with 525 total yards. LSU had 388. LSU (6-2, 3-2) nearly pulled off the comeback, but couldnt overcome a rough game by Mettenberger, who threw three crucial interceptions. "We didnt do some of the things that we needed to come in here and do," LSU coach Les Miles said. "I really thought we were going to throw those balls and complete them and I thought they were great calls." The winning field goal was redemption for Ritter, who had a 29-yard attempt blocked eaarlier in the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd. LSU moved the ball fairly well in the first half, especially on the ground, but Mettenbergers bad decisions and poor throws cost the Tigers dearly. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound senior came into the game leading the SEC with 1,890 yards, 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. But he had a brutal first half, throwing three interceptions, including two in the end zone. All three were thrown into tight coverage. Mettenberger finished 19-of-33 passing for 274 yards and a touchdown. While Mettenberger was struggling, Wallace started hot, completing 16 of 23 passes for 200 yards in the first half. Ritter kicked a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter to put Ole Miss ahead 3-0 and Barry Brunettis 3-yard touchdown pass to Nick Parker gave the Rebels a 10-0 halftime lead. The Rebels defence was surprisingly stout. They were missing five starters, including linebacker Serderius Bryant, the teams leading tackler. But Ole Miss used a no-name bunch to stop LSU consistently. Chief Brown, Cody Prewitt and Charles Sawyer had the three interceptions. "Im really not surprised at all that we won this game," Prewitt said. "I feel like its the first time this season we played for 60 true minutes." Ole Miss announced a crowd of 61,160, which is the ninth-largest in school history. And the place was rocking by the time Walton broke through for a 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Rebels a 17-0 lead. But the LSU offence finally came alive in the third quarter, scoring touchdowns on short runs by Kenny Hilliard and Jeremy Hill to pull within 17-14. Ole Miss yanked the momentum right back with a seven-play, 76-yard drive, capped by Waltons spectacular 26-yard touchdown dash through the teeth of LSUs defence. The Rebels had a 24-14 lead and all the momentum early in the fourth quarter, but Korvic Neat dropped a punt and LSU recovered on Ole Miss 13. The defence managed to hold, but LSUs Colby Delahoussaye hit a 41-yard field goal to pull the Tigers within 24-17. Ole Miss squandered another opportunity a few minutes later when Ritters 29-yard field goal was blocked by Ego Ferguson. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '