Yankees and manager Joe Girardi agree on a new three-year, $9 million contract  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Joe Girardi is headed back to the Bronx.  —  The Yankees and Girardi agreed to a three-year contract worth $9 million, the Daily News has learned.  The two sides are putting the finishing touches on the deal …

Strong-willed manager for Mets not in Alderson's view  —  Mets on Twitter  —  Tweet  —  Sandy Alderson almost certainly will hire a low-profile manager for the Mets whose main focus will be to carry out the vision of the new general manager without drama.

Ron Washington's easy Game 2 choice  —  Let's be real clear about this ... David Murphy is not some raw scrub who's likely to wilt under the pressure of actually playing.  For most of the past three years, he's been playing when the other team starts a right-handed pitcher (which is most of the time).

It's time to say you're sorry, Sandy  —  Fans deserve a mea culpa from Alderson, who didn't speak up during steroids era  —  In a lot of ways, Sandy Alderson comes to the New York Mets out of central casting.  A Marine, Vietnam vet, Harvard Law grad, architect of a winner …

Adrian Beltre's California Home for Sale - $19.8 Million  —  Six years after he stopped playing for the LA Dodgers, Major League Baseball slugger Adrian Beltre is finally getting around to putting his Bradbury, CA estate on the market.  Beltre's California home is listed for $19.8 million.

Lance Berkman, Kerry Wood out  —  NEW YORK — As expected, the Yankees declined to pick up the options of Lance Berkman ($15 million), Kerry Wood ($11 million) and Nick Johnson ($5.5 million with a $250,000 club buyout) on Wednesday.  —  But at least one of them, Wood …

Daniels: I did not ask Mets to wait  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Texas general manager Jon Daniels is a Queens native and a hot commodity these days, but says he did not ask the Mets to delay plans to hire a GM until after the World Series so that he would be free to take the job.

Willie Mays sick, misses World Series 1st pitch honor  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Willie Mays was sick and missed throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the World Series opener.  —  Mays was announced earlier Wednesday on a list of six Hall of Famers to throw out first pitches before Wednesday night's game against the Texas Rangers.