New Year's wishes for baseball fans  —  So you've got images of pitchers and catchers clogging up your neuro-processor.  You're counting down the days (admit it, hours) before CC Sabathia and Johan Santana deliver their first fastballs in Florida.  Waiting out January's odyssey is torture, but you can't beat the payoff.

Redskins fire Zorn after 2 seasons  —  The Washington Redskins fired Coach Jim Zorn this morning, ending a two-year stint that began with his surprising elevation from an obscure quarterbacks coach and finished with a dismissal that seemed inevitable after the Redskins' disastrous four-win season.

The Year and the Decade to Come  —  First off, I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season.  As it turned out, 2009 was a successful year for Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, but this coming year has the potential to be the biggest for us since the year we went to a premium product …

Mets hold breath for Bay's physical  —  Jason Bay could officially become a Met today.  —  The free-agent outfielder, who last week agreed to a four-year deal worth $66 million with the Mets — there is a vesting option for a fifth season — is expected to be in Manhattan today for a full physical …

Met ‘mob’ contracts  —  Shady firms got $52M to build Citi Field  —  The Mets shelled out $51.6 million in taxpayer money to contractors shunned by the city for their ties to the Mafia, labor corruption or bribery, The Post has learned.  —  At least seven contractors the city avoids …

Big decisions looming on superstars  —  (Darren Hauck, Associated Press / September 22, 2009)  —  Will current clubs be able to afford Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez?  —  On Baseball  —  They were Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Elmer Layden …

Source: Cuba defector Aroldis Chapman works out for Toronto Blue Jays  —  A surprising bidder has emerged in the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes.  The Toronto Blue Jays held a private workout for the touted Cuban pitcher Thursday morning in Florida, then met with his representatives, a source close to Chapman told ESPN The Magazine.

If Granderson and Gardner were swapped...  We can debate all day whether Curtis Granderson or Brett Gardner is the better defensive center fielder.  Frankly, I think they're both pretty good, but I know there are several who completely disagree.  Bottom line is (I think) both can handle the position …

When Did Buying Tickets Get So Complicated?  —  Minnesota Twins fans are looking forward to their new domeless stadium next season, even if they have to sit outdoors in April for the first time in decades.  But they've got an issue to handle before passing the turnstiles: figuring out which tickets to buy.

Prospectus Q and A: A.J. Hinch by David Laurila  —  A.J. Hinch … David Laurila: You became the Diamondbacks' manager in atypical fashion, moving over from the front office in midseason.  Can you talk about how that process worked?  —  A.J. Hinch: Well, it was obviously a unique situation …