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 Jim 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 …

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Edwin Encarnacion burns face in firework mishap  —  ORLANDO — Toronto Blue Jays infielder Edwin Encarnacion was released Saturday from a Miami hospital after being treated for minor facial injuries caused by fireworks during the New Year's festivities in his native Dominican Republic.

Chicago White Sox Top 10 Prospects  —  Chicago White Sox … Before the White Sox selected Gordon Beckham with the eighth pick in the 2008 draft, 17 years had passed since they had a choice among the top 10.  Beckham may have been worth the wait.  —  After taking righthander Alex Fernandez …

Peter Gammons' MLB Network Debut on Weds.  —  Hall of Fame award-winning baseball writer Peter Gammons will make his debut on MLB Network with the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame Election announcement show on Wednesday, January 6.  MLB Network's Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Matt Vasgersian …

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.