Mid-week ramblings

It's close to 3 p.m. on a Wednesday and I'm still recovering from a wild holiday party thrown by MLB Advanced Media. No, I did not overdo it. It was just good conversation and plenty of ping-pong. Of course, living in the sticks, the LIRR got me back home around 12:30 a.m. and it was up early for a few errands - top of the list getting my son his new bed.

With headache and fatigue still in two - and warm coffee in the mug - a few random thoughts while enjoying some down time.

The Yankees made news by doing nothing on Monday when John Lackey and Mike Cameron agreed to sign with the Red Sox. The Big Texan and Cameron made the BoSox a better team, adding a horse to the top of the rotation while tightening team defense in hopes of unseating the Yankees as AL East - and World - Champions. Why was it a good day in Yankeeland? Because Roy Halladay, better than Lackey (who's darn good) and a top-three pitcher in the game, is not going to Boston. In fact, he's en route to Philadelphia and out of the Yankees' hair. Since the price was too high to pay for Doc and extend him another three years, the next-best thing was him not going to Boston.

Of course, some Yankees fans were in an uproar thinking that Brian Cashman sat back and watched the parade go by? Wasn't it last week when Cashman took over Indianapolis and the Winter Meetings by acquiring All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson? Talk about having a short memory. To serve as a refresher, the Yankees are introducing Granderson during a formal press conference Thursday morning at Yankee Stadium.

Unfortunately, the Yankees bid farewell to Hideki Matsui, who signed a one-year deal with the L.A. Angels. Godzilla was one of my favorite players to watch and one of my favorite people to interview. It'll be great to see him back in the Bronx and receive his ring in person when the Yankees open their 2010 home schedule against the Angels. How's that for timing?

The UFC is returning to New Jersey and the shadow of New York City on March 27 when the Prudential Center hosts UFC 111. This isn't just some token event to appease fans on the East Coast who too often do not receive opportunities to view live events. Check out this unofficial lineup: Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy, Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir (reportedly an interim heavyweight title fight), appearances from Thiago Alves and Ricardo Almedia, and expected fights from Jersey Boys Frankie Edgar, Kurt Pellegrino and Nick Catone. Could The Answer be booked for a showdown with Kenny Florian, with the winner getting a shot at lightweight champion B.J. Penn? The Prodigy will have to face the next No. 1 contender, which in my view will be Gray Maynard (who handed Edgar his only MMA loss) if he defeats Nick Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20. The Bully is 9-o with one no-contest with wins over Roger Huerta and Jim Miller too.

I have a couple of special projects lined up for FightMagazine.com: Lengthy features on Matt Mitrione and Jon Jones. The former is nursing a wrist injury coming off his knockout of Marcus Jones while evaluating his next options (Kimbo Slice?). The latter will likely fight Brandon Vera at a UFC Fight Night event the end of March and is appealing his DQ loss to Matt Hamill. No matter the outcome, "Bones" has the look of a future champion and at this rate will go down as one of the best ever. Much more on these fighters and other projects for MMAJunkie.com and TapouT Magazine - my feature on boxing and MMA working together runs in Issue 34 - coming soon.

The big catch

It's not Roy Halladay, but the Yankees reeled in a pretty big fish named Curtis Granderson this week at the winter meetings. Once all medical records are reviewed and physicals are passed, Austin Jackson and Phil Coke head to Detroit, and Ian Kennedy to Arizona, as part of the three-team deal.

Jackson may well end up a superstar, but today he's projected as a fourth outfielder, and from where I sit, give me production over potential any day. Granderson's batting average has been in a decline the past two seasons and he flat-out cannot hit left-handers, but on top of his 30 home runs, there's no reason to believe a 28-year-old sparkplug can't rebound from a down season (just ask Nick Swisher). Kevin Long has worked wonders as Yankees hitting coach and I can promise you Granderson will be energized to play in New York and Yankee Stadium.

I interviewed him exclusively in 2008 when the Tigers were in town and learned about his lust for the Big Apple. He's made for New York and he'll be pushed and prodded to help repeat as World Champions.

Oh, Andy Pettitte has re-signed with the Yankees. Widely expected, but hugely important.

Pretty quiet in the world of MMA, save for Dan Henderson signing with Strikeforce, another good signing for Dana White's fledgling competitor that must remain committed to not taking too big a bite out of elephant. Last decade, Ted Turner and Eric Bishoff weren't content with competing with Vince McMahon's empire. They wanted him out of business and instead of evolving with the times tried too hard to make it happen instead of building a program. I hope Scott Coker doesn't make similar mistakes. The UFC needs healthy competition to help keep MMA thriving.

UFC business will pick up again Saturday night in Memphis when Diego Sanchez challenges lightweight champion B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 107. I'm in the vast minority who believes the Nightmare will dethrone the Prodigy. Later this week I'll explain why.