Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Long time, no see. If you’re wondering why we haven’t chatted lately, then check out my other post from today:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/hark-the-hardball-times-baseball-annual-2014/

Jeff Zimmerman and myself will be here at 9 pm ET tonight to tackle all of your hot stove questions. We can also argue about the Awards voting if you like.

So get in all of your favorite 11-12-13 nominees, and we’ll see you soon!

Paul Swydan: Hi guys, we’ll get started in one minute. I have to get a fresh beer so that Jeff doesn’t yell at me.

Paul Swydan: FYI: The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2014, which Jeff contributed an awesome article to, and which I helped edit, is now available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Hardball-Times-Annual-2014-Volume/dp/1493711873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384301846&sr=8-1&keywords=hardball+times+annual+2014

Paul Swydan: Please buy it and help keep us employed. Thanks!

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s get started. Going to begin with an old school Red Sox 11-12-13:

Bill Mueller, Ellis Burks and John Valentin.

BOOM!

Comment From Argis
Pick 3 keepers of Lawrie, Boogarts, Billy Hamilton, and Cueto?

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys, this is a baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: In this chat we will talk about baseball, for what usually ends up being something like 110 minutes even though that is too long

Jeff Sullivan: Maybe today I’ll shoot for 90!

Jeff Sullivan: Hold on one second, having trouble with the CiL classic window…

Jeff Sullivan: ugh okay finally, geez

Comment From Guest
Do you believe in the “Coors Field Hangover”? And do you think it may be incorporated into statistics in the future?

Dan Szymborski: And heeeeeeeeeere come the pretzels!

Comment From Froglegs Jackson Jr.
When will ZIPS projections start getting rolled out?

Dan Szymborski: 12/1, I believe.

Comment From Pale Hose
In a Diamond Mind dynasty league format would you rather have Puig or Myers?

Dan Szymborski: Puig. Not that I don’t like Myers, but you gave me a beer n’ tacos q.

Comment From Greg
What do you think of home plate collisions? Part of the game?

Eno Sarris: HEYO

Eno Sarris: Lyrics of the day come from a song that’s either searing social commentary or a love ballad about survival:

And naaw I don’t want to see your thongs
I kinda dig them old school cute regular draws
And I will pause for your cause

Comment From juan pierres mustache
whoa, so early today

Comment From Argos
Hiya!

Comment From Man With A Plan
LET’S GET IT STARTED

Eno Sarris: Starting with an interlude. Just cause.

Dave Cameron: Welcome to Hot Stove, Cool Chats. Or Something like that. Don’t sue me Peter Gammons.

Dave Cameron: Off-season is in full swing, so we’ll talk free agency, trade speculation, contract extensions, managerial hires, or just about anything else.

Dave Cameron: Queue is now open, so get your questions in now.

Comment From Bkgeneral
Red Sox handling of Torey Lovullo is a disgrace.

Dave Cameron: Agree. Holding a coach hostage because they’re holding a grudge from Theo leaving should be beneath an organization like that.

Comment From skipperxc
What could the Brewers do to compete next year? Anything realistic?

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys

Jeff Sullivan: A world champion was decided last week. Now that feels like forever ago!

Comment From Marty
Where do you see Ellsbury landing? Is Seattle the favorite based on what you’ve heard?

Jeff Sullivan: Let me put it like this:

Jeff Sullivan: I don’t think the Mariners are going to sign Ellsbury, but I think the Mariners are the most likely individual team to sign Ellsbury.

Jeff Sullivan: Need’s there, money’s there, willingness to overpay is probably there

Eno Sarris: see you at the top of the hour

Eno Sarris: lyrics of the day are totally inane but still germane

Lay a whisper on my pillow,
leave the winter on the ground.
I wake up lonely,
there’s air of silence in the bedroom
and all around
Touch me now, I close my eyes and dream away.

Eno Sarris: Okay, let’s get… intimate.

Comment From person hscer
It’s the offseason! And Eno’s chatting! Regularly?

Eno Sarris: We’ll see.

Comment From Sadwick
A wild Eno appears!!!!

Dave Cameron: It could be the final day of the 2013 season. Cardinals try to live another day, Red Sox try to win it all again.

Dave Cameron: This should be fun.

Comment From Jaack
It could be the end of the Tim McCarver era as well!

Comment From chuckb
Which number is larger — the % chance that Matheny leaves Wacha in too long or the % chance that Ortiz wins the MVP?

Dave Cameron: 100% = 100%.

Comment From Aussie Mariner
If the Cards come back to win the series in these two games and one of their hitters goes all Freese like, do you think he could win the MVP over Ortiz? What would it take for a Cardinal to win it at this point?

Dave Cameron: The baseball season could end tonight. Let’s talk World Series. Or off-season stuff.

Dave Cameron: And, despite the hypocrisy because of my “no fantasy questions” rule, I’m going to plug my own fantasy league for a second. I started an Ottoneu league two years ago to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In the last two years, we’ve raised about $8,000 for cancer research. Now, the league has two openings, and we’re auctioning them off to the people who will offer to make the largest donations to TNT.

Dave Cameron: If you’re interested in joining the league, send a tweet to @dcameronfg stating how much you’d be willing to donate to get one of the two teams. Once we have a list of bidders, I’ll send those folks more information.

Dave Cameron: Okay, let’s get this thing started. We may be looking at a shortened chat again today, as the puppy might have to take a trip to the vet this afternoon if she doesn’t stop throwing up and start showing some energy.

Dave Cameron: But I’ll be back tonight for the Game 6 live blog, so there should be hours of time to hang out later.

Comment From JEB
World Series? End tonight? With Wacha on the mound? Nawwwwwwww.

Jeff Sullivan: Hey all. Late today because whatever

Jeff Sullivan: It was a late night and I don’t have enough respect for you to show up four minutes ago

Comment From Justin
Hey, it’s 12:04, time for the Sullivan chat!

Jeff Sullivan: It matters!

Comment From Bret
Farrell or Matheny – who would you rather manage your team?

Jeff Sullivan: Farrell, because I’d be in the AL and there would be fewer opportunities for managerial mistakes