Fireside Chats #38: Where Paul & Tim sit back and listen to the experts, Will Carroll and Jeff Goldberg

It's a star studded episode of Fireside Chats as we first welcome Jeff Goldberg who tells us why he thinks Big Papi is going to be swinging a big stick this year and how Jon Lester's contract extension could be the best of the Sox offseason moves. Jeff, a career newspaper journalist with the Hartford Courant before they made some deep cuts in the sports department last year, also gives us a candid look at where the media landscape. It doesn't look bright for the newspaper industry.

From newspapers we turn the conversation to injuries and who better to talk to than Will Carroll from Baseball Prospectus. He is the injury expert (I've given second thought to using the word guru - thanks Will) and he tells us why we shouldn't rely on Brad Penny, not to fear for Mike Lowell or David Ortiz, and that if Julio Lugo is half the woman that Mary Lou Retton is, he'll be back on the field in short order (you'll have to listen to understand the reference). All that and a new t-shirt contest after the jump!

Win a “Welcome to Fenway” t-shirt from The Red Seat

I think our friends at The Red Seat have summed it up perfectly;

"From the outside it looks like a warehouse. Then you go inside and come up the ramp and BAM! it hits you square in the face. The wall, the light, the green - it's like no other ballpark."

So here's your chance to live up to the words on the front of their "Welcome to Fenway" t-shirt ("You never forget your first time") and win one while your at it.

Just call into the the Fireside Chats hotline at 641-715-3900 (extension 57843) and leave us your first reaction to Fenway Park. Heck, we'll even open it up to your best experience in Fenway Park.

The best story will be played on the air during next weeks show and the caller will win a "Welcome to Fenway" shirt and be eligible to win The Red Seats' 2009 release. All our moles can dig up is that it features a certain AL MVP.

You have until Tuesday afternoon to place your calls.

Poll: Better or Worse: Jon Lester’s innings pitched in 2009?

New Poll Question: Better or Worse: Jon Lester's innings pitched in 2009?

Jon Lester pitched a yeomans-like 237 innings in 2008. There is debate over whether Lester will be a candidate for the now famous "Verducci-effect" in 2009. Can Lester's arm hold up for another 200+ innings this season? Vote in the poll to the left and give your community projection for Lester here.

Find out how you all responded to our previous poll, "Will Josh Beckett drop a sub-3.50 ERA in 2009?" after the jump.

Fireside Chats #37: Where we get the goods from the Red Seat and talk long term contracts

Spring Training brings out the best in Paul and I as we go into the rolodeck for a special guest, one of our favorite apparel producers in Red Sox Nation, Chris from The Red Seat.

But before we talk t-shirts, we talk contracts. Spurred on by the good "news" of Jon Lester's "reported" contract extension, we talk long term contracts. We wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't an extension in the works for closer, Jonathan Papelbon. Not that he wouldn't be deserving, we make the case that it's not in either sides' best interest. Plus, have you seen Daniel Bard pitch this spring?

As you prepare for your Fenway Park wardrobe this summer, look no further than our friends at The Red Seat (http://www.theredseat.com). Chris tells us about his company and where they come up with their great designs. I still think they missed a best seller in a Manny shirt, but their repertoire of t-shirts rivals that of Dice-K's pitches.

Chris was kind enough to offer up some shirts as giveaways to Fireside Chats listeners over the next four weeks as we prepare for Opening Day. But we are going to make you earn it. Next week, we'll be giving out one Red Seat t-shirt to the caller (yes you have to call in and leave a voice mail - the number's below) who best describes their first Fenway Park experience. Paul and I will select the best narration to win a Red Seat original t-shirt.

Fireside Chats #36: Where we get the On the DL with Dan Levy while hoping JD Drew stays off it

You didn't really think that we were going to talk another hour of spring training baseball did you? We only spend 15 minutes on the spring before moving On the DL. Thats just about as much playing time as J.D. Drew before his first trip there himself. But seriously, Paul's a little worried about Drew and what that could mean for the team if he were to miss any extended time this season.

We're happy to have Dan Levy from one of the fastest growing sports podcasts on the web, the On the DL Podcast, as this week's guest. Dan's a Phillies fan and a baseball enthusiast. We cover topics from his recent guest, poker celebrity Annie Duke, to why the northeast pumps out the most passionate fans (it's the traffic stupid). And, oh yeah, we mix in a little baseball talk.

Poll: Better or Worse: Josh Beckett’s ERA in 2009

New Poll Question: Better or Worse: Josh Beckett's ERA in 2009?

Josh Beckett pitched better than his 4.03 ERA might suggest in 2008, so it's safe to assume he'll better that total in 2009. The question is, "by how much?". How low can he go? How does 3.50 sound for a bar? Vote in the poll to the left and give your community projection for Beckett here.

Find out how you all responded to our previous poll, "Will Jason Varitek hit .240+ in 2009?" after the jump.

Fireside Chats #35: Where we touch all the bases with Chad Finn from Boston.com and really…Julio Lugo?

With all quiet in Camp Tranquility down in Fort Myers, FL, we dig into the bag of tricks and call on Chad Finn from Boston.com to bring some fresh perspective. Whether it's talking about your favorite Red Sox players of all time or ranking the 2009 team by importance from 25 down to 1, there's never a shortage of Red Sox angles to talk about when Chad's around.

And, oh yeah, are there really "Julio Lugo will be the starting shortstop" rumors floating around these parts? Say it ain't so...

Poll: Better or Worse: Jason Varitek’s Average in 2009

New Poll Question: Better or Worse: Jason Varitek's Average in 2009?
Coming off a career low batting average of .220 in 2008 and one of the lowest averages for a primary catcher in the past ten years, will Jason Varitek be able to right the ship and break the .240 barrier this season? Vote in the poll to the left and give your community projection for Varitek here. Find out how you all responded to our previous poll, "How many bases will Jacoby Ellsbury steal in 2009?" after the jump.

Poll: Better of Worse: Jacoby Ellsbury’s 2009 Stolen Base Total?

New Poll Question:
Better of Worse: Jacoby Ellsbury's 2009 Stolen Base Total?

Early last season it seemed like Jacoby might steal 75 bags, but a mid-season slump hit both his bat and his legs and he ended up with only 50. Can he top 60 in 2009? Vote in the poll to the left and give your community projection for Ellsbury here. Find out how you all responded to our previous poll, "Will Jason Bay hit 30+ HRs in 2009?" after the jump.

Poll: Better or Worse: Jason Bay’s 2009 Home Run Total?

New Poll Question: Better of Worse: Jason Bay's 2009 Home Run Total?

Just a simple over/under on Bay's home run total. Do you think Bay will top the 30 HR mark in 2009? Vote in the poll to the left. You can find the previous poll results after the jump.