Stoking the Hot Stove coals….

Our goal is to post a new blog entry each Friday in the off-season….since we didn’t the past couple weeks, we want to make it up to you. As the holiday season approaches, the Red Wings Baseball off-season calendar is starting to fill up – so let’s update you on a bunch of stuff …

* This week we’ll announce details on the perfect gift for every baseball fan on your shopping list: The Red Wings Holiday Pack, with four undated tickets, a t-shirt and a coupon for a 2011 yearbook for just $28. The Holiday Pack t-shirt will feature a cool new logo celebrating the upcoming 15th season of Red Wings Baseball at Frontier Field – and we’ll also be sharing details on that celebration this week, and how YOU can help us select the top moments of those seasons.

*Our annual Holiday Sale on Sat. Nov. 27 will be a great time to snag a Holiday Pack, Voucher Pack, or Season Seats. Spikes and Mittsy will be here for the kids, look for a complete rundown with our Holiday Pack announcement.

* For fans in Ontario County and the eastern Monroe County suburbs, we’re finalizing plans to be at Eastview Mall on a December weekend. We had a great response last year, and we’re looking forward to having a presence again this holiday season.

* On Monday, MiLB.com continues their organization All-Stars series. Milwaukee’s farm system will be the focus tomorrow, with Minnesota slotted for Tuesday. The series honors “the players — regardless of age or prospect status — who had the best seasons in their organization.” The position-by-position look could include RHP Kyle Gibson, who has hurtled up through the organization in one season. He’s already been honored with the Jim Rantz Award as the Twins’ top minor league pitcher of 2010; we won’t be surprised if Kyle makes the MiLB.com list. (I won’t be surprised if he’s our Opening Day starter in Pawtucket April 7.) RHP Anthony Slama, the Wings’ IL All-Star Team closer, is another logical candidate for the list, along with the guy who is a sure thing to be our lead-off hitter April 7: Ben Revere. In fact, if Ben’s not our lead-off hitter April 7 (unless traded, injured or in the big leagues), I will wash Josh Whetzel’s car once a week for two weeks.

*The next two weeks will bring a pair of interesting Wings-related lists to light: the filing of Minnesota’s 40-man roster on Nov. 19, and Baseball America’s Top 10 Prospects in the Minnesota organization on Nov. 23. We’ll clue you in on both when available, be sure to check the News section of RedWingsBaseball.com for updates. Fans of the Wings at Facebook.com/RocRedWings will see an update from us when we add the info to our site.

* Our Hot Stove Report, in the News section of RedWingsBaseball.com, will help you keep track of off-season player moves, free agent signings, winter ball stats and more. Head over there now for an update on Luke Hughes, Allan de San Miguel, and Justin Huber playing in the Australian Baseball League.

We’ll post again here next Friday, and be sure to check out RedWingsBaseball.com and Facebook.com/RocRedWings for complete access to all things Wings. And one more date to keep in mind: Feburary 17, the date pitchers and catchers report to Twins camp in Florida.

~Nick