The Syracuse Chiefs will provide an antidote to the area's cold snap this evening in the form of their annual Hot Stove Dinner at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool.
The 48th annual affair will begin with a silent auction at 5:30, followed by the dinner program starting at 7. Among the guests expected to attend are Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten, Nationals manager Manny Acta, Chiefs manager Tim Foli and Chiefs pitching coach Steve McCatty.
Kasten, who once ran the Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Hawks (NBA) and Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) -- simultaneously -- will undoubtedly serve as the event's headliner. And he'll come with his stories to share.
One of them may detail his Nationals' recent wooing of then-free agent Mark Teixeira.
"I thought it could happen," Kasten said the other day of his negotiations with Teixeira, who eventually signed with the Yankees for $180 million. "We didn't go into it haphazardly. We thought it through, examined all of the elements and went for it strong. But for a thing or two turning around the other way, it might have worked out.
"I don't think the day is ever going to come when we're going to, flat out, outbid the Yankees or the Red Sox. But if there are other elements involved, we'll always have our chance. More importantly, we can have massive success in Washington even without outbidding New York and Boston. We can still be very successful here."
Tickets for tonight's dinner are $50 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. For more information, call 474-7833.
Bud Poliquin can be reached at 470-2213 or bpoliquin@syracuse.com
