Paul Sullivan: A hot stove league without a hot stove? Give baseball what it deserves during the lockout — and ignore the rumors.

The problem with having a hot stove league without the hot stove is it doesn’t deter baseball fans from pretending the stove still exists.

This became apparent recently when a rumor began to circulate about a certain team in a certain city having interest in a prominent free-agent shortstop.

Signing this player, who was alleged to be part of a sign-stealing scheme that tarnished the reputations of many individuals, undoubtedly would make many of that team’s fans cry for joy. He’s that good of a player, and he would immediately lift the hopes of the fan base after a season of misery.

But this is no