with the ignition in the off position why would the positive side of the battery be getting hot to the touch

Have you been experiencing a parasitic draw on your battery leavin' you dead as a doornail?...keep you fingers off the battery unless you like sulfuric acid and lead for breakfast~ the battery heats...the battery cools, could be perfectly normal with today's batteries made from a tin/antimony alloy (not lead anymore) the behavior of these batteries is largely unknown these days they just haven't been out there long enough~ check for parasitic draw...it is not the batteries fault~ judgement for the battery~

Not exactly in love with eric the car guy, but he will take us through the seven levels of hell to find your problem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1gijj03_0