Bless You Boys: for Detroit Tigers fans

The bright spots are getting fewer and fewer, and unfortunately, things aren't very fun in Tiger Town at this point.

That didn't stop Rob and HookSlide from bantering back and forth about the week that was for nearly two hours, though. There was plenty to talk about, including the recent rumors about manager Brad Ausmus' job security. We're still 20-odd games from debating legitimate candidates for the new job, but a name or two may have popped up in this episode. We also get away from the doom and gloom of Tigers baseball for a moment to discuss what the MLB playoffs have in store for us.

Topics in this week's episode include:

The Tigers are still badJ.D. Martinez is slumping, but are we concerned?Why the Tigers designated Daniel Fields for assignmentThe potential for a protected draft pick, and why that mattersWhether Anthony Gose will be the center fielder in 2016Who we're rooting for in OctoberBrad Ausmus' chances at staying in Detroit next season (Spoiler: 0 percent)The early frontrunner to become the Tigers' next managerListener questions! Including a debate on how many Hot 'n' Readys we can physically carryHow an MVP is truly defined

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Since Rob and HookSlide last went back and forth on episode three of The Voice of the Turtle, the Detroit Tigers have lost nine of their 11 games. They have dropped 20 (!) games behind the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central and are close to scraping the bottom of the American League's depths.

This means one thing: bad September baseball!

Obviously, we're not excited about this, but episode five of the podcast helps shed some light on a few bright spots and things to watch in the last month of the season. Topics in this week's episode include:

HookSlide wanted a dumpster fire in Toronto, and he got oneJustin Verlander is still worth watchingWhat is a pseudoaneurysm? Will Shane Greene be okay?The excitement (or lack thereof) of September call-upsWays to stay entertained by meaningless games in SeptemberAre the Tigers giving up on the 2015 season?Will Victor Martinez bounce back in 2016?Listener questions! Including whether Nick Castellanos' pants have a certain mojo about them.What kind of manager should the Tigers hire, assuming Brad Ausmus is fired?

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In this episode of the podcast, HookSlide talks about baseball, brains, and your brain on baseball. Justin Verlander has certainly returned to dominant form, and just in case we were still on the fence about that, he just took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning in his last performance. Verlander's resurgence will certainly make General Manager Al Avila's job in 2016 a bit easier, because, hey, who can't build a decent starting rotation when you've got an ace like Verlander to be the cornerstone?

Going into weekend, the Tigers get to face the Toronto Blue Jays and their ridiculously good offense, and on the mound they'll be sending out ... Boyd, Farmer, and Simon? So who will get shelled the least?

At least one MLB team is making plans to extend the nets at the ballpark and do something to preserve fan safety from flying foul balls. Why are some people opposed to this?

In the final segment of the podcast, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in neurofeedback "brain training" talks about what EEG data can do for athletes looking to achieve peak performance, and explains what happens in the brain when a player gets angry and starts smashing water coolers.

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With the Detroit Tigers inching closer to the playoffs despite a rotation held together with bubble gum and paperclips, Rob and HookSlide return for another episode of The Voice of the Turtle, and discuss whether 2015 is all for naught or if there is still a chance at cracking the AL wild card this season.

Topics in this week's episode include:

How fun was that series against the Chicago Cubs?Who is actually in the starting rotation now?Miguel Cabrera: good at baseballJustin Verlander: also good at baseballThe key to Nick Castellanos' turn-aroundCan the Tigers actually make the playoffs?Dave Dombrowski: Public Enemy No. 1 (sort of)Your weekly "this bullpen is awful" segmentListener questions!Why are you a Tigers fan?

Contents

03:20 Rounding the Bases: the one thing that's got Nick Castellanos back on track25:25 Warming in the Pen: why the wild card chase just got a whole lot more difficult37:40 High and Tight: who wins in a showdown between Dave Dombrowski and Al Avila?55:30 Into the Mob Scene at Home: what was the worst trade Dave Dombrowski ever made?1:16:50 The 7th Inning Kvetch: what makes you a die-hard Tigers fan?

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After a tumultuous trade deadline in Tiger Town, things returned to normal last week. And by normal, we mean losing. The Tigers lost two of three to both the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals. HookSlide and Rob talk about these games, the upcoming week of Tigers baseball, and how to fix the beleaguered Detroit bullpen without burning the whole thing to the ground.

Topics in this week's episode include:

* This podcast has a name!

* What happened against the Boston Red Sox?

* Victor Martinez might be back to his old self

* Jefry Marte is good, but how good?

* What are we watching for as the Tigers finish out 2015?

* The single-biggest thing to be excited about for the Tigers in 2016

* The dugout fight that was (or wasn't)

* Listener questions!

*How to fix the bullpen

 

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The Detroit Tigers have been busy: they became sellers at the MLB trade deadline and traded away David Price, Yoenis Cespedes, and Joakim Soria for prospects, and then Mike Ilitch "released" Dave Dombrowski from his contract and replaced him with new GM Al Avila. Hookslide and Rob Rogacki talk about these recent events, as well as the rebooting of the podcast and plans for the future.

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In this episode of the Bless You Boys podcast, HookSlide talks with Perfect Game USA National Scouting Coordinator Brian Sakowski about the ins and outs of baseball scouting: how to spot talent, how to evaluate skills and flaws, what the terminology means, and more. We also talk about a few of the Detroit Tigers' selections in the 2015 MLB Draft: Beau Burrows, Christin Stewart, and Cam Gibson, son of former Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson. Finally, we talk about some of the prospects currently in the system, such as Joe Jiminez, Michael Gerber, and Derek Hill with the West Michigan Whitecaps, as well as what's going on in Toledo and Detroit.

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In this episode of the Bless You Boys podcast, HookSlide chats with Detroit Tigers television play by play announcer Mario Impemba of Fox Sports Detroit. HookSlide and Mario break down the Tigers' eight-game losing streak, their first such streak since 2005, and talk about everything from Brad Ausmus' role in the melt-down to the starting rotation, to the faltering offense, and everything else in-between.

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On this episode of the Bless You Boys podcast, HookSlide and Bless You Boys site managing editor Rob Rogacki analyse the past week of Tigers baseball on the west coast. Topics include the still-limping offense, the missing impact of Alex Avila, Anibal Sanchez and his on-going home run problem, Alfredo Simon's emergence as at least a number two starting pitcher, the role and future of Hernan Perez, looking back at last year's team slump, the Ryan Howard trade rumors, and injury updates for Justin Verlander, Alex Avila, Bruce Rondon, and Victor Martinez.

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In this episode of the Bless You Boys podcast, HookSlide chats with Ryan Dunsmore of SB Nation's Houston Astros site as well as BYB staff writer Jon Erkkila. Astros topics include: early dominance in the AL West, the apparent success of the rebuilding project, World Series odds, and more. Tigers topics inclue Victor Martinez's trip to the disabled list, whether Victor's contract extension looks any different in light of his injuries, the emergence of Alex Wilson as a stable bullpen piece, the struggles of Joba Chamberlain, Brad Ausmus' sometimes questionable strategies, and analyzing the issues behind the streaky Tigers offense.

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