Bless You Boys: for Detroit Tigers fans

HookSlide catches up with Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of Cespedes Family BBQ to talk about Yoenis Cespedes, Barry Bonds, Backyard Baseball, and more.

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HookSlide talks with Rob Rogacki about Miguel Cabrera's surgery, Bruce Rondon's recovery, the Tigers' acquisitions of Alfredo Simon and Yoenis Cespedes, and the loss of Rick Porcello in the starting rotation.

 

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The Bless You Boys Podcast returns as Big Al and HookSlide discuss the Detroit Tigers' off-season with Detroit News baseball columnist Tony Paul.

BYB Podcast 133 was recorded Halloween afternoon on October 31, 2014, has a running time of 80 minutes and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Special guest: Tony Paul of The Detroit News. You can follow Tony on Twitter at @TonyPaul1984. Also be on the lookout for the return of Tony's Hardcore Baseball show on Detroit Sports 105.1 in early 2015.

Topics:

Paul interview:

Have the Tigers plateaued under Dave Dombrowski's control?

Did the team explore making a manager change with the availability of Joe Maddon (who became the Cubs' manager on Halloween) and Ron Gardenhire?

Do the Tigers have any other options, or is Victor Martinez a must sign player despite his advancing age and demand for a four-year deal?

How will the bullpen be addressed? Is there a possibility the Tigers eat the final year of Joe Nathan's deal?

Torii Hunter is a free agent, and Andy Dirks was released by the team, only to be claimed by the Blue Jays. How will center and right be addressed?

Is David Price trade bait?

Will the 2015 Tigers remain an elite team or is it one in decline?

In the second half of the show, the guys discuss what they have been up to since the end of the Tigers' season, give their thoughts on the World Series and why ratings were down, the busy day in Tigers' news, Miguel Cabrera's surgery, Dave Dombrowski not saying much of anything during his post season presser, what direction the team's payroll is headng, and which Tigers are trade bait.

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In the first BYB Podcast of the off-season, Big Al and HookSlide ask Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press to conduct a post-mortem on the Detroit Tigers' disappointing 2014 season.

Bless You Boys Podcast 132 was recorded October 10, 2014, has a running time of  86 minutes and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Special guest: Matthew B. Mowery, Detroit Tigers beat writer for The Oakland Press. Follow Matthew on Twitter at @MatthewMowery.

Topics:

Mowery interview: Matt gives us an in-depth look at the life of a baseball beat writer, covers the good, bad and ugly of an up-and-down Tigers' season, how and why they were bounced so quickly from the ALDS by the Baltimore Orioles, the bullpen issues and how Dave Dombrowski has addressed it (unsuccessfully) over the years, grades out Brad Ausmus' first season as manager and how dealing with the rookie skipper was vastly different than working with the old-school Jim Leyland, and what changes the Tigers may make for 2015.

The remainder of the show Big Al and HookSlide go off on one long tangent, giving their takes on the Tigers getting swept out of the ALDS by te Orioles, Ausmus' use of the bullpen and non-use of Al Albuquerque, the possibility the team could eat Joe Nathan's contract, the availability of Ron Gardenhire, what Dombrowski may do to rebuild the outfield, how the Royals run to the ALCS feels similar to the Tigers' run in 2006, a fairly compelling ALCS compared to a utterly meh NLCS, and the state of the BYB Podcast heading into the off-season.

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The BYB Podcast is in playoff mode! Big Al and HookSlide preview this week's Tigers - Orioles ALDS.

Bless You Boys Podcast 131 was recorded October 1, 2014, has a running time of 84 minutes and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Special guest: Mark Brown, writer, editor, podcast host, and resident nerd of SB Nation's Baltimore Orioles blog Camden Chat. Follow Mark on Twitter at @EatMoreEsskay.

Mark Brown interview: Mark gives us the Baltimore Orioles' point-of-view on the suspension of Chris Davis, Manny Machado's injury, former Tigers and current Orioles Delmon Young and Qunitin Berry, Buck Showalter, how the Tigers match up and his prediction for the series.

Tigers win fourth straight division crown: Our thoughts on what was one of the more grueling regular seasons in memory.

ALDS rotation announced: It'll be Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Price, and Rick Porcello vs thew Orioles.

Raji Davis and the ALDS roster: A roster announcement appears to be on hold until there is a final determination on Rajai Davis' injury status.

Concerns going into the playoffs: Who and/or what bothers you about this Tigers team heading into the post season?

Positives going into the playoffs: Who and/or what has you excited for the Tigers' chances going into the post season?

AL wild card game: The Royals beat the Athletics 9-8 in a truly wild 12 inning, five hour marathon. Words could not describe how glad we are the Tigers avoided a glorified game 163.

TV weirdness: This ain't your grandfather's (or even your father's) TV schedule.

Twins fire Ron Gardenhire: four straight 92 loss seasons apparently sealed his fate.

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Dan Dickerson, play-by-play man for the Tigers radio network, joins Big Al and HookSlide to talk about his broadcasting days in Grand Rapids, working with Ernie Harwell and Jim Price, sabermetrics, and Detroit's outlook for the post season and in 2015.

Bless You Boys Podcast 130 was recorded September 26, 2014, has a running time of 1:15 and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Special guest: Dan Dickerson, play-by-play broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers Radio Network. Dan goes in-depth about calling Magglio Ordonez's ALCS walk-off home run, taking part in the final broadcast from Tiger Stadium with Ernie Harwell, the differences between working radio and TV, the line he has to walk when criticizing the team, his use of advanced metrics during broadcast, what to expect from the Tigers in the playoffs and the roster changes we may see this coming off season. Follow Dan on Twitter at @Dan_Dickerson.

Other topics:

Tigers take care of business in Kansas City.

The Salvador Perez controversy.

More antics from Ned Yost.

David Price, the bullpen and the White Sox.

September brings a resurgent Justin Verlander.

Chris Sale's accusations lead to the coining of Binoculargate and Binoctober.

Baseball's history is full of team stealing signs.

Tigers are on the verge of clinching the division against the Twins.

Ultimately, the Tigers are the who we thought they were. But the Royals weren't.

Playoffs on tap!

How does the starting rotation shake out for the post season?

All that, plus tangents galore!

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Big Al and HookSlide interview Rod Allen, member of the 1984 Tigers and color analyst for Fox Sports Detroit, who talks about his time in the big leagues and playing in Japan, life in the broadcast booth and the team's playoff chances.

Bless You Boys Podcast 129 was recorded September 19, 2014, has a running time of 1:13 and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Rod Allen interview: Rod gives us a look into his life in baseball, the experience of playing for Sparky Anderson and the 1984 team, tells of the full back story into his on-field 'fight' while playing for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan, his thoughts on the three-man FSD booth experiment, the use of advanced metrics versus what your eyes tell you and his how he sees the final week of Detroit's season.

Wasted opportunity: After sweeping the Indians, the Tigers failed to extend their division lead, dropping 2-of-3 to the Twins.

Rotation set for Royals series:  Kyle Lobstein is skipped, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello will start.

Joe Nathan: After blowing Tuesday's game, fans and media once again loudly called for Brad Ausmus  to replace Nathan as his closer with Joakim Soria.

David Price: The former Cy Young has had some WTF innings since joining the Tigers, posting a  3-4 record and 4.09 ERA.

Brad Ausmus: The rookier skipper continues to catch a great deal of heat for his in-game strategy.

Anibal Sanchez: He won't be stretched out enough to rejoin the starting rotation and appears headed to the bullpen. How would you like to see the Tigers use Sanchez out of the pen?

Middle of the order: If the Tigers don't win the division, it won't be the fault of the 3-4-5 hitters.

Royals series: Do the Tigers need to just avoid a sweep? Is taking at least 2-of-3 a must?

All that, plus tangents galore!

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This week Big Al and HookSlide are joined by Mario Impemba of Fox Sports Detroit, talking all things Detroit Tigers and his life in the broadcast booth. Bless You Boys Podcast 128 was recorded September 12, 2014, has a running time of 72 minutes and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Special guest: Mario Impemba, Detroit Tigers broadcaster for Fox Sports Detroit.You can find Mario online at MarioImpemba.com or on Twitter at @Mario_Impemba. His book, 'If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Tigers: Stories from the Detroit Tigers' Dugout, Locker Room, and Press Box,' is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and bookstores everywhere. Click here to learn more about Mario's project for the troops, 'Operation Opening Day.'

Topics:

Mario Impemba interview: We cover the gamut with Mario, who is in his 13th season of doing play-by-play on Fox Sports Detroit.

Tigers take 2-of-3 from the Royals, was it enough?

Tigers' schedule in their favor?

Pressure: Did the Royals' shoddy play in two of the three games show they were unaccustomed to playing in a pennant race?

Is manager Ned Yost the Royals' Achilles Heel?

Joakim Soria returns.

Miguel Cabrera, resurrected.

Kyle Lobstein, godsend.

Victor Martinez, batting champion?

The 2015 MLB schedule is released.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis suspended.

All that, plus tangents galore!

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This week Big Al and HookSlide welcome Rob Rogacki to the podcast. Rob is BYB's resident Doctor of Physical Therapy, who gives us his expert opinion on the Tigers' injury issues.

Bless You Boys Podcast 127 was recorded September 7, 2014, has a running time of 77 minutes and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Topics:

Rob Rogacki interview: We cover the gamut of Tigers' injury issues with Dr. Rob, from effects core muscle surgery had on Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, to the September status of Joakim Soria and Anibal Sanchez.

A week of treading water.

Six games with the Royals on tap over the next two weeks.

Is Drew Smyly out-pitching David Price?

There were numerous September call-ups, unlike the Jim Leyland era. 

Brad Ausmus - James McCann will not get much playing time.

The Justin Verlander - Kate Upton iCloud nude picture hack.

Fox Sports Detroit is experimenting with a three-man booth, adding Jack Morris to the Mario Impemba - Rod Allen broadcast team this week.

All that, plus tangents galore!

Upcoming guests:

September 12: Mario Impemba, Tigers play-by-play man for Fox Sports Detroit

September 19: Rod Allen, member of the 1984 Tigers, color analyst for Fox Sports Detroit.

Tentative, date TBD: Dan Dickerson, Tigers radio play-by-play man.

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Big Al and HookSlide welcome another special guest - Jason Beck of MLB.com joins us for a discussion of the AL Central, the rash of Tigers' injuries and his love of obscure jerseys.

Bless You Boys Podcast 126 was recorded August 29, 2014, has a running time of 68 minutes and features Al Beaton and HookSlide.

Special guest: Jason Beck, Detroit Tigers beat writer for MLB.com. You can find the latest from Jason at the aptly named Beck's Blog, and follow him on Twitter at @BeckJason.

Beck interview: Jason tells us how working as a beat guy for MLB  is no different from any other writer, the differing, unfiltered views he can get from a player compared to the Tigers' organization (such as Jose Iglasias and Anibal Sanchez telling the media their seasons were over, the Tigers saying otherwise), when we could expect Joakim Soria to return, how Miguel Cabrera's ankle injury may have sapped his power, the rash of injuries the team has suffered in general, and we get his take on the AL Central race. We also learn more about Jason's love of obscure Tigers jerseys. Injuries: The Tigers have suffered a devastating string of injuries, but Dave Dombrowski has been catching heat from media members over the lack of depth.Starting pitcher bingo: You can't tell who's starting every fifth day without a scorecard.Tigers claim Astros' closer Chad Qualls off waivers, but were unable to make a deal.With Sanchez out, as implausible as it seemed a month weeks ago, could the Tigers be in the market for a starter?Joe Nathan and the fan base calling a truce?Alex Gordon is not an MVP candidate!

All that, plus tangents galore!

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