Bless You Boys Podcast 26: No rosterbation allowed

by BigAl on Jan 14, 2012 2:18 PM EST in Detroit Tigers Podcasts

As the old saying goes, "Out of sight (or in our case, out of hearing), out of mind." With that in mind, here's the first Bless You Boys Podcast of 2012!

BYB Podcast 26 has a running time of 56:03, and features Allison Hagen, Kurt Mensching, and Al Beaton.

FYI: Old Time Family Baseball is hosting a weekend long blogathon ro raise money for Doctors Without Borders. They're good folk and it's a great cause. Click here to make a DONATION.

Topics discussed:

Holidays!
Pitchers and catchers report on February 20th. We were all burned out at the end of the season. Has the itch for baseball returned?
Justin Verlander, Conan O'Brien and Taco Bell.
Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, Lou Whitaker, hall of fame voting and the stupidity of the BBWAA.
Rumor mongering with Roy Oswalt and Yoenis Cespedes.

Listener questions:

Corey Luebke, fan trade scenarios and rosterbation.
How will the Tigers fill the final rotation spot?
Will the Tigers go with platoons at 2nd and 3rd?
Really? Bad platoons?
Spring training invitees: Surprises?
What's the current status of ex-Tigers Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Joel Zumaya?
Will Comerica Park be used in the NHL's next Winter Classic?
How would you improve the game of baseball?
Between Two Dugouts with the funny and mysterious Phil Coke's Brain: Was the interview for real?

Blogs mentioned: Brain Matters, Old Time Family Baseball.

Brandon Inge mentions:1

Sorry we didn't get to all your questions! We'll get them next time.

We LOVE to hear from you. If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, please email us at BYBPodcast at Gmail.com.

Click to directly download the MP3, or listen via the streaming version posted below.

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Comments

Despite BigAl's protestations...

I’d rather have pitchers hit, thanks.

Adds an intriguing element to an already-intriguing game.

Plus, it’s more elegant, conceptually. Nine guys in the field, nine guys up to bat.

by frisbeepilot on Jan 14, 2012 5:10 PM EST reply actions

yawn, yawn. I think the National League should give up already and bring on the DH,

by tiggs1 on Jan 14, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

I want to see hitters

Who at least have a chance of being competent. I want the pitchers concentrating on pitching. Some players aren’t even expected to move from one base to another in the field, and we don’t expect any random batter to pitch competently.

It’s a specialty that requires a lot of attention to do well. I’d rather they concentrate on that and leave hitting to the actual hitters.

Random nonsense at @Baroque97

"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

by Baroque on Jan 15, 2012 9:05 AM EST up reply actions

I disagree.

I know pitchers tend to be bad hitters. (For the record, though, I saw Carlos Zambrano hit a home run at Wrigley once, and the crowd went absolutely nuts.) Their contribution to the overall offence of a team is limited at best, but the same could be said about the defensive contribution of a first baseman.

My grounds are a little more philosophical, though. Baseball is a team sport, but it’s made up of individual battles. It’s not like basketball, where you can always just pass it to Michael Jordan; every person has to take their turn at bat, one at a time. That’s what makes baseball so unique… that, and it’s the only sport that doesn’t look the same in a mirror.

We could extend the “pitching is unique” argument to anywhere on the diamond, though. What about catching? All that equipment, all that squatting, the funny glove — and they’re facing a different direction than everyone else on the defence. And, catchers can sometimes squeak by with pitiful numbers at the plate (I’m looking at you, Mr. Laird), so why not have another DH for them? Heck, let’s just have separate offensive and defensive teams, just like the NFL. Then we would have amazing games with no dead-weight! Right?

(That being said, I love having V-Mart as our DH.)

by frisbeepilot on Jan 15, 2012 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

I saw Jason Johnson hit a homer off Jeff Weaver at Dodger Stadium

and it took JJ forever to circle the bases.

But I think it’s time for the NL to adopt the DH rule. At a minimum, all interleague games should have the DH. No DH is the only thing that I don’t like about interleague games.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 15, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

Well, I guess we just disagree

because the lack of a DH is probably one of my favourite things about interleague games.

by frisbeepilot on Jan 15, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't like the DH when it first came out

but I’ve done a 180 on this topic. They use the DH in high school, in college, and at all levels up through the minor leagues as well as in the American league and every major international league. The NL might as well adapt to it, IMO.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 15, 2012 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

They also have aluminum bats at every other level besides the pros

Why not change that too and have major leaguers hit with aluminum bats?

I mean, I agree that it’d be nice to be consistent. But that is one of the things I love about baseball — the different rules.

Also, it does seem like the NL game is a little more reliant on bullpens and manager strategy than the AL. I mean, I guess it just depends on what you like.

"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy

I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.

by jhitts08 on Jan 16, 2012 1:50 AM EST up reply actions

That didn't used to be the case

Back in the 60s, when both leagues had pitchers hit, I think pitchers around the board used to be competent hitters. I mean, Don Larsen (he of “only perfect game in World Series” fame) had a .660 career OPS!

"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy

I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.

by jhitts08 on Jan 16, 2012 1:46 AM EST up reply actions

Earl Wilson could hit, too

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 16, 2012 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

There was this one guy

I think his last name was Ruth? He was an alright batter as well while he was pitching.

by wilsonm24 on Jan 17, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

I'm blown away

Great podcast! Best one this year so far!

by Keith-Allen on Jan 14, 2012 5:23 PM EST reply actions

Thanks for the question and love Keith.

As to your question, here is a self-portrait

Me with my cell phone, tweeting away.

twitter.com/philcokesbrain

by Phil Coke's Brain on Jan 14, 2012 11:39 PM EST up reply actions

Does Shredder still catch?

Because I’m not totally sold on Gerald Laird.

by lesmanalim on Jan 15, 2012 1:39 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks

I’m tracking that cell phone right now and pinpointing your location….

by Keith-Allen on Jan 15, 2012 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

For what it's worth

The big chill at UM a year ago was much closer and more watchable than I imagined it would have been, and was quite fun despite the distance. I’d be very excited for another hockey game there.

by crc33 on Jan 15, 2012 3:26 AM EST reply actions

Improve baseball by...

1. Having a 1 pitch Intentional walk.
2. Expanding the playoff roster to 27 players. 1 extra bench player and 1 extra pitcher.
3. Having a more liberal strike zone. The postage stamp zone they have now is unfair to pitchers. Armpit to knee. Right now its… Top of Belly button to bottom of belly button.
4. Having instant replay on possible game ending/winning plays. ( No blown calls) Have the players determine the outcome not the umpires. Strike out/walk calls not included.
5. Having the same umpire " Crews" call the playoffs instead of Individual selections. Have individual selections for foul line umps. They can rotate from left to right field foul lines.
6. After the 7th inning the fans that remain should be allowed to move to better seats, closer to the field.
7. Any caught home run ball should be verified by the usher (some stadiums give out a little voucher now, even on foul balls) but for Home Run balls only, after the game that person/family should get an escort to clubhouse area and get the ball signed by player. No voucher no escort.
8. Having an autograph signing booth set up before each home Tiger game.
1 current Player/Coach and 1 Former Tiger player/coach at each session. Current players would only have to do 3 per year as the coaches would fill in the other dates. Do it 30 minutes before the gates open.

Just some observations after going to baseball games for over 40 years now!

by Spinman on Jan 15, 2012 7:35 AM EST reply actions

Having a 1 pitch Intentional walk.

I understand the logic, but I disagree. Walks are a punishment to the opposing team. Pitch counts are a huge factor and even half assed pitches take some toll. And the half assed nature of Int. Walks brings into the nature of mistakes. It’s rare but mistakes have been made by pitchers in those situations. Pitchers should still be expected to deliver, even in the simplest of situations.

Having a more liberal strike zone.

Strike zone is actually quite large. Going from the armpit to the top of the knee in a natural batting stance. It doesn’t need to be made bigger, the Umps just need to call it better.

The Distorted Waltz-NEW SONGS
@madpoopz

by madpoopz on Jan 15, 2012 10:27 PM EST up reply actions

Half of the things that they call balks shouldn't be

I get the concept, but most balks don’t have any impact on the game other than what the umpire makes of them. If the pitcher fakes a throw to first or home with a runner on base, or starts his delivery and then stops blatantly, okay. Otherwise, it’s just an anal rule that needs to go away.

I’d expand instant replay if they would make it really instant. None of this confab in the infield, then four guys going down a tunnel, only to emerge and tell us what the whole country knows ten minutes before they do. Put the fattest umpire in a booth and let him over turn the bad calls, other than balls and strikes, based on what he sees on his TV like the rest of us.

"King of Minutiae"

by Tigerdog1 on Jan 15, 2012 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I hate balks

I wish I had thought of that in the podcast.

pitchers don’t tell the batter what they are throwing. Managers have complicated signs so you don’t know when they are stealing or doing a hit and run.

Why are pitchers banned from a good fakeout?

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Jan 16, 2012 10:17 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

In addition to the intentional walk discussion

You won’t get to see Miguel Cabrera do something like this with a one-pitch intentional walk

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 15, 2012 10:39 PM EST up reply actions

EXACTLY!

The Distorted Waltz-NEW SONGS
@madpoopz

by madpoopz on Jan 16, 2012 1:01 AM EST up reply actions

They have one-pitch intentional walks

But, if you do more than 1 or 2 of them a game it leads to brawls.

I am not a fan of Delmon Young.

by HighOPS on Jan 16, 2012 7:05 AM EST up reply actions

After listening to this podcast

I think I can guess who Phil Coke’s Brain is. But I don’t want to say because I might get the banhammer for revealing his (hers? its?) secret identity!

"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy

I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.

by jhitts08 on Jan 16, 2012 1:52 AM EST reply actions