http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/9/...boys-podcast-130-dan-dickerson-detroit-tigers
Bless You Boys Tigers Blog Podcast 130: Dan Dickerson.
Topics:
Dan Dickerson interview: Dan goes in-depth about his memorable call of Magglio Ordonez's ALCS walk-off home run, taking part in the final broadcast from Tiger Stadium with Ernie Harwell, the differences between broadcasting baseball on radio and TV, the line he has to walk when criticizing the team, his use of advanced metrics during a broadcast, what to expect from the Tigers in the playoffs and the roster issues Dave Dombrowski faces this coming off season.
Taking care of business in Kansas City: The Tigers came out like gang-busters, winning the first two games of the series before the Royals salvaged the finale. The Tigers arrived in KC holding a1/2 game lead, left for home 1 1/2 games up with seven to play. Some fans complained the Tigers didn't sweep, but beating your main competition for the division by taking 2-of-3 on the road is how you win division crowns..
Salvador Perez controversy: The umpires got the call right, but how they got there may not have been. The issue being Royals stadium personnel posted the replay on the scoreboard, thinking the play was reviewable. Could the umpires have been influenced by a replay they weren't supposed to see?
More Ned Yost antics: The Royals manager made questionable-at-best strategy calls which played a big part in there two losses to the Tigers, specifically taking the bat out of the hands of his hottest hitters by asking them to sacrifice bunt, batting a .218 Josh Willingham 3rd, and using .167 Raul Ibanez to pinch hit instead of Billy Butler.
David Price versus the White Sox: Did Brad Asumus stick with Price too long in the ninth inning? After Price ultimately gave up three runs, the Tigers bounced back to walk off. Could the struggles of his bullpen have played a part in Ausmus' sticking with Price, despite the Sox rallying?
Resurgent Justin Verlander: He may not be throwing 100 MPH anymore, but he's been damn effective as of late. His last two September starts have been important Tigers wins, including out-pitching Cy Young candidate Chris Sale on Wednesday. His stats have been vintage Verlander - 15.1 IP, 14 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K.
Bincoluargate - Binoctober: Either Sale is either paranoidly insane, the Tigers had someone in center field stealing signs or some combination thereof. His actions elevated the series finale to the point of high comedy, with Sale wildly gesturing, binocular pantomiming from both sides, Sale hitting Victor Martinez and benches emptying. The controversy seemingly fired up the Tigers, who would go on to win the game 6-1 and take the series after a bad loss in game one. Sale's actions also lead to a war of words between Brad Ausmus ('that was weak') and White Sox manager Robin Ventura ('investigate your own team').
Stealing signs: The Tigers denied all of Sales's accusations. But do you agree with the adage, "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'?" Would it bother you if the Tigers were somehow stealing signs?
Twins series: Tigers are on the verge of clinching a fourth straight division title, taking game one of the series in workmanlike fashion.
Clinching the division: As of Friday afternoon, the magic number is two. The Tigers' destiny is in their own hands at the point. If the Tigers sweep or take 3-of-4 against the Twins, it doesn't matter what the Royals do. If they split, the Royals still need to sweep the White Sox. Tigers lose 3-of-4, KC needs to take 3-of-4. If the Tigers are, God forbid, swept, they can still clinch if the White Sox win 3-of-4.
At regular seasons end: In the end, the Tigers are who we thought they were, a team which would win 90-ish games. They will get to that point, but not in the way most expected. Few believed the Central would be a solid as it was, with three teams over .500 and the Royals pushing the Tigers to the final weekend.
Wild card and ALDS on tap: The AL wild card play-in game will likely be the Athletics and the Royals, played in Kansas City on Tuesday, September 30. Game one of the best-of-five ALDS is Thursday, October 2. If the season plays out as expected, the Tigers start the ALDS versus the Orioles in Baltimore. Are you surprised two teams out of the AL Central qualified for the post season? Any worries about the Tigers starting on the road?
Who do you want starting game one? Do you start Max Scherzer or Price? Would you put Verlander ahead of Rick Porcello in the rotation?
All that, plus tangents galore!
Upcoming guests:
October 3: Mark Brown, managing editor / podcast host for SB Nation's Baltimore Orioles blog Camden Chat.
October 10: Matthew B. Mowery, Tigers beat writer for The Oakland Press.
