Friday, August 8, 2014

Beanball, Prospects, Value, and Lamb

Head over to iTunes to check out the latest podcast: "Beanball, Prospects, Value, and Lamb"

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-in-the-dirt/id865902518?mt=2

Thanks for listening, please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe!

-Hayden

Monday, June 30, 2014

Trade Deadline Podcast Pt. 1

Available on iTunes is our latest podcast, about potential trades we think make sense. Things get silly and we get rid of Aaron Hill!

Enjoy and please don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe on iTunes!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-in-the-dirt/id865902518?mt=2

-Hayden

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Podcast: The Draft, Goodbye Cahill, Machado, and Rookies

Go to iTunes and check out our newest edition of the podcast!

"The D-Backs Draft & Machado"
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-in-the-dirt/id865902518?mt=2

The guys discuss the newest members of the Arizona Diamondbacks following the 2014 Draft, Trevor Cahill's recent demotion, Manny Machado's recent tantrums, and the rookie class of 2014.

As always, thanks for listening and downloading. Please rate and review our podcast on iTunes and don't forget to email us at ballsinthedirtpodcast@gmail.com

Thanks,
Hayden

Monday, June 2, 2014

New D-Backs Podcast!

6/2/14

Check out the link below to download our newest podcast on our beloved (and last place) Diamondbacks.

"Some Predicting":
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-in-the-dirt/id865902518?mt=2

Hayden & Nick discuss the possibility of Kirk Gibson and Kevin Towers being fired and whether or not that should happen now! As in TODAY! Other discussions include trade bait on the current roster and what prospects are doing well (and some that aren't). Hayden inevitably talks about Archie Bradley.

Thanks for listening!
Hayden

Friday, April 25, 2014

"The Really Abrasive Episode" on iTunes

Hey boys and girls,

New episode up at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-in-the-dirt/id865902518?mt=2

Please remember to rate and review us, and while you're at it please subscribe.

As always, our email is ballsinthedirtpodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening,
Hayden

Monday, April 21, 2014

iTunes Update!

Good afternoon boys and girls. We've got some updating to fill you in on.

We are now on iTunes! All you have to do is go into iTunes and type in "Balls in the Dirt" and under podcasts, you will find us! We have our first episode up now called "Early Season Blues" which was recorded on April 9th. Or if you want the link will be posted here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-in-the-dirt/id865902518

If you would do us the favor of subscribing, review, and rating us that'd be great. Remember, any and all feedback is welcomed at  our new email which is ballsinthedirtpodcast@gmail.com!

Thanks for being so patient with us as we go through some transition with this operation.

Content is on the way!

-Hayden

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Nick and Hayden's 2014 MLB Preview: 6. Detroit Tigers





6. Detroit Tigers
by Nick Opich4/2/2014



To really examine the make up of the 2014 Detroit Tigers, you have to look back at the circumstances that brought them to this point. After a disappointing ass whooping at the hands of the Texas Rangers in the 2011 ALCS, owner Mike Illitch and General Manager Dave Dombrowski knew they had a good team and were content to begin 2012 with relatively the same team. Then Victor Martinez tore his ACL during an offseason workout, the club panicked and signed slugging first baseman Prince Fielder to a 9-year, $214M contract. All was right in the world.

The Tigers were now easy favorites in 2012 to reach and win the coveted World Series. Although they didn’t dominate during the regular season, they reached the World Series and were matched up against the San Francisco Giants and were quickly swept, giving Detroit another embarrassing showing in the playoffs and their second World Series defeat of the decade.

In 2013, the Tigers were once again the odds-on favorite to win the championship. With Martinez returning the lineup, Detroit had arguably the most imposing middle of the order in the game. Add on the fact that they had a rotation of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, Doug Fister, and Rick Porcello and it was assumed by many that this team was the best in baseball. But you know what they say about when you assume something…

Detroit won the division by one game over the upstart Cleveland Indians and limped into the playoffs after being no-hit in the final game of the regular season. They were nearly knocked out by Oakland in the ALDS until Jhonny Peralta (fresh off his return from a PED suspension) hit a series changing double. They moved onto the next round against Boston and lost in six games to the Red Sox.

This will never be forgotten


It was clear that the dynamic of this team needed to change and you would be hard pressed to find any team that changed their make up more this offseason than the Detroit Tigers.

First, Manager Jim Leyland retired and was replaced by the younger and more analytically-inclined Brad Ausmus - a move many Tigers fans applauded. Then Prince Fielder and $30M was traded to Texas in exchange for 2B Ian Kinsler. Miguel Cabrera was to move back to first base and hot shot rookie Nick Castellanos was going to be brought up to play third. Another solid move by the savvy, Dombrowski.

Then things got weird… 

First, reliever Jose Veras, who was acquired at the trade deadline from Houston for young OF prospect Danry Vasquez, was cut because Detroit didn’t want to pay his $4M salary for 2014. An odd move considering the weakness of the Tigers bullpen but he wasn’t as reliable as many expected and so maybe this was the right move.

Then, on December 2nd, 2013, a day that will live in infamy, The Tigers traded Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for Double-A pitcher Robbie Ray, left-handed reliever (and homophobe) Ian Krol, and utility man Steve Lombardozzi. This sent shockwaves across Detroit and the rest of Major League Baseball. Did Dombrowski really trade a top-10 pitcher for a mid-tier prospect and spare parts? Isn’t this team set up to win now? There’s got to be something else going back to Detroit, right?

Yes, he did. Yes, the team wants to win now. No, they did not receive anything else from this trade.

Later that week, Detroit signed closer Joe Nathan but hardly anyone was excited. The damage had already been done.

They later signed OF Rajai Davis instead of the bigger name on the market Shin-Soo Choo and RHP Joba Chamberlain to a one year deal worth $6M bringing up many questions about why they cut Veras.

Who's really making these decisions?
Despite these strange moves, entering Spring Training, there was still plenty of optimism for Detroit.

Then, only a couple weeks before the season was to begin, it is reported that defensive whiz Jose Iglesias will likely miss the season with two fractured shins. A few days later, flame throwing reliever Bruce Rondon goes down with a torn UCL and it is announced that he will miss the season after receiving Tommy John surgery.

Tiger fans just wanted the season to begin before anything else weird and horrific could happen.

To replace Iglesias the Tigers acquired a platoon of Andrew Romine and Alex Gonzalez. One of the trades included sending Lombardozzi to Baltimore, making the Fister deal look even more dismal.

Finally the season has begun for Detroit and the outlook is still optimistic. Castellanos looked great this spring and Ausmus has shown so far that he is going to employ a more analytically inclined philosophy than that of the somewhat stubborn Leyland.

This team is in your hands now Brad
Objectively looking at this team, they have an array of players who are experienced and know how to win. In 2014, the Tigers could win anywhere from 88-95+ games and at the very least, run away with the AL Central crown.  

1. Last Season and Offseason
      a. 93-69 (Lost in ALCS to BOS)
      b. Signed Joe Nathan, Rajai Davis, Joba Chamberlain
      c. Traded Jose Alvarez to LAA for SS Andrew Romine
      d. Traded Doug Fister to WAS for LHP Ian Krohl, 2B Steve Lombardozzi
      e. Then trading Lombardozzi to BAL for SS Alex Gonzalez
       f. Traded Prince Fielder and cash to TEX for 2B Ian Kinsler

2. Lineup/Rotation
Lineup:
      1. Ian Kinsler 2B
      2. Torii Hunter RF
      3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
      4. Victor Martinez DH
      5. Austin Jackson CF
      6. Alex Avila C
      7. Nick Castellanos 3B
      8. Alex Gonzalez SS
      9. Rajai Davis LF
Rotation:
      1. Justin Verlander
      2. Max Scherzer
      3. Anibal Sanchez
      4. Rick Porcello
      5. Drew Smyly

3. Favorite/Least Favorite
      a. Nick's Favorite– Brad Ausmus
      b. Hayden's Favorite– Verlander’s conservation. Saves himself and his velocity.
      c. Nick's Least Favorite – Waste of roster spots
      d. Hayden's Least Favorite – Cabrera’s inevitable weight gain; Fister trade; Farm system

4. Impact Player
      a. Ian Kinsler
               i. Career lows in walks – 2012 & 2013 (12% to 8% drop)
              ii. Slugged .511 in Arlington; .399 everywhere else
             iii. Has hit .200 in Comerica
             iv. Age 29: Isolated power of .223; Age 31: I.P. of .136 (last 3 years: .223,.166,.136)
              v. But Michael Young was a better player from 32-34 than 29-31
      b. Rick Porcello
               i. Reaching 200+ innings – never done
              ii. Must be elite
             iii. Can he be Fister reincarnated?

5. Impact Prospect
      a. Nick Castellanos
               i. Oppo-field power
              ii. One of best pure hitters among prospects
             iii. Low expectations outside of hitting

6. Midseason Status
      a. Contending as usual for first in AL Central
      b. SS or LF as biggest hole?

7. Bold Predictions
      a. 93-69
      b. No significant trade
      c. Castellanos: AL ROY


Podcast Playlist:
"Are You on Your Way" - Middle Class Rut
"Trampled Underfoot" - Led Zeppelin