http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/...akim-soria-detroit-tigers-texas-rangers-trade
Bless You Boys Tigers Blog Podcast 121: All hail Joakim Soria.

Topics:

The Detroit Tigers acquire closer Joakim Soria from Rangers for prospects Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel.
Did the Tigers overpay for Soria?
Trading prospects is the equivalent of buying lottery tickets. You could hit it big, but the odds are heavily stacked against you.
Are the Tigers scrapping their future with prospect heavy trades? Was the Soria trade a "screw the future" deal thanks to an octogenarian owner who wants a World Series win NOW?
Should the bullpen have been better addressed during this past off season?
Joe Nathan is still the closer. But for how long? Would Soria be best used in higher leverage situations earlier during a game?
How should we define "winning the Soria trade?"
Fangraphs: Joakim Soria and the value of a postseason relief ace.
When Dave Dombrowski says it's 'highly unlikely" Joel Hanrahan pitches for Tigers, he's actually saying "Hanarahan will not pitch for Detroit in 2014."
Some things will never change, such as the Tigers' connection with Lakeland.
Debunking baseball voodoo: There are no such things as jinxes.
Ryan Raburn is gonna Ryan Raburn. Just ask Corey Kluber.

http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/verlander-wears-no-35-in-honor-of-frank-thomas-072514
Verlander wears No. 35 in honor of Frank Thomas.
from DetroitFox

Today's Legends of the Game is Team by team career TRAA leaders, AL.
Total Runs Above Average

1) BROWNS/ORIOLES

1 Eddie Murray 458
2 George Sisler 357
3 Ken Williams 355
4 Boog Powell 291
5 Frank Robinson 284
6 Ken Singleton 258
7 George Stone 245
8 Brooks Robinson 235
9 Harlond Clift 175
10 Brady Anderson 168

2) RED SOX

1 Ted Williams 1454
2 Carl Yastrzemski 664
3 Tris Speaker 574
4 Wade Boggs 519
5 David Ortiz 475
6 Dwight Evans 455
7 Jimmie Foxx 372
8 Manny Ramirez 318
9 Nomar Garciaparra 289
10 Harry Hooper 284

3) WHITE SOX

1 Frank Thomas 739
2 Luke Appling 410
3 Eddie Collins 316
4 Minnie Minoso 288
5 Fielder Jones 199
6 Joe Jackson 193
7 Zeke Bonura 168
8 Harold Baines 166
9 Johnny Mostil 165
10 Paul Konerko 159

4) INDIANS

1 Tris Speaker 691
2 Nap Lajoie 675
3 Jim Thome 462
4 Joe Jackson 353
5 Lou Boudreau 323
6 Manny Ramirez 320
7 Larry Doby 315
8 Elmer Flick 299
T9 Hal Trosky 281
T9 Earl Averill 281

5) TIGERS

1 Ty Cobb 1346
2 Al Kaline 623
3 Hank Greenberg 618
4 Harry Heilmann 490
5 Norm Cash 484
6 Charlie Gehringer 464
7 Bobby Veach 427
8 Sam Crawford 367
9 Miguel Cabrera 344
10 Lou Whitaker 251

6) ASTROS

1 Jeff Bagwell 721
2 Lance Berkman 483
3 Jose Cruz 358
4 Craig Biggio 253
5 Jimmy Wynn 236
6 Cesar Cedeno 214
7 Joe Morgan 203
8 Bob Watson 161
9 Glenn Davis 139
10 Richard Hidalgo 122


7) ROYALS

1 George Brett 665
2 Hal McRae 239
3 Willie Wilson 213
4 John Mayberry 161
5 Amos Otis 157
6 Mike Sweeney 147
7 Alex Gordon 105
8 Danny Tartabull 103
9 Carlos Beltran 86
10 Billy Butler 76

8) ANGELS

1 Tim Salmon 308
2 Brian Downing 229
3 Mike Trout 221
4 Vladimir Guerrero 213
5 Bobby Grich 144
6 Jim Edmonds 117
7 Wally Joyner 114
8 Darin Erstad 105
9 Jim Fregosi 101
10 Rod Carew 98

9) SENATORS/TWINS

1 Harmon Killebrew 452
2 Rod Carew 424
3 Sam Rice 390
4 Goose Goslin 373
5 Tony Oliva 341
6 Joe Cronin 293
7 Kirby Puckett 269
8 Joe Mauer 251
9 Bob Allison 250
10 Kent Hrbek 243

10) YANKEES

1 Babe Ruth 1652
2 Lou Gehrig 1189
3 Mickey Mantle 1004
4 Joe DiMaggio 781
5 Charlie Keller 421
6 Roy White 357
7 Bill Dickey 353
8 Yogi Berra 343
9 Alex Rodriguez 342
10 Bernie Williams 329

11) A'S

1 Jimmie Foxx 673
2 Rickey Henderson 617
3 Eddie Collins 441
4 Al Simmons 429
5 Bob Johnson 372
6 Mark McGwire 344
7 Reggie Jackson 339
8 Jason Giambi 293
9 Home Run Baker 291
10 Harry Davis 259

12) MARINRES

1 Edgar Martinez 639
2 Ken Griffey Jr. 453
3 Ichiro Suzuki 351
4 Alex Rodriguez 221
5 Alvin Davis 169
6 John Olerud 112
7 Ken Phelps 106
8 Mike Cameron 93
9 Jay Buhner 79
10 Phil Bradley 72

13) RAYS

1 Carl Crawford 208
2 Evan Longoria 202
3 Ben Zobrist 122
4 Carlos Pena 121
5 Matt Joyce 58
6 Julio Lugo 49
7 B.J. Upton 35
8 Fred McGriff 33
9 Desmond Jennings 32
10 Aubrey Huff 30

14) SENATORS/RANGERS

1 Rafael Palmeiro 388
2 Frank Howard 230
3 Buddy Bell 220
4 Juan Gonzalez 213
5 Alex Rodriguez 166
6 Mark Teixeira 148
T7 Mike Hargrove 143
T7 Rusty Greer 143
9 Josh Hamilton 141
10 Ian Kinsler 134

15) BLUE JAYS

1 Carlos Delgado 363
2 John Olerud 197
3 Jose Bautista 184
4 Fred McGriff 178
5 Jesse Barfield 176
6 Roberto Alomar 125
7 Shawn Green 113
8 Paul Molitor 98
9 Devon White 95
T10 Edwin Encarnacion 93
T10 George Bell 93

All stats in the ATM reports are generated using the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia, unless explicitly stated otherwise. FRAA, since 1950, is supplied by Baseball Prospectus.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/24/75-best-hall-famers-ever-babe-ruth-walter-johnson
The JAWS 75 for 75: Ranking the MLB Hall of Fame's top players.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/24/mlb-hall-fame-75th-anniversary-jaws-top-players-all-time
The JAWS 75 for 75: The Hall of Famers who just missed the cut.

from SportsIllustrated

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/07/baseball_hall_of_fame_cuts_ele.html
Baseball Hall of Fame cuts election eligibility to 10 years; ex-Tiger Alan Trammell will remain eligible.
mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/201407...aseball-hall-of-fame-years-eligibility-change
Baseball Hall of Fame cuts election eligibility from 15 years to 10.
freep

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...-years-Tigers-great-Alan-Trammell-stay-ballot
Hall of Fame limits eligibility to 10 years; Tigers great Alan Trammell to stay on ballot.
detnews

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb...md=20140726&content_id=86398586&vkey=news_mlb
Hall reduces eligibility from 15 years to 10.
Among other changes, potential voters must now sign code of conduct.
from MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb...md=20140726&content_id=86413060&vkey=news_mlb
New rules would have left mark on prior Hall inductees.
Dozen players have earned enshrinement after 10th year of eligibility.
from MLB.com

http://www.freep.com/article/20140726/SPORTS02/307260037/tigers-nick-castellanos
After sitting out, Tigers' Nick Castellanos shows he belongs in lineup with key hits.
freep

http://www.freep.com/article/20140725/ENT04/307250146/jack-white-detroit-tigers
Jack White to throw first pitch at Tuesday's Tigers game.
freep

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/07/detroit_tigers_outfielder_andy_4.html
Detroit Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks could resume injury rehab assignment early next week.
mlive

http://beck.mlblogs.com/2014/07/26/dirks-could-resume-rehab-assignment-next-week/
Dirks could resume rehab assignment next week.
from JasonBeck'sTigersBlog

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...n-Trammell?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Hall of Fame grapevine: Mr. Tiger Al Kaline goes to bat for Alan Trammell
detnews

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/07/detroit_tigers_brad_ausmus_eje.html
Detroit Tigers' Brad Ausmus ejected for second time in managerial career after arguing replay ruling.
mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/201407...-ejected-after-instant-replay-overturned-call
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus ejected after instant replay overturned call.
freep

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/det...md=20140726&content_id=86494828&vkey=news_det
Ausmus ejected after Angels win challenge.
Tigers skipper automatically tossed for leaving dugout after replay review.
Tigers official site



http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/07/tigers_angels_justin_verlander.html
Angels 4 - Tigers 0: Detroit's offense flatlines in shutout loss; Justin Verlander's strong start spoiled.
mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/201407...on-s-Shoemaker-outduels-Verlander-Tigers-loss
Los Angeles 4 - Detroit 0: Trenton's Matt Shoemaker outduels Justin Verlander in Tigers' loss.
freep

http://www.freep.com/article/201407...els-4-Tigers-0-Why-Tigers-lost-Saturday-night
Why the Tigers lost on Saturday night.
freep

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...e-continue-disagreement-following-Tigers-loss
Brad Ausmus, Jim Joyce continue disagreement following Tigers loss.
detnews

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/inde...014_07_26_detmlb_anamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=det
Verlander outdueled by Michigan-born rookie.
Shoemaker stifles Tigers offense; Ausmus ejected in third.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/inde...d=det#gid=2014_07_26_detmlb_anamlb_1&mode=box
Boxscore.
Tigers official site

http://beck.mlblogs.com/2014/07/27/did-scioscia-challenge-too-late/
Did Scioscia challenge too late? (updated).
from JasonBeck'sTigersBlog

http://newenglishd.com/2014/07/26/how-was-the-game-july-26-2014/
How Was The Game? (July 26, 2014).
from the nedtb

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/27/5940949/ausmus-points-to-chart-tigers-lose-anyway
Ausmus points to chart, Tigers lose anyway.
from bybtb
After reading this, Jim Joyce is a Shithead of the first order.

http://motorcitybengals.com/2014/07/27/detroit-tigers-los-angeles-angels-verlander/
Detroit Tigers get shut out by Los Angeles Angels 4-0, Soria debuts.
from mcbtb

http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/shoemaker-dominates-hometown-tigers-4-0-072714
Controversial call overshadows Shoemaker's dominance.
from DetroitFox

Longtime Cy Young front-runner Justin Verlander didn?t fare well against the resurgent Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He picked up his ninth loss of the season but wasn?t exactly that bad. For other pitchers, a seven-inning, three-run performance could earn them a victory, but that didn?t happen for Verlander. Unfortunately for him and the Tigers, they ran into Matt Shoemaker, who pitched a gem -- seven innings, three hits, five strikeouts and no walks.

Verlander?s record is now at .500 (9-9), and his ERA is a robust 4.79. While he?s been struggling to put something good together all season, Detroit fans should be relieved about his velocity going back to more Verlander-like levels; on Saturday night his fastball was sitting around 96 mph.
espn

July 27 in Tigers and mlb history:

1904 : The Tigers purchase catcher Monte Beville from the Highlanders to replace Bob Wood, who dislocated an elbow the previous day when he slipped trying to field a bunt against the A's.

1906 The Detroit Free Press reports that young outfielder Ty Cobb is in a sanitarium.

1928 For the last time in his career, Ty Cobb appears in the starting lineup. He singles, doubles, and is hit in the chest by a pitch against the White Sox.

1938 - Hank Greenberg of the Tigers, who had hit home runs his last two at bats the day before, homers his first two times up to tie the major league record of four in a row. Greenberg has a record-setting eleven two-home run games during the season. "Hammerin Hank" is on his way to another historic season leading the American League with 144 Runs, 119 Walks, and 58 Homeruns.

1946 Tigers slugger Rudy York hits two grand slams in one game. It gives Hal Newhouser his eighth straight win. Newhouser's ERA is 0.99 in that span.

1953 The Tigers release former ace pitcher Hal Newhouser.

1962 Al Kaline experiences his best-ever WPA game: 0.840 WPA. He?s 1-for-4 with a walk, reached on error and two RBIs in a Tigers 4-3 win over the Angels. He hits a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off win.

1968 - In Baltimore, Denny McLain shuts out the Orioles, 9 - 0, for his 20th win of the season, against three losses, for the first-place Tigers. McLain is only the third pitcher in the 20th Century to win his 20th this early; the others were Rube Marquard on July 19, 1912 and Lefty Grove on July 25, 1931.

1984: The Red Sox and Tigers almost match shutouts, as the Tigers win 9 - 1 and the Red Sox come back, 4 - 0. Rich Gedman's 9th-inning homer in the opener off Dan Petry is the only Sox score.

1997: The Detroit Tigers retire Hal Newhouser's uniform number 16. Newhouser pitched 15 seasons for the Tigers and won an even 200 games. He is the only pitcher to win back-to-back MVP awards, in 1944 and 1945. "Prince Hal" also won successive Earned Run Titles in 1945 and 1946. Following the festivities, the Tigers lose to Milwaukee.

Tigers players, and executives birthdays:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kaneha01.shtml
Harry Kane 1903.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hallch02.shtml
Charlie Hall 1918.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ray_Boone
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boonera01.shtml?redir
Ray Boone 1953-1958.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dave_Dombrowski
Dave Dombrowski President and General Manager 2001-present.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Max_Scherzer
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/scherma01.shtml?redir
Max Scherzer 2010-present.

Tigers players, coaches, and executives who passed away:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Hooks_Dauss
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/daussho01.shtml?redir
Hooks Dauss 1912-1926.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rick_Ferrell
Rick Ferrell coach 1950-1953, General Manager 1959-1962, Assistant GM 1963-1975, special assistant to GM 1976-1978.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bill_Tuttle
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tuttlbi01.shtml?redir
Bill Tuttle 1952, 1954-1957.

from baseball reference

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/07/analysis_detroit_tigers_brad_a_1.html
Analysis: Detroit Tigers, Brad Ausmus fall victim to glaring problem with MLB's instant replay system.
mlive

http://www.freep.com/article/20140727/SPORTS02/307270119/detroit-tigers-joakim-soria-world-series
Detroit Tigers notes: Joakim Soria joins veteran group seeking first World Series trip.
freep

http://www.freep.com/article/20140727/SPORTS02/307270126/tigers-alex-avila
Tigers' Alex Avila continues to struggle against lefties.
freep

http://www.freep.com/article/201407...lbert-Ilitch-Red-Wings-Tigers-Quicken-Detroit
One downtown, two empires: Mike Ilitch and Dan Gilbert reshape Detroit.
freep

Yesterday, Tigers P Justin Verlander moved into 8th place on the team?s career GS list. Verlander had his 184th career quality start, which ranks 7th in team history. (playindex)
YEAR AGE RSAA ERA G GS IP SO SO/9 WHIP W L SV NW NL TEAM
2012 29 42 2.64 33 33 238.1 239 9.03 1.06 17 8 0 18 7 Tigers
2013 30 20 3.46 34 34 218.1 217 8.95 1.31 13 12 0 15 10 Tigers
2014 31 -11 4.79 22 22 142.2 105 6.62 1.44 9 9 0 8 10 Tigers
CAREER 178 3.51 288 288 1914.2 1776 8.35 1.21 146 86 0 140 92
LG AVG 0 4.35 1914.2 1422 6.68 1.37 109 106

MOST CAREER STARTS, TIGERS

1 Mickey Lolich 459
2 Jack Morris 408
3 George Mullin 395
4 Hooks Dauss 388
5 Hal Newhouser 373
6 Tommy Bridges 362
7 Dizzy Trout 305
8 Justin Verlander 288
9 Earl Whitehill 287
T10 Frank Lary 274
T10 Dan Petry 274

MOST CAREER QUALITY STARTS, TIGERS

1 Mickey Lolich 274
2 Jack Morris 243
3 Hal Newhouser 236
4 Hooks Dauss 219
5 Tommy Bridges 202
6 Dizzy Trout 190
7 Justin Verlander 184
8 Frank Lary 165
T9 Dan Petry 146
T9 Jim Bunning 146

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...able-Tigers-looking-like-postseason-crapshoot
Unpredictable Tigers looking like a postseason crapshoot.
detnews