Sports: Tigers Pounded Again

Tigers

The Tigers’ lost 10-2 last night in Tampa.  David Price wasn’t sharp against his old team, giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out four in six innings of work.  Former Tiger property Curt Casali homered twice for the second straight night while going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Casali was the player sent to the Rays for lefty Kyle Lobstein.  Sidelined the past two months with a shoulder injury, Lobstein is nearing a rehab assignment. Yoenis Cespedes homered for the second straight night for the Tigers.  In the series finale this afternoon Justin Verlander gets the start for the Tigers.  Broadcast time is 11:54 a.m. on WBCK.

Tigers to Buy or Sell?

There's still no clear indication of whether the Detroit Tigers will buy or sell heading toward Friday's non-waiver trade deadline. But based on multiple reports Tuesday, it appears the Tigers are leaning towards avoiding a yard sale, and could attempt to add another pitcher later this week.  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake is one name that has come up. 

MLB Deals

The Royals have picked up 34-year-old utility man Ben Zobrist from Oakland.  The Los Angeles Angels have acquired outfielder David DeJesus from Tampa Bay.  The Angels also got veteran outfielder David Murphy from the Indians.  The Phillies have sent All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals.

Bombers

The Bombers beat the Lacrosse Loggers 8-3. Dan Swain and Matt Simmons homered for the Bombers. Nick Medeiros gave up just one earned run is 6 1/3 innings for the win.  The Bombers are off today. Starting tomorrow, they’ll play back-to-back double headers scheduled with Kalamazoo. The Bombers close out the home schedule on Saturday and Sunday.

Lions

Free agent cornerback R.J. Stanford has signed with the Detroit Lions. The Lions announced the move Tuesday. The 27-year-old Stanford has spent the past three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He played in five games for the Dolphins last season, making one start.  Stanford was drafted in the seventh round by Carolina in 2010. He played for the Panthers in 2011.

First NFL Female Coach

The Arizona Cardinals are the first NFL team to add a female coach to their staff.  On Monday, they announced that 37-year-old Jen Welter will help coach the team's inside linebackers during training camp and the preseason.  But the job isn't long-term because she'll just be a coaching intern during the summer. It could still lead to more opportunities for women in the NFL, though. She played rugby at Boston College and has over 14 years of football experience, mainly with the Women's Football Alliance's Dallas Diamonds.

Brady Suspension Upheld

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly offered former Wolverine QB Tom Brady a reduced punishment before upholding his four-game suspension. According to "Pro Football Talk," Brady's suspension could have been cut by at least two games if he admitted to having knowledge of what team staffers were doing to footballs, admitted to failing to cooperate in Ted Wells' investigation and apologized.

The Patriot quarterback was suspended for his presumed role in the use of underinflated footballs in January's AFC Championship Game. The NFL also believes Brady destroyed his cell phone to try and hide text message evidence of his involvement in "Deflategate."

Lambeau to stay Lambeau

The president of the Green Bay Packers says the team won't sell the naming rights to Lambeau Field under his watch. Mark Murphy says it doesn't make sense to put a corporate tag to the name of the historic stadium. Murphy made his remarks during the franchise's annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday at Lambeau.

Michigan

Michigan will retire six jersey numbers in a ceremony at the Ohio State game Nov. 28, ending the school's "legends program" in which players were given the same numbers as some of the team's all-time greats.  Michigan says it will retire Gerald Ford's No. 48, Tom Harmon's No. 98, Desmond Howard's No. 21, Ron Kramer's No. 87, Bennie Oosterbaan's No. 47, and the Wistert brothers' No. 11.

Coach Jim Harbaugh also said Tuesday that a plan was put in place that would enable wide receiver Dennis Norfleet to "achieve his goals academically and athletically" at Michigan. But Norfleet can talk to other schools if he wants.

City League Baseball

The Battle Creek Merchants in head to the NABF Regional in Flint Thursday for a chance to make the World Series. HBC Behnke will host next month’s NABF World Series in Battle Creek starting on August 5.

Coyotes

The Battle Creek Coyotes (5-3 MLFA, 6-4 Overall) earned a home playoff game for the second consecutive season, taking on the same  opponent they faced and defeated in the first round of playoffs last year.  The Coyotes will host the Wayne County Bengals (5-3 MLFA, 7-3 Overall) from Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, August 8. Location and time TBA. 

Playoff schedule:

August 8- Division semifinals
August 15- Division championship
August 22- Conference Championship
August 29- league championship