T-minus 30 hours and counting. Get this guy off the team. Brandon Inge has completed a “need-it-now” spring training with a .180 Batting Average, which is exactly what his debut year’s batting average was. If that was ever a sign, eh? Let’s put this in perspective; if he had 100 chances to hit a baseball, Inge would succeed 18 times. If you had 100 chances to nail a sales call and only succeeded 18 times, chances are you’d be looking for work elsewhere. I think the thing that makes me the maddest, is everyone BUT Inge knows he’s struggling at the plate. Every comment he makes, you’d think he just hit a homerun. And another thing, STOP SWINGING FOR THE FENCES! Every swing…WOOSH…guy is trying to tear the cover off the ball. It’s more annoying than anything! “Earth to BI: You’re a career .235 average, 139 homerun hitter! Babe Ruth you are not!”
I am tired of people talking about Inge as a baseball player, yet have no BASEBALL FACTS to back up their illogical love for a sub-par player. To help further my point, I tracked him down on baseball-reference.com, and I searched Inge, and my results came back: “WHO?” Looking at his fielding stats, aren’t as atrocious as I’d like them to be. Since 2005 his error totals go as follows: 2005 – 23, 2006 (World Series year, where he was a defensive specialist) – 22, 2007 – 18, 2008 – 1 (ONE), 2009 – 20, 2010 – 9 and 2011 – 9. A few things stand out here: ONE ERROR in 2008. What’s the catch? He played in half the amount of games he normally would. In 2011, you might remember the Tigers trading for William Betemit, allowing Inge to only play in 99 games
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The story on guys like Danny Worth or Ramon Santiago, is that they wouldn't last in a full season; they wouldn't hold up. As it seems though, the less games Inge plays, the better his fielding stats are. I have the privilege of sitting close to 3rd base for Tiger Home games. I have watch Inge with his “strong arm” completely over-throw Cabrera or throw in the dirt. I’m not saying Inge has to make EVERY throw over there, but how can you miss Cabrera? Miggy stands 6’4” and 240lb. You have to think with his arms, he can reach to 8 feet. And you’re going to over-throw this guy or throw it in the dirt. Miggy doesn’t get his due for how well he’s adapted to playing 1st base. I didn’t say he was John Olerud, but the guy can play it WELL (see Inge fans, that’s how you correctly categorize a decent defensive player). I have seen Miggy save many poor attempts from Inge; enough to make my body ache.
The next defense is “Inge is a great guy!” Last I checked, and I scoured the internet for an answer, you don’t win championships with great guys, especially in this town. This is home of Hockeytown, the Grind Line, the Bad Boys, the 2004 Pistons, the “Black and Blue division”. We all know where we were when Darren McCarty rearranged Claude Lemiux’s face. We remember vividly, Isaiah Thomas leading his team off the floor without shaking the Bulls’ hands. We will start fights with you if you are even wearing a Bears jersey. We wear shirts that say “Welcome to Detroit, where the weak are killed and eaten!” ”I’m so tough, I vacation in Detroit!” “Give blood, fight Probie!” This city isn’t for the faint of heart. If you want a gold star, go back to kindergarten.
“Yeah, but he does a lot in the community!” So do prostitutes, but I don’t see you trumpeting their names up and down the streets. So please, Dave Dombrowski and Jim Leyland, it’s time to put Old Yeller out to the pastures. You’d be doing him, me and the rest of Detroit a favor. Remember, you may be a great guy, but if you suck at your job, you too will be let go…no matter how well you bring doughnuts to the office each day.
