Welcome to the Fungo Hotseat Mr. Inge
By Doug Hill in Doug's Dispatches,Fungoes | 5 comments
Now that everybody’s favorite Tiger whipping boy Craig Monroe has left the building, Brandon Inge falls in the crosshairs of Detroit baseball fans growing increasingly frustrated from a baseball team that appears to be gasping for its final breath. (What with a starting pitcher who hasn’t mastered the first inning, a Jekyl and Hyde bullpen, an offense that produces only in big spurts a couple days a week, a shortstop with the range of, well, me, and a viral infection that’s managed to baffle medical personnel for the better part of a week.)
Fellow Fungo-ite Josh Wallen and I discussed this a week ago and B-Inge is probably just the latest Tiger who this team and its tempermental fan base is about to outgrow. The five men left on base Sunday just adds to the frustration and his ineptness on any pitch after receiving his second strike continues to be a sore spot in this author’s mind. (If there was a surer bet than Inge walking back to the dugout with a look of disbelief on his face after flailing away on an 0-2 slider/curveball low and away I invite you to offer it up. And no, Craig Monroe sulking back to the dugout with a look of disbelief doesn’t count!)
Much like Monroe, Inge caught lightning in a bottle last year but hasn’t been able to duplicate that feat this season. Perhaps it’s the luxury of knowing he has a contract and full-time employment for the foreseeable future, but whatever it is Detroit needs more from him – especially when runners are in scoring position. The strength of this team has always been balance and contributions 1-9. Anymore, Jim Leyland‘s lucky if 2-5 deliver regularly.
I know he’s a fan favorite and is easy on the ladies’ eyes, but Brandon needs to produce or Dave Dombrowski needs to find a suitable alternative for him down the stretch or this off season.
Tweet | email this | tag this | digg this | trackback | comment RSS feed
Loading ...
Josh Wallen | Aug 19, 2007 | Reply
Well said Doug. I hate to admit it, but Brando is deffinitely on the hot seat. I like the guy, and I deffinitely feel like he’s got a place on this team, but for Brandon’s sake… he’d better learn to bunt. As far as Mr. Inge is concerned, I deffinitely feel that the worst thing to happen to his season is the emergence of Ryan Rayburn. The kid can play all the positions Brandon can (Does anyone know if he can catch?), and he’s shown a knack with hitting in the clutch (all of which could spell the end for the NOTOROUIS INGE). Everyone keeps talking about Jack Wilson, and how he’s a gold glove short stop. I’ve got news for you… we’ve already got a gold glove player who carries a bat with a power outage. Why would we need another. I suppose the only good thing to come out of this would be the glaring hole there now appears to be at third base this off season. Does anyone know where we might be able to fill that need? The obvious one would be A-Rod, but I think Miguel Cabrera might be a little lighter on the wallets. Brandon would be a great Ryan Rayburn… if we didn’t already have a Ryan Rayburn.
Tammy | Aug 20, 2007 | Reply
All this talk about Brandon, Geeze. Why does he have to be the one everyone is complaining about?? He’s the #9 hitter for God’s sake!!!! We shouldn’t be worried about what he’s batting, if Sheffield, Maggs, Pudge and Guillen do their job. They are the “heart” of the order. Brandon handles the “hot” corner alot better than most third baseman I see. That includes the high prized A-Rod. We lost C-Mo, leave B-Inge alone!! Hey maybe Tampa Bay is a good place for ex-Tigers. Carlos Pena has 27 home runs!!
Doug | Aug 21, 2007 | Reply
The bottom of the order in the American League, most baseball folks will tell you, is of vital importance to a team’s success. Each time that player gets on base the lineup turns over and you get back to the perceived better hitters. It’s imperative the hitters in spots 7-9 are reaching base. Run production isn’t necessary, but empty at-bats like Inge’s on Sunday aren’t acceptable. You must put the bat on the ball, be able to lay down a bunt, hit behind the runner, whatever’s asked of you. Inge, much like Monroe, has shown little proclivity to be able to do any of that the last month-plus of the season.
Certainly Rodriguez needs to hit better. I don’t believe anyone can disparage what Polanco, Sheffield, Ordonez, and Guillen have done this year, however.
Bottom line, Inge wants to be viewed as an elite 3B and last year he did a fair amount of self-promotion over his power numbers and run production. That got him a nice contract, now he needs to live up to it … otherwise someone like Ryan Raburn will seize the opportunity and supplant him.
Josh Wallen | Aug 21, 2007 | Reply
If anyone helped promote Inge last year it was yours truly. My love for the guy borders on Man-Crush, so if I’m dogging the guy out you know it’s bad.
The fact that we lost C-Mo, and the fact that Brandon is riding the pine right now, is the price you pay to have a successful team. There are going to be casualties along the way, but as long as it helps us win I don’t care. Guys like Brandon, C-Mo, Maroth, and Infante all helped get the team to where they are today, and I respect them for it, but there comes a time when you either grow with the team or you get passed by. It sucks, yes, but the bottom line is “what have you done for me lately?”. If some other team would have come calling for any of those guys during the “bad” years, do you honestly think they would have stayed? No one came calling for them because at the end of the day they’ve all got flaws in their game.
It’s time for Tigers fans to realize that what happened last year was great. The fact that so many average players helped lead this team to the World Series was magic. At some point the magic runs out and your weaknesses are exposed. You either trim the fat and get stronger, or you run your franchise like the Braves. You’ll be good for a long time, but you’ll never be great.
I want Brandon to be here, but he needs to learn how to bunt… he needs to lay off the high heat… and he needs to stop taking his bat into the field with him otherwise you can forget about using his name and Gold Glove in the same sentence.
Doug | Aug 21, 2007 | Reply
I believe Mr. Josh Wallen has left the (chat) room.
Josh, did you just drop your microphone on the ground and walk off stage like the cool rock stars do when you finished your rant?