OT - Inge is back.
Lineup vs CWS: Jackson CF, Santiago 2B, Cabrera 3B, Fielder 1B, Young LF, Raburn RF, Peralta SS, Inge DH, Laird C, Porcello P
He will haunt your dreams...GO TIGERS?
April 15th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
but he makes the women of downriver go wild.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
DH? Really? I'm quasi-ok with Inge being in the line up to give us some solid defense, but to put him in the line up purely for offensive purposes is utterly asinine.
...but he went 1 for 9 in Toledo...he's got a hot bat.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
I could make a rational explanation for why Inge is DHing, but it's beside the point. Every year, Leyland has to have one guy he plays even if there is no rational reason to do so. Nefi Perez, Don Kelly, this year (and arguably in past years as well) it is Inge. Get ready for 100 games or so from everyone's least favorite Tiger of all time.
...Just wait till Inge subs in for Cabrera in late inning situations next month.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
F you in the A!
April 15th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
THE KNOWLEG... oh.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
Oh dear god, why would Leyland put a guy who's hitting .187 or something through spring training and a stint at AAA in the lineup position with "hitter" in the title?
I'm not a Leyland hater or an Inge hater. Used to like Inge, but finally got frustrated with his unwillingness to recognize that he is not a power a hitter. Spend a winter with Cabrera and his hitting coach (remember what that did for Avila?) and learn to swing for solid contact. He's a big enough guy that solid contact is likely to result in more than a few gap doubles and a handful of homeruns. I don't think he's capable of seeing pitches well, but if he hit .250 with moderate power he'd be worth his salary and not get sent to the minors.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
I don't mind having Inge in the lineup for his glove since more than likely the eight guys around him will contribute offensively, but Inge does not have the consistent punch that you generally want from the DH slot - I think the .235 career average might attest to that.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
April 15th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
Leyland knows that Porcello is going to pitch a shutout. Why not give some guys rest today?
April 15th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
April 15th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
Leyland did this a lot last year for "getaway" games, and oddly it seemed to work out well more often than not. I wonder if it's a psychological thing: if you lose the third in a row with your best, it's the start of a slump; if you concede that third in a row with the bench it's not ... and if you win, it's kickstart.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
It was a joke. Aliva deserves a day off. I can't come up with a reason for Leyland making up one of his famous 'sunday lineups' for the game today.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Avila is probably banged up after the number of hits he took yesterday. Beyond that is this really that puzzling? Inge is playing to take our attention off Raburn.
Young is in the lineup.
Young is in the lineup.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
hurt myself. I fear my reaction was so strong Leyland might have felt the vibes - this might be partially my fault. I apologize.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2012/04/detroit_tigers_jim_leyland_des.html
Leyland wanted to give Brennan Boesch his first day off of the season, which prevented him from using Ryan Raburn as the designated hitter and starting Inge at second base against White Sox left-hander Chris Sale. Raburn is starting in right.
There's more in the article, but that's why in a nutshell. It's just "Leyland Logic."
when I first read the title I thought it said "Inge is black" I was thinking Jesus we've come a long way in medical breakthroughs. Now will this improve his hitting?
Inge and Laird back to back in the lineup has the opposing pitcher chuckling to himself. Free outs must be nice.
I think this is the first time I've hoped for a tiger to go O-fer in a game. I want no excuses to keep this guy around any longer.
April 15th, 2012 at 11:30 PM ^
Shit, I used ink.
Well, it was a good day to pick up Chris Sale in my fantasy league...
why not
O/U on Inge check-swings: 6.
I'd rather see the Tigers send a 10 year old kid to the plate or maybe a hot chick from the stands!
Please make it stop!
42 looks pretty good. He does a little of everything
And here comes the dynamic duo
Takes two down the middle and saves his big rip for a pitch in the dirt.
2nd hitless at bat (fouls out with a runner at 2nd & nobody out)
Maybe the Cubs could use another shitty player.
What are the odds Inge hits into a triple play here in the 6th?
EDIT - never mind. Boesch in - Leyland comes to his senses.
He clearly knows how ridiculous it is. Why would you ever need to pinch hit for your DH?
We see you Ricky
Detroit Tigers: 1-0 against the White Sox when Brandon Inge plays.
0-2 when Inge doesn't play.
QED!
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.
.
(not actually serious)
Ilitch ought to step in and tell them to cut the guy. He told them to go after Cabrera and Fielder, he can tell them to do this. He owns the club and has invested huge sums to try and win it all while he can. No way would I let Leyland exercise an irrational support of Inge and hurt the team. Ilitch can and should step in to end this nonsense. It's his team and the buck stops with him.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:12 AM ^
Gotta admit that Inge looks pretty beefed up compared to last year due to his working with Barwis. I wish Barwis could have taught him how to hit a baseball though...