OT: When The Tigers Broke Free
It's official, and was not referred to in the Betemit trade post last night: Inge has been designated for assignment and will likely end up in Toledo as nobody will be interested in overpaying for a .177 hitter who has the lowest slugging percentage in all of baseball for those who qualify.
It was just before dawn, one miserable morning in late July....
I guarantee Inge will be back with the club come September when rosters expand. He surely will be relegated to a pinch hit or fill-in role, but do not think this is the last you've seen from Brandon Inge. He is still owed about $5.5M next season, and probably will enter spring training with as much of a shot as anyone to be the everyday third baseman.
I'm not excited about that, but it's most likely the reality of the situation.
EDIT: In fact, DD and Inge have already said as much (from Bless You Boys).
I'm just glad they finally made some kind of move. It absolutely needed to be done, and getting a guy like Betemit is a low-risk move that should pay off dividends for them. I can see him succeeding at a Peralta-lite level.
God NO. Put a fork in him! He's a rally killer on his best days.
You know he's a bust when all his fans say, "He's a great defensive player!"
Inge...No More!!!
An end to the worst player in baseball
Johnnie LeMaster retired YEARS ago.....
who would he pinch hit for? Joaquin Benoit?
Otherwise I agree with you.
I think I'd take my chances with Joaquin.
Despite being a switch-hitter, Betemit has a poor history of hitting LH pitching (i.e. he is weak as a RH batter). Hitting left-handers is Inge's offensive strength (insofar as he has one). So, hypothetically, Inge would be a decent spot starter and/or pinch hitter against LH pitching. He could also be used as a late-inning defensive replacement.
When rosters expand he could still help the club as a situational player. If he shows something in that role he could return in 2012.
Betemit is also a butcher in the field, so he'll need that late inning defensive replacement.
It's a testament to just how poorly Inge was hitting that Betemit will probably be an overall upgrade despite his defense. Although I think Rick Porcello is probably swearing up a storm -- a groundball pitcher who has Cabrera, Betemit and Guillen in the infield behind him can't be thrilled. Peralta's average at best with the glove and he'll look like Ozzie Smith in comparison to those guys.
Could also see Raburn or Peralta get some run at 3rd against LH pitchers (or with Porcello on the mound)...in that case Santiago might see additional starts.
Never under estimate my Pirates. We are notorious for over paying veterans past their prime. The front office is feeling some pressure from the media to make a move, my hope is that they stick with what we have. Anybody who is a true difference maker is out of our price range.
Not with Pedro Alvarez raking at AAA right now. I can't imagine he'll have to wait much longer to get the callup again.
I think they will take their time calling him back up. He needs to get his confidence back just as much as he needs to get healthy. Ideally we will eventually move him to first base, if Overbay wasn't finally hitting, that move may be made sooner rather than later.
I think this is a temporary fix at best. I would have prefered them making a hard push for Jose Reyes from the Mets. He could have taken over at short and then move Peralta to third. Not only do we get much better offensively but Reyes has much better range at short.
signing one of the best players in baseball. Anybody have an extra $140 million?
Reyes has been on the DL more often than he's been on the field in recent years
Plus there is no way the Mets part with him.
When the Indians moved Peralta to 3rd, that's when his hitting and attitude went south. Dombrowski would be a fool to do that. I'm glad Jose Reyes is not going to be available since he'd probably just be an expensive rental anyway.
I'm disappointed that nobody got the Pink Floyd reference :(
I got it. I was hoping you were referencing Floyd. Oh how I love that song. Takes me back a few years to sitting on the couch and crying (clearly out of my wits) during the scene when Pinky was putting on his dad's uniform.
Love love love that song.
Excellent reference, but disappointed there was no Misopogonesque effort a la last night's Dear Diary/Cursive epic incantation.
but The Final Cut came out in my sophmore year at UofM (on casette of course). Played it about 10,000 times, though I do not believe that "When the Tigers Broker Free" was on the original cut. That song is still on my running mix.
No it wasn't. It was one of the songs on The Wall (the movie) that never made it on an album. Maybe a side B?
Oh the final cut. Fletcher Memorial Home. Oh the past. I sound like Lester Burnham...
that should've made it onto the The Wall (album).
It's a short song, with poignant and bitter lyrics, that really sets the stage for The Wall. I've always wondered why it never made the album. The lyrics are below:
It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black 'forty four.
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the Generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while.
And the Anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives.
And kind old King George
Sent Mother a note
When he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall,
In the form of a scroll,
With gold leaf and all.
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away.
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
His Majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp.
It was dark all around.
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free.
And no one survived
From the Royal Fusiliers Company C.
They were all left behind,
Most of them dead,
The rest of them dying.
And that's how the High Command
Took my daddy from me.
Here you go:
"The song was written at the same time as The Wall, hence its copyright date of 1979, and was originally intended to be part of that album, but was rejected by the other members of the band on the grounds that it was too personal."
The whole album is pretty "personal", but who am I to question Pink Floyd.
I'm not sure if When the Tigers Broke Free was ever officially released in the day. A few years ago, they re-released The Final Cut and put it on there. Doesn't really fit too well on it though.
I got. Love that album.
Couldn't the Tigers have given up David Purcey as well as the 2 minor leaguers in the Betemit trade? Last night, he came in to a game where the Tigers were leading 5-3 and promptly walked the bases loaded. It didn't help that the next reliever let all 3 (plus another) score, but if they have to put in guys like him to protect a lead, they need more than just another starter and getting rid of Inge.
We certainly aren't free with Purcey still around, he can't find the strike zone even with a sherpa guide. The only lefty in our bullpen that has any control is Phil Coke, who btw has proved to be much better in a relief role than a starting one.
If Dave Dombroski included him in any deal, he probably would have hung up on.
I feel like this is right on topic with the news. http://youtu.be/HSJhqugGprU
Embed if you want.
I have no idea what you're talking about (not a baseball fan), but I absolutely love that song! When I saw the post I quickly clicked (without noticing OT) and was thinking/hoping someone made a hype video to that song. Lyrics aren't really appropriate, but the tempo and emotion in the song are somewhat similar to Better Son/Daughter and would make for a badass video.
I know this kind of veers away from the OP's topic, but it's not worth creating another thread for this... does anybody think we have a legitimate shot at trading for James Shields?? He's one guy I would not mind dealing Turner/ Furbursh/Oliver for if the Rays were interested. I'm just not sure how much interest they have. And really, what's the motivation for them? They already have a great farm system and they're not completely out of it for the East/WC. But apparently there will scouts from the Reds, Cards, and us to watch his start tonight against NYY. He is someone who could definitely help us make a serious push for October. Here's to hoping, right?
There is a chance that you'll see Inge at third base again someday, and yes, for the Tigers. I would say very few people are excited about that, but it is a realistic scenario. Right now, they have Betemit, who is a distinct upgrade, but if they don't re-sign him, then you're left with the same problem unless the Tigers shop for another answer. For years, for what it's worth, Brandon Inge was the best answer to the third base question within the Tigers organization. Therefore, in part, I blame the Tigers for this drama.
I really can't understand the love for this guy. I was over him when he was signing his last contract. When he told the team he wasn't going to play catcher he showed his heart to us. It's all about him.
I'm not afraid to say that I hope he doesn't make it back.
He seems hardworking, is an above average defensive 3rd basemen when healthly, and seems like a nice, likable person (met him before the Bowling Green game in Saline to have him sign a baseball for my dad). I can't really fault him for not wanting to go back to C after they signed Pudge, moved him and then expected him to go back even though he was just as good defensively, if not better, at 3rd and liked it more. The criticism was a bit unfair before this season considering he was on a roll before he tore both of his knees and was recovering from surgery on both. It's definitely fair now, but I do wish him the best in Toledo and hope Bull Durham is able to fix his head and bat since Lloyd McClendon could do neither (especially the bats for the whole team)
Was it that LM couldn't do it or Inge was unwilling? There are criticisms to be directed at LM but Inge is not one of them. He refused time and time again to change his hitting stance and style and just swung for the fences. At that point you can only blame management for signing him again or Leyland for trotting him out there on a daily basis (same for Rayburn).
It must have escaped your notice that Inge never even started hitting until he was moved out from behind the plate. Even if the worst is true regarding Inge's so-called selfishness - which I find totally incredible in the proper sense of the word - it was still the best move for the team not to have him behind the plate.
I think I figured out one of the reasons why Inge is hitting below 200...
His eyes are closed
the florida marlins are interested
was a nice player, but it is time to move on,