OT: Tigers Recall Inge (Commence Leyland Bashing)
Title about says it all... To make room for Inge Tigers sent Andy Dirks (Batting .257 with .730 OPS and 97 OPS+)
The sad thing is Inge hasn't even been tearing it up down in Toldeo. (Batting .287 and 19 RBI in 29 games)
The part that really kills me is we traded for Betemit he is hitting .300+ in a Tigers uniform and now we have three 3B on the roster.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110819&content_id=…
August 20th, 2011 at 1:57 AM ^
August 20th, 2011 at 2:10 AM ^
Inge is supposed to start Saturday. Plus Inge has never hit late in the season. Despite the .287 average in Toledo, he's 2 for his last 19. Even if Inge stinks up the joint at the plate, they'll keep plugging him in the lineup through September.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^
You're thinking far too logically. Yes, Inge should only be used as a late inning defensive replacement. But he will start several games and it will be infuriating and you should know this. We are talking about Leyland here.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^
I completely agree with you. In addition, Inge has been tearing it up against left-handed pitching while in Toledo. He's batting 15-for-38 (.395). Betemit is .238, 34 strikeouts in 90 plate appearances against lefties. Once again, this is a fine move. It certainly can't hurt to put Inge in the game against left-handed pitching and see what he can do.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
tear it up vs LHP, Betemit probably won't either. That being equal, go with the defensive advantage.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:34 PM ^
I still remember Betemit's first game as a Tiger when he essentially threw the baseball straight into the ground. That wasn't exactly the best omen from having confidence in his defensive skills. I'm not saying he's a bad player because he's not, but once again, Inge would be the better defensive replacement, especially in later innings of a close game. I think a combination of Inge/Betemit is by far better than just have one or the other, if played correctly by Leyland. That being said, we will see if Leyland can effectively utilize both of them in the right situations.
August 20th, 2011 at 1:21 AM ^
I kinda doubt any of these guys really influence the Tigers winning the division too much...
August 20th, 2011 at 1:35 AM ^
how come leyland never plays betemit
August 20th, 2011 at 1:48 AM ^
liabiility. He may be the worst fielding 3B in the league. Betemit has never really been an everyday player throughout his career, mainly because of his defensive issues. And saying he never plays him is not accurate at all.
This move is fine with me, gives the Tigers a good defensive replacement for 3b late in games, and Dirks can be called back up when the rosters are allowed to expand. He wasn't going to get alot of playing time between now and than with the acquisition of Young anyways.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:08 AM ^
Inge's defensive prowess is fading fast, and Wilson has just as many errors at 3B this year as.....Inge! When will this town move past it's love affair with Inge and his inability to hit his weight. The trade was made for a reason, Mr Tiger has jumped the shark. Wish him well on a great career and move on people.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:31 AM ^
and Inge. Betemit has a career .938 fielding percentage and .875 fielding percentage with the Tigers. Both of those are horrendous. Inge's fielding percentages over the last three years(.955,.977, and .954) are sigficantly better than that. Inge is good defensive player, not great though due to a tendency to make some errors but he also has the ability to make some difficult/spectular plays. Betemit does not possess that ability.
Not that I put a ton of stock in player poles, but there was a recent one where Betemit got the most votes for the worst defensive 3rd basemen.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:43 AM ^
The people in this town who love Inge will move past their affair with him when he ceases to be white.
Don't hold your breath on that one.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:05 AM ^
in this thread said anything about loving Inge? Pointing out that Inge is better defensively than Betemit by a good margin is a fact, meaning that Inge does have use as a defensive replacement. He may get a couple of starts here and there, but I would be shocked if defensive replacement wasn't his primary role. Good job insuating some kind of non-existant racism though. Cabby, Peralta, and V-Mart are pretty popular Tigers and I doubt Inge would rank ahead of those guys as a fan favorite among Tiger fans these days. Last I checked they are not white.
August 20th, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^
Best player in the MLB
August 20th, 2011 at 4:57 AM ^
But I find your racist comments on this thread completely unacceptable. If the mods don't mind this kind of stuff I'm leaving.
August 20th, 2011 at 7:28 AM ^
Get over it.
August 20th, 2011 at 9:28 AM ^
I'm not saying we can't have discussions about race and sports. This wasn't one. It was one guy basically going on a rant and then throwing out race and/or racism as the reason not everyone agrees with him.
There are plenty of sites where this kind of comment is commonplace. It drags down the level of discourse and heated, escalating arguments usually follow. I sure as hell don't want to see where it would lead to here.
August 20th, 2011 at 7:28 AM ^
You're gonna get beat up for this, but you're exactly right. If Inge was anything other than white he would have been long gone years ago, I have no doubts about that. Tigers fans love him because they identify with him - mediocre, white.
August 20th, 2011 at 8:13 AM ^
but I literally don't know one person that likes Inge (look at this thread for godsakes). I think pulling the race card here is not only offensive, but you're just wrong. I mean, thats like saying people love leyland's lineup decisions b/c hes white. It is just incorrect.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^
People love Brandon Inge but he's this scrappy, blue collar, aw shucks I'm gonna try my damndest good ol fanshioned white 'Merican Boy. There's no other reason for his face to be plastered on the Sunday edition of the Free Press. You're ignorant (not specifically you) if you don't think that he's white has something to do with the love affair this city has for him.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
So i'm curious on why that hasn't seemed to translate over to the other Tigers players who are white.
Where was the inordinate love for Todd Jones, Bonderman, Robertson, Penny, Vance Wilson, Jason Grilli, Chris Shelton, etc.?
And I don't know why people still think all Tigers fans love Inge. I think you can look at that .177 BA and realize he was terrible this year.
August 20th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
Being white alone doesn't make a guy a fan favorite (compare fans' attitudes towards Zack Novak vis-à-vis Stu Douglass) but if said white guy exhibits gritty qualities, he will be. Inge has been around awhile and has played a bunch of positions without complaining. He's the classic "fan favorite" type. There's one on almost every team. White guys at the end of NBA benches are likewise embraced by fans.
This is not to say that it's impossible for fans to like black or Hispanic players. Of course they can. They just tend to be more forgiving of gritty white guys. It's probably more subconscious than anything. It's a pretty widely-observed phenomenon.
August 20th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
What are you talking about with this, "without complaining" . This is the same guy who basically pissed and moaned back in 2008 asking to be traded during spring training.
August 20th, 2011 at 8:16 AM ^
August 20th, 2011 at 8:19 AM ^
I need to change my signature now:
" - Lorne, mediocre, white, Tigers fan, Michigan alumnus"
August 20th, 2011 at 9:29 AM ^
Just look at Curtis Granderson who was everyone's "tiger" before he left. He got the same amount of love as Inge and is clearly not white.
<br>And another reason we love Inge is that he has been here through it all, from one of the worst seasons ever 2003 to a world series appearance 2006 to now.
August 20th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
If Granderson's production ever became as pathetic as Inge's has and he was making ludicrous comments to the media almost every week to excuse it, I doubt his jersey would be the most widely seen at Comerica Park (as Inge's still was when I went to a game in late June). Same goes for him retaining popularity had he ever whined about not getting to play his favorite position and openly wishing for a trade (Inge during spring training '08).
If you don't agree, that is fine. But I'm not the only one who has thought this about the guy...
August 20th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
I always see tons of Verlander and Cabrera jerseys. Has it occured to you that most people don't own more than 1 or 2 Tigers jerseys? I wear a Ordonez jersey when I go to the game. Partly because I like Ordonez, mainly because that's the only one I own.
August 20th, 2011 at 9:53 AM ^
Look if you want to argue that Inge would have been less popular if he weren't white, then go ahead. But you are really going to call out Tigers' management for keeping him around because of his race??? This is beyond dumb.
Sincerely,
Medicore Tigers Fan
August 20th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
Don't they kind of go together? Of course the management doesn't care about race, but if Inge hadn't been as popular with a segment of the fanbase as he has, he probably wouldn't be this almost immovable institution here who has to do so little to get his contract re-upped.
I stand by it. Brandon Inge as a Spanish-speaking Central American with the exact same game would NOT last 10 years here (most of it as an everyday player). It's an ugly reality.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Inge was an elite defensive third baseman from 2005-2008. That has nothing to do with his whiteness, it's just the numbers. Look up UZR and +/- in the period if you need to be educated. 2009 he had a great first half before his knees blew up, rendering him totally useless since. Your entire argument rests on the idea that he's a middling player, except he wasn't. He was one of the best in the sport at a particular aspect of the game.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
As bad as Inge is now, you could argue that he was THE BEST defensive player in baseball in 06, this is why he got a contract extension. Oh yeah, his .250 ave from 05-07 wasn't as much of a liability when you consider his value over replacement. This is not Bobby Higginson, Comerica is sold out this weekend because of the product on the field not because of Brandon Inge. Inge is on the team because no one would pick him up off waivers after he was optioned to AAA, we have no choice but to hope that he can add value to our team because he is going to be a Tiger until his contract is up.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
i'm no inge supporter, but inge still has a job in the majors because he still has a good glove at perhaps the weekest position in the majors right now, 3B. oftentimes good fielding players stick around long after their bat has left.
hell, we had adam everett here a couple years. he's still in the bigs and hasn't hit .250 since 2004. Omar Vizquel has been hanging on several years and his recent OPS years don't even sniff Inge's.
yes, inge will be on the tigers' post season roster because he still has one of the best 3B gloves in the league. and he will be utilized as a late inning replacement.
deal with it.
August 20th, 2011 at 5:59 PM ^
Have you watched ONE Tigers game this season where Inge started at third?
His glove has gone way downhill.
August 20th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
it's STILL considered at least MLB average and WAY ahead of Betemit's glove. So the point you're making is....
August 20th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
there is a lot of noise in using UZR/150 as a defensive stat for just one season (defense needs to be evaluated with a larger sample than hitting), it's worth pointing out to you people who only look at errors that Inge is still rated as a MLB average fielder at 3b while Betemit is, uh...not even close.
And here's the other thing. Betemit isn't an every day player because not only can't he field, he also can't hit from the right side of the plate. He's simply not an every day player. He has value, sure. But Inge can certainly help out by being at 3rd when guys like Porcello or Fister are pitching (you know, ground ball pitchers and stuff).
This is hardly going to be a move that would cost us a Central. The hitting was already top 5ish in MLB before we sent Inge down. The thing holding the Tigers back has been pitching. Inge can help those pitchers out.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
And let's not forget the insane batting order decisions that Leyland comes up with. At least with Dirks gone he has to plug in somebody else whenever he wants to rest Austin Jackson. I pray that person posesses an over .300 OBP.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
Betemit: 66 games, 10 errors, but makes up for it with .285, 5 hrs, 39 rbi
Inge: 69 games, 9 errors, and makes up for it with .177, 1hr, 19rbi
Clearly Betemit is the liability...
August 20th, 2011 at 1:50 AM ^
I thought the Detroit News huge headline last weekend, "Wholly Toledo," to desribe a feelgood human interest piece on Inge was just about the most apropo thing I've read in print journalism just about ever. Dude's minor league talent with no upside. Unlike Dirks.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:00 AM ^
be called back up on September 1. He was not going to get much playing time between now and than. I agree that Dirks obviously has upside, but this was a short -term move. Inge can be useful as a defensive replacement at 3B, which I assume was the intent behind this move. There is no way I trust Betemit's defense late in games.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:08 AM ^
I disagree, Dirks has been contributing in a lot of games recently, and quite frankly would be a much better asset to this team down the stretch than Inge will. I knew this would happen eventually because Leyland's disgusting loyalty to veterans who can't play anymore.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:32 AM ^
will be an asset down the stretch when he is called back up on September 1st. That is only 2 weeks from now. Than again your the same guy who was bitching about Leyland never sacrificing bunting in another thread, when they have the 3rd most sac bunts in the AL.
And why do people assume the roster move was made primarly by Leyland. Other individuals have input on this kind of roster move as well.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
you like me or something? That was a whileee ago. And i said small ball not exclusively sac bunts. Jerk
August 20th, 2011 at 2:22 AM ^
Did you listen to Leyland explain the move? because it makes sense. After the game he said it's not a demotion but the next couple weeks they're going up against mostly left handed pitchers (Dirks is left handed) - and rather than sitting him that whole time they'd rather have home go to Toledo and get 50 extra at bats in the mean time and then call him up in September again. Inge is a late inning defensive upgrade and he's a right handed bat so it makes sense when you think about it like that. Leyland even said it's "Not a demotion" just they want to keep giving Dirks at bats because he's a rookie.
EDIT: They also just picked up Delmon Young so they don't need him as much in the outfield anymore.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:35 AM ^
I agree your point about Inge being a defensive replacement but it doesn't if Inge facing a lefty or a righty because he's a terrible against everyone he faces.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:36 AM ^
sense for those reasons. Of course the people who want to look for any reason to bitch about Leyland won't see it that way.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:44 AM ^
Inge is hitting 21 points higher vs. lefties this year, at a healthy .191. I can see the urge to bring him back for this stretch.
Dude is just RAKIN' against southpaws, man.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:54 AM ^
OK genius again you missed the point. It's more about Dirks getting the extra at bats because he's a rookie and they dont want to sit him for a couple weeks. He might as well get the bats in Toledo than sit on his ass in Detroit.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:01 AM ^
You think Dirks is the biggest part of this equation? Really?
Of all people they can bring up to replace him with, they choose that 34-year-old disaster who has once compared himself to Babe Ruth and Ted Williams and blamed his hitting struggles this year on bad luck ("I'm just hittin' it right to guys") and having the sniffles.
I suspected all along that Leyland wasn't playing Betemit much because he wanted no one to get too comfortable at third. This is a country club organization that takes care of its people, whether they are producing or not. Inge is one of their people. It was just a matter of time until they brought him back.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:00 AM ^
Exactly. It blows my mind how little most people know about baseball. This move is perfect at this point in the season especially after the acquisition of Young. Getting those extra at bats will probably help Dirks down the stretch- a lot of hitting is getting into a comfort zone or rhythm and then maintaining it. Inge probably won't get to the plate too much but in the 8th and 9th it will be nice to have him at 3rd.