All Brandon Inge wants to do is play baseball. No crap should be spewed about him getting paid millions for sitting on the bench and doing nothing, because that isn’t the kind of person Brandon Inge is. To say so is an insult to a player who is probably the most underrated on the Tigers team. While Inge struggled with the bat during the 2007 season, he’s come back with a new outlook and a new batting stance that seems to have made him a more powerful hitter than he was before.
Brandon’s never been to an All Star Game. He’s not a Gold Glove winner, though he should have been. Overall, he’s not as appreciated as he should be and it is easy to see why he’d be so frustrated with losing his starting position at third base. He isn’t nearly as good a catcher as Pudge Rodriguez nor is he as good at catching as he is at third base. The whole thing is a mistake on the part of Jim Leyland.
People who question Brandon Inge’s authenticity as a hitter need only look at the fact that he has the most home runs ever hit in Comerica Park. In his career, he has 89 in total, 200 less than Pudge Rodriguez (who has played 18 long seasons as a starter). This is in less than seven whole seasons for Brandon. Likewise, while Inge is batting just .217 he has a slugging average of .400. His career numbers show a .240 batting average and a .395 slugging average. The guy has power and when he’s on his hitting is superb.
What is most impressive is Brandon’s ability as a third baseman. Some may be surprised to know that Brandon was a pitcher in college and he wasn’t half bad at it. However, he has found a way to shine in nearly any position he plays, though his real ability and talent come through the most when playing at third. I’ve been saying Carlos Guillen just needs to become the DH and Brandon needs to return to third, but Leyland just isn’t listening to me.
In his entire career he’s had 89 errors. He had 18 in 2007 and he’s had none in 2008. During this time, he’s bounced between catching, third base, and center field. He has 1489 assists. Yet, when you watch him play at third base, these are just numbers. He’s aggressive, intense and he puts everything into every play he can make. He has to, because now he not only has to perform, he has to prove himself if he ever wants to get back onto the starting roster.
So, is Brandon Inge the most underrated player on the Tigers team? I think he’s underrated and underused, but then I think the lineup needs tweaking if Leyland wants the team to start performing the way they should. A big part of that is going to be reinstating Brandon Inge.
Who knows? Perhaps this time Leyland will listen.
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Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
I FULLY agree with what you say!! I have been setting back and watching these games thinking the exact same thing. I personally think if he cannot get back the third base position they should give him the short stop position hands down. Look at what a hell of an infield we’d have. Renteria is only here this year and he isn’t producing like he “should”, and they can always re-sign Pudge and find a catcher in the trade market or go down to Toledo to pick Sardinah back up. I mean lets get real. I think there ought to be someway to get through to Leyland and if you need help or some extra back up COUNT ME IN!!