As if watching the Tigers strand runners is not torture enough, FSD likes to poll for Player of the Game and shows you the results in the 7th inning every game. I can't remember a game where Brandon Inge didn't post in the Top 3. Is this a cruel joke or are Tiger fans this incompetent? Inge has reached and possibly eclipsed Dominic Raiola status in my official scorekeeping.
Supporters will say that he plays with "fire" and "heart". He also plays with an inability to deliver with men in scoring position, which has cost the Tigers 3-4 wins at least in 2010. Case in point, last night's loss to the lame-ass Rangers. Top of the 5th inning and Cabrera has just plated two more runs with bases loaded. Rookie Brennan Boesch loads the bases with a single which brings up Tiger Killer. As custom, he doesn't have the self-awareness to simply take pitches until he is called out or walks. No, he swings at the first pitch and hits a fungo ground ball to end the inning on a double play.
I am not simply bringing anecdotal evidence to the table. Here are Tiger Killer's stats through 17 games:
Bases Empty 7/28 .250
RISP 5/24 .208
RISP w/ 2 outs 1/10 .100
Bases Loaded 0/4 .000
This is not a new phenomenom. In 2009, Inge hit .170 with RISP and two outs over a full season. I am pleading with you Mr. Dumbrowski, get rid of this AAA third baseman. Notice that I am not asking Leland who clearly does not want the pictures to surface that Inge snapped off several years ago. I can think of no other reason for why Leland continuously pounds the table about "his warrior" who "plays with more heart than anyone". Heart? Miguel Cabrera looks like he could give a shit most nights but he drives in more runs than anyone. Heart and fire are over-rated when you can't hit a big league breaking ball.
My solution is simple. Move Cabrera back to 3rd base where the dropoff in defense is much less than you think. Let Carlos play 1B and give a legitimate chance to one of our young players in LF with Mags or Damon hitting out of DH spot every night.
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