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Tigers decision to release Brandon Inge made itself
Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland didn't release Brandon Inge Thursday. It was a decision that made itself.
Inge was designated for reassignment last year, remember? When he came back, he surprisingly contributed significantly to the Tigers in September and during the postseason.
With Miguel Cabrera moving to third and doing reasonably well defensively, the Tigers having a player in Triple-A, Danny Worth, who fits what they need much better in a utility infielder role, Inge looking lost at second base and, for he most part at the plate, the handwriting was on the wall.
They'll see if 6-6, 270-pound Brad Eldred, a 31-year-old minor league journeyman, can continue to hit like "Wonder Boy" in "The Natural" as he was doing at Toledo (see previous blog post), but eventually Worth will be called up - if he continues to hit well at Toledo.
I agreed with the Tigers decision to carry Inge north to begin the season. He didn't have a good spring, but September in a pennant race and the postseason provided better gauges. Spring training is not a good place to get accurate evaluations on players.
But to, borrow line from the TV network, April in the D, is an accurate evaluation time - and Inge showed no sign of providing the role he was needed for by the Tigers.
Thursday, all that happened when Inge was released, is that sooner happened instead of later. And the Tigers are better ball club moving forward because it did.
He just did fit anymore.
Inge was designated for reassignment last year, remember? When he came back, he surprisingly contributed significantly to the Tigers in September and during the postseason.
With Miguel Cabrera moving to third and doing reasonably well defensively, the Tigers having a player in Triple-A, Danny Worth, who fits what they need much better in a utility infielder role, Inge looking lost at second base and, for he most part at the plate, the handwriting was on the wall.They'll see if 6-6, 270-pound Brad Eldred, a 31-year-old minor league journeyman, can continue to hit like "Wonder Boy" in "The Natural" as he was doing at Toledo (see previous blog post), but eventually Worth will be called up - if he continues to hit well at Toledo.
I agreed with the Tigers decision to carry Inge north to begin the season. He didn't have a good spring, but September in a pennant race and the postseason provided better gauges. Spring training is not a good place to get accurate evaluations on players.But to, borrow line from the TV network, April in the D, is an accurate evaluation time - and Inge showed no sign of providing the role he was needed for by the Tigers.
Thursday, all that happened when Inge was released, is that sooner happened instead of later. And the Tigers are better ball club moving forward because it did.
He just did fit anymore.
posted by Pat Caputo at
4:21 PM
7 Comments:
who are all the rabid fans and sportscasters going to blame when they don't play good? Does anyone recall that Danny Worth wasn't that good last year when he did have his shot? Santiago is good coming off the bench but that's about it. How about the fact that Rayburn can't field a ground ball or fly ball to save his life (yes, I recall how scary he was in left field a few years ago against the twins in the 1 game playoff) and he isn't hitting all that well. When are they going to get rid of him? I've seen people of much lower character than Inge get much higher praise. He's the same guy that was rooting on Don kelly last fall even though Kelly was the guy that had taken his spot. Fine, I get it, Inge sucks, but so do the guys that I mentioned above, and so does the 6'-6" guy AAAA player who can hit the ball a mile and is not just getting his shot...it's not like big guys with power aren't in demand (does anyone remember Tony Mitchell)...
It was good that this happened - it was getting too painful.
Last year when Inge was released - I thought that was the last time we would see him, so I wrote this:
brandon inge end of enigma. Now it's interesting to look back on.
If I were Brandon - I would have fought tooth and nail (and likely would continue past today as well) to stay playing baseball - how could anyone blame him? This fiasco has been the Tiger's fault - and I say that knowing they were trying to do "the right thing".
But it didn't help much today.
I agree with above anonymous.
I don't see why any Tiger fan would be exhilarated by Inge being released.
It just happens. Guys get old and can't perform like when young in every sport.
Thanks for the memories, Inge, and let's move on.
(But if you think now there is going to be an addition that will really pick up the Tigers, you might have to wait a few days.)
Anonymous... no, I don't remember Tony Mitchell. I remember a guy named Tony Clark, but nope... Tony Mitchell is not ringing a bell.
You said Inge sucked, soooo should they not have released him because of his character? Do you agree with the release?
"He was the same guy that was rooting on Don Kelly..." Please, this is a guy who complained when he was moved from catcher because the Tigers signed Pudge Rodriquez. He complained when they moved him from 3rd when they signed Cabrera. He makes stupid plays and doesn't own up to it. He was among the league leaders in errors AND strikeouts. Oh, and my favorite, he didn't hit well because of his knee problems but apparently that didn't prevent him from playing third base.
He should have taken the high road, realized his skills were gone, thought about the team instead of himself, and retired.
tony Mitchell was a minor league home run king who was in the tigers farm system back in the 90's not to be confused with former number 3 pick in the draft, tony clark. Mitchell went on to play in japan after years of hitting home runs in tHe minor leagues after not getting a shot, hence the reference to AAAA player or in other words a guy above triple a talent yet not major league talent. Now back to inge, he was pissed off about moving positions after he had just madefrom in fielder to catcher in the minor leagues. Yes, he played short top and relief pitcher at Virginia commonwealth prior to becoming a very early round pick by the tigs. Any other questions on baseball content?
My point, oh anonymous lord of baseball knowledge, was that NOBODY recalls Tony Mitchell.
And, while you're in the mood of educating, could you please tell everyone where the position of "in fielder" or "short top" is?
Thank you so very much.
C'mon people. Inge was never that good of a player and the last 3 years were simply painful to watch. Fielding had diminished and hitting was worse than ever. It was just time, it's that simple. For those of you that argue Rayburn and Santiago are struggling as well I couldn't agree more....you are correct. However you don't make your candle burn brighter by blowing someone else's out. Those guys struggling doesn't make Inge better, it just shows the Tiger's have a hole to fill at second base. Brandon had his chance and didn't get it done. Time to move on.
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