During Thursday’s Winter Caravan, Tigers longtime third baseman Brandon Inge turned a lot of heads with some of this comments made while talking to the media.
When the subject of sharing time at third base in 2012 with Don Kelly, Inge wasn’t having any of it stating it was his plan to earn the everyday spot at the position.
“I’m not really playing for a platoon spot,” Inge said. “I love Kelly. I do. But I’m not playing for a platoon spot. I want to play every day.”
“I’ve been working this offseason to get in shape and to prove last season was a fluke,” Inge said. “I’m more motivated than I ever have been. I’ll let them make their own decision after spring.”
Despite Inge’s strong words, manager Jim Leyland really wasn’t having any of it basically stating that if he doesn’t get it done at the plate, he won’t play…
“I love Brandon Inge,” Leyland said. “I hope he plays third every day. But in order to play third every day at the major-league level, you’ve got to produce some offense.”
“I want Brandon Inge to play third base every day, because if he’s playing third base every day that means he’s hitting good and driving in some runs, too,” Leyland said. “I want him to play third. … I want him to win that job. Believe me.”
What’s unfortunate for Brandon Inge is his poor offensive production and diminishing defensive skills in no way backs up his cocky attitude.
Inge stated that his 2011 campaign in which he batted .197 and was designated for assignment was a “fluke”. However when you look at his career he’s been nothing but a mid .200 hitter that occasionally hits for power. So instead of 2011 being a fluke, maybe it’s just a sign of more regression in Inge’s overall game.
Sure Inge is a good guy and great in the community however the Tigers aren’t in the business anymore of trying to win over the fans in the city, they are in the business of trying to win the World Series.
The Tigers simply cannot count on a 34-year-old third baseman with a .250 batting average at best to get the job done anymore.
Ref: Baseball-Reference.com, Mlive.com, Twitter, Getty (image)
