MLB rosters are set to expand on September 1st, and we all remember Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge’s proclamation that he’d be back with the Tigers in September.
Well, Jim Leyland has started to look ahead at the impending third base situation which will take place come September 1st since the Tigers front office pretty much promised Inge he would be a September call up. According to Leyland, he will look at using Inge against left-handed pitchers.
“Hopefully, he’ll be able to help us against left-handed pitching, for sure,” Leyland said, “and then also be a defensive replacement late in the game, no matter who you play.”
Leyland however says that his plans for Inge aren’t set in stone.
“I don’t know if that’s going to work out,” he said. “That’s just a possibility.”
Now I’ll be up front with everyone. I like Jim Leyland and am a defender of Jim Leyland. I think he’s a good manager and has a team in first place right now that quite frankly no one was picking to be in the position they’re in.
One thing I cannot do is defend Leyland if he goes through with using Inge on an every other game basis even against lefties.
Why?
BECAUSE THE TIGERS JUST TRADED FOR A SWITCH HITTING THIRD BASEMAN THAT DRIVES IN RUNS!!!!
I still don’t understand what Leyland’s drawback is to Wilson Betemit?
Yes he isn’t going to play a shutdown third base but last time I checked Brandon Inge wasn’t exactly doing that this season anyway. But what Wilson Betemit is going to do for you on just about a game to game basis (when he does play) is hit the ball, maybe drive in a run or two and play a serviceable third base.
So please, Inge fans, let’s stop that whole argument that Inge is such a good defender at third because he’s not anymore. He has a .954 fielding percentage with 9 errors in limited playing time this season. And if you want to use, oh well he’s had mono this season and is still feeling the effects, fair enough, more reason NOT to play him. In fact, I’d rather have Don Kelly come in as a late inning defensive substitution. At least he knows his role on the team and isn’t going to bitch and complain when the fans boo him if he’s batting a sub .100 and earning himself $5 million dollars a season.
Source: Mlive.com, ESPN