I for one would love to see him stay in Detroit if he can become comfortable with his new situation.

It could be that after Leyland gets an up close view of Cabrera's current lack of defensive skills at 3rd base for a few dozen games that Leyland will do the smart thing and put Cabrera in left field and put Inge back at 3rd.


Saturday, January 5, 2008
Tigers: Inge trade tricky

Dombrowski won't just give third baseman away

Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Brandon Inge will not necessarily be traded by the Tigers before the start of spring training, and could remain in Detroit for at least the 2008 season

Brandon Inge's giving spirit connects with local fans

January 5, 2008
BY JON PAUL MOROSI
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER


Coffee tables are crowded this time of year. They are popular hangouts for greeting cards, holiday decorations and photographs of second cousins you rarely see. Space can be scarce. Often, there is room for only the most meaningful items.


For Chuck and Cindy Lobdell, at least one picture has a permanent place on the living room coffee table of their Jackson home. It shows their son, Steve, with a man whose popularity in Michigan might outlast his tenure with the local team: Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge.

Inge is a fan favorite, Maroth acknowledged, a player whose consistent effort was appreciated by the paying customers at Comerica Park. In one Michigan household, at least, the support for him would not diminish if he changed uniforms.


Wherever Inge is playing Sept. 4 -- home or away, American League or National League -- Chuck and Cindy Lobdell hope to be there, watching their son's favorite player.


"If he does get traded, we've got to find out where he goes," Chuck said. "We may have to take a vacation to where he's playing. That's how much we think of him."
Brandon Inge's giving spirit connects with local fans (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/SPORTS02/801050364/1050)

Tigers: Inge trade tricky (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/SPORTS0104/801050322/1129)


:hoops:

Inge only has his self to blame for losing his job. He needs to just accept his role on this team. It is Inge that wants to be traded. As long as the Tigers are willing to pay him why leave? It is dumb. At some point an injury is going to happen and he will get playing time.

After all he's been through here, you'd think that he'd wait it out a year and see if he could get a ring. He'll contribute.

After all he's been through here, you'd think that he'd wait it out a year and see if he could get a ring. He'll contribute.

In my opinion, he should be starting this year at 3rd base. With all of the hitting we have in the lineup it seems to me that we benefit more by keeping his defense at 3rd rather than Cabrera, who is an absolutely terrible fielding 3rd basemen.

Put Cabrera in left and forget Jacque Jones. The question is do we want Inge or Jones starting because Cabrera can play 3rd or left.

I would much rather have Inge starting than Jones, because playing Cabrera at 3rd base and Jones in left instead of Inge at 3rd and Cabrera in left will in my opinion cost us more runs and more games.

:hoops:

I would much rather have Inge starting than Jones, because playing Cabrera at 3rd base and Jones in left instead of Inge at 3rd and Cabrera in left will in my opinion cost us more runs and more games.

:hoops:

Isn't Jones a lefty bat? Seems like we would have too many righty bats in there with Binge in there as well. It would be cool if Brandon could be a D3B, Designated third basemen, and not bat.

Isn't Jones a lefty bat? Seems like we would have too many righty bats in there with Binge in there as well. It would be cool if Brandon could be a D3B, Designated third basemen, and not bat.

If you go and check his splits last year he actually hit better against lefties.

Secondly in my opinion this who lefty righty thing is way overblown when you have a team that is going to average 6 runs a game.

Most baseball fans are like most basketball fans, probably the same people in a number of cases, in that they way underestimate the value of excellent defense.

It seems to me that the main advantage of the Tigers having Jones is that he can play a better center field than any of our other guys that will make the 25 man roster, except for Grandy. Jones also hits left handed pitching pretty good. So I can see him playing in center field for us against left handed starters, which Grandy so far in his career has not had much success with.

Jones will also allow us to rest Grandy and still be able to put a decent fielder in center field on those occasions.

However, my guess is that most likely, Leyland will play Thames in left and Raburn in center against lefties.

:hoops:

History has shown that it is almost alway pitching and defense that get you into October and the World Series title and not hitting.

There have been exceptions, but that is just what they are.

Last year we didn't make the playoffs because our pitching stunk, not because we weren't scoring runs.

:hoops:

How many balls get hit to 3rd base per game? What is the difference in the fielding % for Cabrera and Inge?

It would be an interesting calculation to see if the worse fielding is made up for with the higher offensive contributions.

I'm willing to tolerate a couple of Cabrera errors at 3B in place of watching Inge strikeout another 150 times.

I'm willing to tolerate a couple of Cabrera errors at 3B in place of watching Inge strikeout another 150 times.

Sounds good now, but it will be not be just a couple of more errors and it will be a heck of a lot more balls not gotten to that become hits, probably something like 1 to 2 a game on the average.

I would rather see Inge at 3rd than Jones in left but you will probably get your wish.

Pitchers who strike out Inge, which there are a lot of, get over confident in their abilities and as a result wind up grooving one or more for Grandy. LOL

:hoops:

Tigers already said that Cabrera will play at 3rd. So that puts Inge on the bench. Knowing how stubborn he is, I wouldn't be able to say what's he gonna do next.

Tigers already said that Cabrera will play at 3rd. So that puts Inge on the bench. Knowing how stubborn he is, I wouldn't be able to say what's he gonna do next.

I know what they said. But it is a mistake

:hoops:

Sounds good now, but it will be not be just a couple of more errors and it will be a heck of a lot more balls not gotten to that become hits, probably something like 1 to 2 a game on the average.

I would rather see Inge at 3rd than Jones in left but you will probably get your wish.

Pitchers who strike out Inge, which there are a lot of, get over confident in their abilities and as a result wind up grooving one or more for Grandy. LOL

:hoops:

In the hole, I would think Renteria would have better range than Guillen. Not sure about that though. Cabrera may not have to cover as much ground as Binge did with a healthy Renteria.

In the hole, I would think Renteria would have better range than Guillen. Not sure about that though. Cabrera may not have to cover as much ground as Binge did with a healthy Renteria.

If you research it you will find that Renteria has lost at least a step in his coverage over the last couple of years and his range is probably not much if any better than Guillen's. Moving Guillen to 1st was done to save his legs.

The shortstop can't help the 3rd baseman on balls hit between the 3rd baseman and the bag.

After about 30 games of Cabrera's futility at 3rd making you sick to your stomach, which will happen sometime in May, you will change your mind.


Detroit is trying to win now, as this trade clearly indicates. Renteria is coming off one of his best years ever at the plate (.332/.390/.470) and he'll provide more offense than Sean Casey (.296/.353/.393), whom Guillen displaces at first base.

I don't buy the reasoning, however, that Renteria represents an upgrade on Guillen's shortstop defense. Renteria's range has diminished significantly in recent years. With Renteria at shortstop, though, Guillen should be able to stay healthier and more productive.
BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Ask BA (http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/265150.html)


To make room for him, it appears Detroit could trade third baseman Brandon Inge or left fielder Marcus Thames. Cabrera played the outfield in 2004 and 2005.


"We didn't talk yet about that. I will play left field, third base, whatever they want. I can't wait to go to spring training to see what they want to do," Cabrera said.


Tigers, Marlins finish blockbuster deal - Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2007/12/05/tigers_marlins_finish_blockbuster_deal/?page=2)

:hoops:

I for one hope they figure out a way to keep him here and happy. Some of the plays he makes at the hot corner are unbelievable.

I think he will be better at the plate this year if he gets a chance.

Dont worry guys. I'm working on an amazing Baseball Preview special that I should have done by March. I'm just kinda waiting on Inge's status by Spring Training. I'll give some great insight on what 'potentially' could be 'THE BEST TEAM EVER!"

Has anyone thought of switching Cabrera AND Guillen???

I think Guillen has enough range and quickness to play Third, while Cabrera hangs out at First.

Worth a try???

Has anyone thought of switching Cabrera AND Guillen???

I think Guillen has enough range and quickness to play Third, while Cabrera hangs out at First.

Worth a try???
The are trying to save Guillen's knees, so I don't know how they'd like on his move to third in light of that.

The are trying to save Guillen's knees, so I don't know how they'd like on his move to third in light of that.

Hessman will play 3rd before Guillen.

Depth Chart at 3rd is probably

Cabrera
Inge
Hessman
Raburn
:hoops:

We have a log jam at third base. Guillen needs to play first and I sure hope they are able to take advantage of Brandon's defense.

Does he become the back-up catcher and take over for Pudge after next year full time when he is done? We saved "some" wear and tear by him playing third. Is this a viable option or do we have an all star catcher waiting to step in?

We have a log jam at third base. Guillen needs to play first and I sure hope they are able to take advantage of Brandon's defense.

Does he become the back-up catcher and take over for Pudge after next year full time when he is done? We saved "some" wear and tear by him playing third. Is this a viable option or do we have an all star catcher waiting to step in?

Inge doesn't want to catch.

Cabrera was a catcher when the Marlins signed him about a decade ago. LOL

:hoops:

Inge doesn't want to catch.

Cabrera was a catcher when the Marlins signed him about a decade ago. LOL

:hoops:

Did he say he didn't want to catch? Would he change his mind if it meant playing on "THIS TEAM" for the next 5 years as the starter?

Did he say he didn't want to catch? Would he change his mind if it meant playing on "THIS TEAM" for the next 5 years as the starter?
From the latest press clippins it looked as if he was insistent upon not playing catcher. I don't have any specific links right now, but from what I remember reading he was very cool to that idea.

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2008/01/tigers_inge_will_accept_a_new/print.html

Not much new. Just that he is saying that he vants to play. He's not happy being a bench player. He'll catch if necessary, but that doesn't mean that he has to like it. He can't believe that the Tigers would start a guy who hits .320 with power over him and his .230 average. Etc. He didn't really say that, but he does seem a little bitter.

I personally would be very happy to be in his position (not even counting the $ aspects of it). He's a fan favorite. He will have a great chance at winning a Championship. He will get to play a number of different positions, which would be cool. And he'll probably play in 75% of the games. I actually think I'd rather have that role than a starting job at 3rd base.

His quotes sound like he is bitter. If he is going to be this whiny all season, I hope they trade him. Also, if he's going to strike out 1/3 of the time and bat .230, I hope they trade him.

Inge could be the catcher of the future. If he bats .230-.250 and hits 15-20 homers, it'll do for a catcher position. And his salary would be more than reasonable.

Inge could be the catcher of the future. If he bats .230-.250 and hits 15-20 homers, it'll do for a catcher position. And his salary would be more than reasonable.

I agree. But with all that stress, his batting average will probably fall below .100

Inge could be the catcher of the future. If he bats .230-.250 and hits 15-20 homers, it'll do for a catcher position. And his salary would be more than reasonable.

For the old Tigers, maybe. The current Tigers are competing for a World Series. There is no more "it'll do".

For the old Tigers, maybe. The current Tigers are competing for a World Series. There is no more "it'll do".
You see anything better? Pudge is not getting any younger, and the payroll is pretty high as it is.

You see anything better? Pudge is not getting any younger, and the payroll is pretty high as it is.

I'm sure between free agency, trades, and the farm system, the Tigers can find a catcher that can bat more than .230 and strikeout less than 1/3 of his at bats.

I'm sure between free agency, trades, and the farm system, the Tigers can find a catcher that can bat more than .230 and strikeout less than 1/3 of his at bats.

Inge doesn't strike out.

He walks (to the dugout).

:hoops: