Inge doesn't want to catch. Cabrera was a catcher when the Marlins signed him about a decade ago. LOL
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.
For the old Tigers, maybe. The current Tigers are competing for a World Series. There is no more "it'll do".
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.
