A Look At Brandon Inge’s Tigers Career

Brandong Inge may not have been the best Tigers player ever, but he had some good seasons and was a valuable player for many seasons.  His 12 year run as a Tiger was ended today by his release from the team.  His time with the Tigers was filled with great bdefensive plays, power and some very good seasons.  He was also a very team oriented player and deserves a spot in Tigers history.  He was second on the team in home runs in 2006, with 27 and was a leader on that team.

Ranking His Years

1. 2006
2. 2009
3. 2004
4. 2005
5. 2007
6. 2010
7. 2003
8. 2002
9. 2008
10. 2011
11. 2001
12. 2012

He also hit many walk-ff home runs and had 6 two home run games.  He hit 76 Home Runs at Comerica Park, second only to Miguel Cabrera and he should be remembered in a good way, he was a good player and a very underrated defender.  He may latch on another team and he can make contributions still, so best of luck to him.

Giving All The Tigers Hitters Grades for 2011

Miguel Cabrera: A
Victor Martinez: A-
Alex Avila: A-
Jhonny Peralta: A-
Ryan Raburn; C-
Austin Jackson: D
Brandon Inge: D-
Wilson Betemit: B-
Delmon Young: B+
Brennan Boesch: B+
Ramon Santiago: B
Andy Dirks: C+
Don Kelly: B-
Danny Worth: C
Omir Snatos: INC
Casper Wells: C-
Carlos Guillen: D+
Will Rhymes: D-
Scott Sizmore: F

A Look At The Tigers Game 1 Line-Up

1. Austin Jackson CF- If he can get on than he can stay here and he found ways to get on even when he wasn’t hitting very well in the ALDS
2. Ryan Raburn 2B- A Ranger killer who does good in Rangers Ballpark and is doing well right now should stay here
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B- As long as he hits a few homers, gets on and gets RBIs he can hit third or fourth, third might be the better choice because he could get ane extra at-bat along the way but it doesn’t really matter a lot
4. Victor Martinez DH- I like him hitting fourth and should do a lot better this series and I have a feeling he will flash his power
5. Magglio Orodnez RF- He’s been hot and is a great postseason hitter, he should shit here or second but no lower
6. Alex Avila C- He needs to regain his swing and then he can hit a couple of homers and he can hit here with ease
7. Jhonny Peralta SS- A great number seven hitter who will contribute a lot
8. Ramon Santiago SS- When he gets a start he has some pop and can geta few hits here and on another note his defense is great
9. Brandon Inge 3B- He does well and will hit a few homers in the playoffs

Losing Delmon hurts but this line-up can still get a lot of runs and do well.  Betemit should hit a homer and get a few hits here and there if he stops swinging at everything.  Kelly can do some nice things for the Tigers with a few starts too

What The Tigers Line-Up Should Look Like For ALDS Game 5

Here’s what I’d do

1. CF Austin Jackson
2. RF Magglio Ordonez
3. LF Delmon Young
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera
5. DH Victor Martinez
6. SS Jhonny Peralta
7. C Alex Avila
8. 3B Brandon Inge
9. 2B Ryan Raburn

I’d do this because Jackson has been getting on and I’m not sure Dirks would do much better and Maggs had his best game in the two hole.  I trust Inge more than Kelly or Betemit right now and I’d put Avila in the seven hole because even though he’s struggling he can hit a homer just like that in Yankee Stadium.  Santiago will start doing worse and worse if he plays everyday and Raburn will come up better and I like Peralta in the six hole for some reason.  Betemit then Kelly then Dirks would be my pinch-hitting options in order of who I’d want up there the most.

Leyland said Kelly and Maggs will start so I’d put Kelly hitting ninth and Raburn seventh in that case and the lien-up Leyland is putting out there is decent but could easily win more importantly.

Ranking The Tigers Hitters From Who’ll Do Best To Worst

1. Miguel Cabrera
2. Victor Martinez
3. Delmon Young
4. Johnny Peralta
5. Magglio Ordonez
6. Alex Avila
7. Wilson Betemit
8. Austin Jackson
9. Ryan Raburn
10. Brandon Inge
11. Ramon Santaigo
12. Andy Dirks
13. Don Kelly
14. Omir Santos

Most of these guys should do very well.  The first nine will make some contirbutions and Inge could do something big and Satiago is sneaky, very sneaky

What To Make of The Inge Return

Brandon Inge showed he can hit homers again last night and I think he can keep that up for a while.  I think Inge will go on a roll and probably hit a few more homers and get a couple RBIs but then he will probably fall cold, just as he did after the 2009 All-Star Game.  His defense is back and he will be an excellent defensive replacement after that but he won’t do much more than a couple hits here and there most likely but if he falls cold he probably won’t do as bad as he did in the first half.  If he makes the playoff roster he could provide some pop and a hit or two but at third they might need him in the playoffs to relive Betemit.  Betemit should be the starter still, the Tigers are now 13-4 when he starts and he finds a way to drive the runner in and in the nine-hole the Tigers need it.  Inge is okay to get a start once in a while after he is done doing good but that’s it.  His good start yesterday most likely isn’t anything more than a hot streak.  Andy Dirks was sent down to make room for Inge, which stinks because he’s a good bench guy who can leadoff, play decent defense, and pinch hit well.  He needs to make it up before September 1st to be eligible for a playoff roster spot and with Inge back there isn’t as much of a need for Kelly in the playoffs, and I think Dirks could do well if he makes the playoff roster.

Very Early Thoughts: Wilson Betemit

First I’d like to say he will have his share of 1-4’s but he should do a good job and I can see him raising his average a little.  He looks pretty good from both sides of the plate and is defiantly a better hitter than Inge.  He will also get his fair share of strikeouts but I also think he will more than triple his home run total for sure.  he also looks like he can play okay defense and looks like a fit and is probably one of the better nine hitters in baseball.  He has a ton of raw talent that could be opened up here too.  His swing isn’t flawless but it’s pretty good and will give him power and the ability to hit the ball.  I see a lot of hard hit balls in his future too and I think he will fit in Comerica well.  Hitting him low could also help him and he could be protection for Avila to get out of his slump and he looks like he could help a ton and be very productive, but not as good as he did in April and May, but real good with a lot more pop.

Tigers Acquire Wilson Betemit, DFA Inge

The Tigers got Betemit for Julio Rodriguez, a back-up catcher at best and Antonio Cruz, who might be a useful arm someday.  Betemit should hit really well in Detroit at first and could show more power in Detroit too and really breakout and become a good, full-time third baseman.  Though he’s a streaky hitter he should have a lot more hot streaks and when he does his average can climb.  The Tigers will get a lot of Betemit and they should get the player who was early this year.  Betemit is a real good player and can even play second or first, and do it well, in a situation that needs it.  He won’t be Inge at third and will make some errors but his bat makes him way more valuable than Inge, who was DFA’d and if he’s not claimed will play for Toledo.  Inge needs to make more contact and his power and even some decent hitting will come after that.  He could make a good impact in September and even if he can get the bat going a little bit, his defense will be needed later in the season.  If Inge stays with Detroit they win all-around and Betemit is a good acquisition.  Betemit and Inge could likely make some nice contributions when the season is all over.  Betemit should right off the bat.

Is Losing Inge Bad for the Tigers?

Brandon Inge is headed to the DL.  Don Kelly or Danny Worth are going to take over for now and Omir Santos was recalled, don’t expect him to do much other than to provide some catching depth until Ordonez comes back.  Inge can’t really be made up for on defense but I think third base is Don Kelly’s best position and Worth may not be polished that much there but he could still do an okay job for a short time.  Kelly’s bat could catch fire and he will probably hit better than Inge anyways.  Worth is Inge ligjt in a way and he will show a bit of pop but won’t do too much more and not as much as Inge.  Inge should do really good for him when he gets back.  His average could peak at .260 but should hoover around .240 but his defense just can’t be made up for but until them you should see some stellar performances but Don Kelly and Danny Worth but mostly by Kelly.  They will get by and it’s only a small downgrade for now.  Kelly could really step up and be someone nobody expected him to be, so we will just find out.   Inge should show a lot more powe upon coming back and his production should soon follow.
DIRKS VS WORTH:  Just for when Inge comes back I think if Worth isn’t hitting at least .260 he should go down and Kelly be a backup second baseman while Dirks stays up, because he can do real good.

Inge Signs Two-year Extension

This is a great move.  Inge might not be the best guy hitting but his power and RBIs will go up and I expect his average to stay around .250 and his defense is irreplaceable.  Inge will slot great in the bottom of the order and just play his normal game.  He will have two solid years in Detroit.  Adrian Beltre wouldn’t be the best for Detroit either and I would rather have them sign Adam Dunn.  Keeping Inge is good because the Tigers need him to have a good team and they need him due to his defense.  Inge should be more clutch and everything this upcoming year and keeping him will be one of the Tigers best offseason moves.  He will provide what they need  but will still fall into slumps but there is no one that they should have on third except him next year and he will show that in the first half, definatly.