Detroit Tigers offer support to Brandon Inge – MLB News
Detroit Tigers’ infielder Brandon Inge is not a happy campaigner these days. He was sent to the AAA league by the Tigers after he struggled to make the most of available opportunities last season. Batting with a poor .177 average in 239 plate appearances for the Tigers, he was unable to play his natural game under pressure.
During the Tigers’ winter caravan, Inge expressed his desire to become a full time third baseman with the club he loves the most. In an interview with a leading baseball website, Inge stated that he loves to be a part of Detroit Tigers. He has a great passion for the game and this is what he has been doing since his childhood.
"I've played baseball my whole life. I've started my whole life," he told the Free Press. "I'm a baseball player. I don't want to platoon."
However, a few days ago, the Tigers acquired free agent Prince Fielder as their first baseman, which meant that Miguel Cabrera will be performing the third base duties full time next season. Fielder is one of the most dynamic players in the game right now. Offering a nine year $214 million contract to Fielder, the Tigers are building a team capable of winning the World Series title.
In 2011, the Tigers did a terrific job to win the American League Central division title. However, their batters were outclassed by some high quality pitching during the playoffs. Tigers' General Manager Dave Dombrowski has spent handsome amount of money on his rebuilding project as he wants his team to go the distance this season.
"I'll make that perfectly clear today," Leyland said, before acknowledging the drop-off in defense from Inge to Cabrera. "He's not going to have the agility defensively most likely that Inge has, but you give up a little something, and you get a whole lot in return."
Commenting on the situation, Dombrowski stated that Miguel Cabrera is expected to perform the third base duties full time in 2011 and the Tigers have no plans to substitute him with a defensive replacement. He further added that the club is trying to win and they will do everything to help Inge in his testing times.
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