Failure is so much easier to handle when you have someone to blame. That one guy, who no matter what goes wrong gets the brunt of the blame makes it easier on the rest of us.
The Tigers had that guy.
While Brandon Inge is now—ironically, not surprisingly—smacking three run dingers for the Oakland A’s, his departure failed to be the cure-all that nearly every fan hoped it would. When he was here you could blame him for just about anything. Justin Verlander got touched up…I think Inge was looking at him too much. Miguel Cabrera grounded into a rally killing double play, he must have talked to Inge before that at bat and got jinxed. Inge was a terrible player but a great person to point the finger.
Now we’re all stumped that his departure didn’t instantly lead to a 10 game swing in the standings. The truth is the Tigers mediocre start had nothing to do with Brandon Inge, but has everything to do with Jim Leyland finding out the correct formula for this year’s team. Last year it was Cabrera carries the offense, Verlander and Doug Fister lead the rotation and Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde close the game out. However, it’s obvious that it’s not going to be the same recipe this season.
While Doug Fister’s loss in the rotation was felt immensely, Drew Smyly has emerged as a legit starter. Cabrera has been good, but hasn’t quite exploded with the addition of Prince Fielder—who’s had a mediocre season of his own.
Outside of Cabrera, Prince and Austin Jackson, the rest of the offense has ranged from awful to below average. Let’s not even get into the bullpen as it seems every player has had a hand in losses this season.
With Fister back and Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello at least showing signs of life, the rotation seems to be in good shape. Leyland has begun to tinker with the lineup and perhaps a move of Andy Dirks to the number two spot and more playing time for Don Kelly will provide a spark while Brennan Boesch and Ryan Raburn try to figure themselves out. The bullpen, however, is going to be a chore for Leyland, because it’s been worse the further you work your way down it.
Long reliever Duane Below has been unhittable, but closer Jose Valverde has been anything but. Everyone else has
ranged somewhere in between.
Valverde, meanwhile, is getting dangerously close to assuming Inge’s vacant role of Tigers blame-all—and it’s certainly been warranted. Two blown saves and four nearly blown saves haven’t endeared him to Tiger fans. In fact, of Valverde’s 13 appearances this season just 1 has been a perfect 1-2-3 inning. Fans are completely justified in questioning Valverde’s ability right now based upon his abysmal performance. He hasn’t had a bad day or week. He’s had a bad month. Leyland can’t rely on this Valverde all year. Something—his performance or the closer—has to change soon.
So while I told you a couple weeks ago to relax, it’s become obvious that the Tigers aren’t going to succeed without change—change that they’re totally capable of making to just get this team clicking again. Dumping Brandon Inge didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t the move that would be the catalyst to a playoff run. Maybe it’s tinkering with the lineup, making a move or just getting the rotation settled. This team right now looks suspiciously close to the pre-Doug Fister 2011 team. Maybe his return is all they need. However, it’s up to Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski to figure out exactly what needs to happen to get this team back on track. Give them a little time and see where they are, if things aren’t better then we can find our new Inge.
If this squad reminds you of 2011 pre-Fister, then maybe things aren’t so bad. Fister comes back in May, and then one good bat at the deadline in July, and here we go with a thrill ride in Octiger!
The ILITCH ownership group is 274 games under .500 in 20 plus seasons in charge. Might be wise if we put the BLAME with Mr. Ilitch rather than Ex Tiger Brandon Inge. The numbers dont lie and the truth needs to be understood and told!!
Wow. Everything I have been feeling about the Tigers this season. You wrote it all, and thank you because as a Detroit fan in the Bay Area (the irony) there are few who feel my pain. The only thing I would add is that I hope Papa Grande doesn’t become the new Inge, not because his crappy performance hasn’t been worthy, but because I think it is unfair to blame one guy in a team sport. Yes, his 32 second pauses in between pitches is frustrating (especially when the build-up only leads to ball three), but I would hope that fans would be smart enough to take their anger out on the poor intern who runs the Tigers Twitter page like I do! Seriously, 12 stranded base runners in their last game, SOMEONE needed to hear about it.
Thanks for reading! Octiger I’m pretty sure they’ll be fine. I think Fister means more to this team than people realized.
Peter, Illitch took awhile, but blame his lack of experience in hiring Randy Smith. He was the Tigers Matt Millen. He got it right in hiring Dave Dombrowski.
Erin, glad you enjoyed the article. Hope you’re supporting the A’s, they need it, and get to see the Tigers on this trip.
I loved Inge and was so sorry to see him go. He would have played for the Tigers for the rest of his career. I’m glad he’s doing so well for the A’s. I still like the Tigers, but it serves them right for making such a terrible decision.
I protested the removal of my Inge from the tigers and sent several emails to the club owners, pr department ect. I am so happy that Inge is kicking boodie because he deserves it. It was and will be the tigers loss shame on them for selling out Inge for an over paid fat boy fielder.
I thought Fielder was going to be our savior – our home run hitter. He is really an example of “money can’t buy happiness.” I’m happy Inge is doing so well. It’s pretty obvious Tiger management doesn’t work well with the players. Cultivating talent is not something they have patience for – they want to buy it.
I blame the batting coach. If Inge can hit like he is hitting in Oakland it looks he wanted out of Detroit. Another example of getting the wrong advice on hitting is Granderson. Im sure everybody is tired of looking at Ryburn bat 120. Still in all they are not the only team with NONproducig players that are over paid(1st base and 3rd base.)
The blame squarely on LEYLAND!His arrogant style and I’ll do what I want and if they don’t like it they can replace me attitude needs to go! As I stated when Inge left if he started hitting in Oakland they need to look at McClendon! Why like Granderson, Joyce, Ryhmes and now Inge do these guys hit AFTER they leave the Tigers? Because the Tiger’s DO NOT have a hitting coach. They have a Leyland ass kisser who is Ole Jimmy’s buddy from Pittsburgh! Poor Mr I ! Another lost season because of a piss poor manager. Leyland is a career 500 manager and yet has a rep as a good manager? How? He never did anything with Pitt when he had good teams in the early 90′s. He bailed on Colorado then was bought a team in Florida! What has he done? At the start of the season I believe his record stood at 1,508 wins and 1,504 losses! Are you kidding me? How did he ever keep a job that long?
I think you totally miss the point by contending that dumping Inge was going to cure all of the Tigers’ woes. Dumping Inge was pretty simple; the Tigers have 25 players that are better than Inge. Moreover, Inge needed a new environment to finish his career; he has shown some life, but will still hit only .200 before the season is over. The Tigers simply have better players than Inge. The problem with Inge was that Dombrowski totally wasted a buttload of money on him, making hm untradeable. I guess home delivery pizza must be good these days.