From Cringe to Inge

About a week ago I officially let reliever Brandon Lyon out of the dog house. Perhaps it’s time I take a deep breath, swallow my pride, and do the same for Brandon Inge. I have spent most of his career hating on him, and rightfully so for the most part. His pathetic .239 career average and inability to deliver clutch plays have hindered the Detroit Tigers for many seasons.

This year during spring training I personally launched an Anti-Inge Campaign. Given my unruly behavior anyone sitting near me must have thought I was Randy Quaid from Major League 2. Enough was enough though, I was seriously over Brandon Inge, or as I called him Brandon Cringe. I was unable to comprehend how little Brandon was put on a pedestal every season like he was George Kell or Chas Gehringer. No team in baseball had a player at the hot corner with less impressive offensive career numbers than our Tigers. He rarely got on base, his glove was over hyped, and something about him just made me cringe.

So far this season though Cringe has done a great job of making me look like a jackass. Sunday's two run home run came with two outs in the ninth inning off Astros closer Jose Valverde.  It appeared as if the Astros were going to sweep us before Cringe delivered that shot.  It was his 18th of the season which ties Curtis Granderson for the team lead. While often even I have debated that his home runs have been meaningless, that shot was definitely anything but.

This season Cringe is hitting a respectable .274 with with 51 RBI. While it is often a dangerous thing to do, it's only natural to look at numbers and project what they “could be” at season's end. It now seems quite possible that he could hit 35 home runs and drive in 100. 

I am pretty sure this offensive outburst is a direct and personal attack at me to silence me for my unruly behavior towards Mr. Cringe.  Is that all it took Brandon? I would have snapped years ago. Either way sir, I’m quite pleased with your recent productivity.

Don’t get it twisted, you are far from my favorite Tiger Brandon Cringe. However, it now seems only fitting to give credit where credit is do. I will now delete the (CR) before your last name as I no longer cringe when I see you at the dish Mr. Inge. You command respect, so I will give you your due.  Congrats, thank you, and by the way you too are out of my dog house. While I refuse to jump on the bandwagon, I must be a man and at least admit that you have made a fool of me so far this young season. Keep it up sir, as we need you to produce in order to continue our winning ways.