Inge has given everything to the Tigers franchise, he played through the lean years, endearing himself to fans by playing catcher and gunning out would-be base stealers before moving to the hot corner. While at third base, he was able to make highlight reel plays regularly, but despite his defensive prowess one thing has always lacked for Inge; his bat.
A career .235 hitter Inge has had periods where it looks like he has finally figured things out only to slip back into his old mold. Last season Tigers batting coach Llyod McClendon tweaked Inge's swing, having him cock the bat at an angle so the head of the bat almost faced the pitcher. Using this new stance Inge's offensive number climbed, but inexplicably he reverted to his old stance and with it came his old offensive numbers.
Tigers fans remember back in 2009 when Inge took part in the Home Run Derby in St. Louis. Going into the All Star break Inge was tied for fourth in the American League with 21 home runs, but in the Derby he hit a grand total of zero. None. And the rest of that season continued as such, his numbers slipped and he returned to being a defensive player.
The argument over the worth of Inge has always revolved around his defensive abilities, not his bat. In the past Inge has been so good defensively that he has been worth two wins a season for the club, but those times are behind him now. According to Baseball-Reference.com Inge has a WAR, wins above replacement, of -0.2, meaning that he actually costs the Tigers 0.2 games a season. Any number in the WAR column below zero indicates the player has reached "replacement level," meaning that their replacement is now worth more to the team than they are.
Inge's replacement is Don Kelly and Kelly has some impressive stats in comparison to those of Inge. Kelly is has a WAR of 0.4, meaning that he is worth 0.4 wins a season for the Tigers. He is also worth four more runs a season than Inge, according to his RAR, runs above replacement. But Inge's value isn't with the bat but with the glove, right? Kelly has him beat there too. Kelly has a dWAR, defensive wins above replacement, of 0.4 while Inge posts a dWAR of -0.2.
In WPA, win probability added for offensive player, Kelly again tops Inge. When Kelly starts a game for the Tigers he adds a 0.2 percent chance of winning, while Inge costs the Tigers 0.2 percent when he starts a game. When totaled Inge has a BtRuns, adjusted batting runs, of -8.5, which means that per season Inge is unable to score 8.5 runs that are on base for him. Kelly also costs the Tigers in this category but at a much more manageable number of -1.7.
Inge has given much for this team, and does deserve a chance to prove that he can improve himself, but the Tigers shouldn't give him too long. Statistically they have a better player waiting in the winds to replace him, and they can't afford to be giving up any games in a tight American League Central race this season.
I am from Detroit and hear constantly what a great defensive 3rd baseman Inge is. Yet he has never won a single Gold Glove and it;s not like he's had Brooks Robinson to compete with in his era. There have been multiple winners--and for someone with a a .237 lifetime average, 100 strikeouts a year, and a .300 OPB he better be in contention every year to justify hie woeful offense. No other AL 3rd baseman has more errors in the years he's started either.
ReplyDeleteHe is the most fortunate athlete I've ever seen in Detroit sports in terms of keeping his job with his production and the adulation he gets from the fans and local press.
I agree with you Dab; although it is hard to fully discount Inge's defensive abilities, they are there. But again you're right, he isn't Gold Glove material and as such can't save himself from his offensive struggles.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the fan base and media have an infatuation with him that has kept him around far longer than his usefulness. My only thought is that he was with the Tigers in the lean years and they feel like they owe him for being a loyal Tiger.
It's past the time to cut him, get him off the team. Thanks for the read and the comment.