Oh Brandon, Do You Think Tigers Fans Are Stupid?

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

Oh Brandon, when will you learn? Tigers fans don't want to hate you, they really don't. These people still come to Tigers games sporting jerseys and shirts with "Inge" plastered across the shoulders. Believe me, they want to still like you, but you're making it difficult.

First you sound like a two-year-old when you get to Oakland when you say that it didn't matter that Detroit released you because you were going to ask to be released soon any way. Really? Because that's what a professional and grown-up sounds like. That was your first offense; now this.

Following his grand slam against the Tigers on Thursday, Inge's second in three games, he was asked by a member of the Oakland press corps what the difference was between the Tigers last year and Oakland this season in getting RBI. In response to that question Inge again made the fans in Detroit have to hate him.

"There weren't a lot of runners on base for me. (Alex) Avila had a great year and hit a lot of home runs in front of me so it is difficult to stay focused...," said Inge.

Really, Brandon? Really?

There weren't any runners on base and that's why you couldn't get hits last season? Well what about the 73 at-bat's where there were runners in scoring position? Yeah, Inge only got 10 hits in his 73 chances with runners in scoring position, which equates to a .137 batting average with runners in scoring position.

So, Inge, do you want to try that one again for us all here in Detroit? Why is it that your batting average was so low here, because we aren't stupid, and we for sure know it wasn't because there weren't runners in position.

Brandon Inge May Be In Oakland, But Still Taking Shots at Tigers

By Sean Gagnier
@SeanGagnier 

It took Brandon Inge until nearly the end of April to record his second hit of the season for the Detroit Tigers, but after being released from the team last week Inge signed with the Oakland Athletics and in his debut went 1-for-3.

While the A's lost to the Boston Red Sox 11-6, it was a good start for Inge who had struggled in his nine games in Detroit this season. During his time with the Tigers he only recorded two hits; a double and a two-run home run. Inge will turn 35 this season and now that he is playing with the A's he is with his first new ball club in 12 seasons.

When the Tigers released Inge they still were on the hook to pay him the remainder of his contract, $5,308,743, but when Oakland signed him to a contract they agreed to pay $412,000. A deal for a veteran third baseman that they desperately needed.

After finding out that he had been released Inge said all of the right things to the Detroit media, he hugged Manager Jim Leyland and thanked the club and the fans for all of the good times that he had in a Tigers uniform. That good will didn't seem to last though as his tune changed in a recent interview with the Detroit Free Press.

"It was frustrating, because I has 20 at-bat's. Twenty at-bat's is nothing. Twenty at-bats is not even enough time to really see what you're capable of. Some guys go 0-for-40 sometimes," Inge said. He has not seemed to learn any humility from the situation and continues to think that his performance was acceptable.

"I hit the ball well," Inge said. I had two hits, but it was a matter of being a foot right or left and I probably could've had 10 hits out of those 20."

While Detroit had had enough of Inge, the Oakland Athletics were the perfect fit for him. Prior to the start of the season the A's lost their every day third baseman, Scott Sizemore to a season ending injury. This left Oakland with a gap at the hot corner and Inge was a perfect fit.

It looks like Inge has gotten what he wants, he is starting every day, for now, at the position that he is the most comfortable with - and he was "close to asking for a release from the Tigers anyway." Well, here's to you Brandon.