Brandon Inge and Money in the Bank.
While at a "gathering" recently, I got into a heated discussion about Tiger 3rd baseman Brandon Inge. This discussion was with a good friend of mine, childhood friend infact, and a friend knowledgable with the ins and outs of the best game on the planet, baseball. For this post he will remain nameless (some of you I'm sure know who he is), but for the purposes of this particular story, we will call him Dipshit.
The debate actaully started a couple weeks ago...Jan 29th to be exact when we were both in attendance at a Detroit Red Wings game. While sending a few text messages back and forth, talking about all things sports, which naturally led to baseball, Dipshit sends me the following text (which he told me to keep, because it was so bold, so I did):
"Brandon Inge will hit .282 this year with 24HR's, 82 RBI's, and less than 85 strike outs"
My reply was that Inge will have 85 CHECK SWING strike outs alone. Dipshit said he just had a warm fuzzy about Inge this year, and I asked him if they were selling crystal meth in section 216 (where his seats were at the game that night).
(what you can't see in the picture is the catcher starting to fire the ball down to 3rd after another Inge K)
Fast forward to a party that was actaully at Dipshits house, and the debate was again stirred up (with the help of a few beers and a shot or two). Dipshit again starts with his warm fuzzy about Inge this year.
Dipshit has since backed off his .282 prediction, now stating .260 with 15 HR's (no mention of RBI's or SO's). I still thing this is a bunch of poppycock, and ask another friend at Dipshit's party with some baseball knowledge if he thinks Inge will hit .260 this year. "OH NO FU--ING WAY, NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!" was his reply.
Now don't take this post as an anit-Inge one. I do like Inge, and I hope he does hit .260...hell, I hope he hits .240!!!!!! He is a good to better than good fielder (everyone save your he is the best definsive 3rd baseman in the game, this is going a bit too far), but your 3rd baseman cannot hit .205 (like he did in 2008), just can't happen. If he does this, he has to replaced, I don't care how good his glove is.
So to make it official we put a little wager on the issue. I stated to Dipshit, that if Inge hits .260 with 15HR's, the Tigers will make the playoffs, so I would pay for playoff tickets to a game. If he doesn't and the Tigers make the playoffs, then Dipshit is buying. If the Tigers don't make the playoff's, we will have to come up with something else.
Also, speaking of .200 hitters, we placed a side wager that Ramon Santiago will replace another .240 career hitter in Adam Everett by June 15th. Either because of lack of performance, or injury, Santiago will finally get the shot he deserves and be your starting SS by June 16th.
So there you have it, it is now documented. I really think I'm a winner either way. If Inge hits .260 and the Tigers make the playoff's I will gladly buy two tickets to a game, that means the Motor City Kitties are in the playoff's, which is good. If he doesn't hit it, I will get a free ticket, or whatever we decide on if they are on the outside looking in. I guess the only bad thing is if Inge goes like 5 for 5 on the last day of the season to up the average to .260001 to officially hit .260, but the Tigers are a 10 games out of the wild card (which I think they will be), then this would suck!!!!
Thanks for Stopping By - Dan