Jeff Riger: Just Absurd

It's no secret that Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge is struggling ... and that is putting it kindly.  Inge since coming off the disabled list in 17 games is hitting a mere .080, that's right I did just type .080!  To further illustrate how bad things have been, in that same span Inge has just 5 RBI and 4 hits in 50 at bats.  Plus his routine "GREAT" fielding has seemed to disappear as well.

Now, usually when a guy is in this type of drought he chooses not to talk to the media and that usually is a good choice.  I mean, what are you going to say?  "I can't hit!"  "I don't deserve to be playing!"  "I'm lucky that I get to cash a huge check every two weeks!"  Nothing any athlete says in this type of situation can help out.

But, Inge is different, he has had no problem talking to the media during his troubled time and everything that he's said has been met with criticism.  For instance before the All Star break, Inge told the media

"It just doesn't make any sense to me" talking about his hitting. "Ever since I've come back I've felt great. I'm actually hitting the ball pretty damn good. The most frustrating part of all of it is when you do everything right and you get nothing out of it. Nothing."  Inge also uttered "The results are the only thing that matter to everyone, I could go up to the plate and — let's say I get four or five at-bats, and I hit four of those balls as hard as I can and I get no results — all anyone sees is at the end of the day I had an 0-fer."

Of course, both the above comments annoyed fans because the general thought process is when a guy is not performing, people don't want to hear excuses.  But, that has not stopped Inge, the Tiger vet talked again on Sunday afternoon after a Detroit 4-3 win over the White Sox.  In a game  that was Inge's first since the second half of the season began the third baseman went 0 for 3 at the plate which included two strike outs.  So, you can imagine my surprise when I walked into the clubhouse and I saw Inge addressing the media.

I waited until the majority of the reporters walked away and then I asked Inge about his critics and how he is dealing with pretty much everybody bashing him?  His response was not anticipated.  Inge replied "there's just different type of people and the people that act like that are not true fans in my opinion."

He went on saying "If you're a true fan you encourage your team to do better, you don't bust them for everything they do.  I understand if you want to do it, it's fine, it's your prerogative, everyone has an opinion and everyone is entitled to it, I just don't really care what you think!  That's my opinion!"

Now I'm not a PR genius, but even I could tell you that questioning a fans "fandom" for bashing a player is totally ridiculous.  Inge gets paid a lot of money to play the game of baseball and even though he has been a below average player the majority of his career he has had a pretty good following in Detroit.  These latest comments don't change the fact that Inge is a great community guy and has done a lot of good for a lot of people since he dawned the "ole english D" but it doesn't make him look very good!

The one thing that I have always respected Inge for is that he seems to be able to relate to the average Detroiter.  Even though he has been lucky enough to get paid millions he has always seemed to get how the people of this area feel.  He has never been so-called "out of touch" well that is until now.

What else can a fan that pays the ticket price do other than "boo" or call up our radio station and have his feelings be heard?  It's not like a fan can go into the clubhouse or meet Inge for a drink and voice their displeasure.  Fans are not bashing Inge because he looks funny or because the color of his skin or because he follows a certain religion.  NO!  Fans are bashing his performance, not him.  It comes with the territory of being a professional player. Inge has to ignore it, keep his mouth shut and try to get better on the field. True fans get angry when their team doesn't win, they get angry when players struggle, that's just how it is, it's how it has always been.

Inge is totally wrong on this one and even though his words probably came from frustration about himself and his game he should have not blamed the fans for blaming him.  Of course the good news for Inge  is that if he does start to play better than all the people bashing him will once again love him.

What did you think of Brandon Inge's latest comments?