Brandon Inge, LF,RF & Delgado

[Guest Grote15]

So let me see if I have this right..We're going into battle with 2 corner outfielders with no pop and a first baseman that might be washed up

Does that concern anyone?

At least Inge can play 1B,LF and get 300 AB's as the emergency catcher.

[DocTee]

And he's the Tigers' starting CF on Opening Day!

[Guest AG/DC]

Of course people are concerned, but I wouldn't say that Ryan Church has no pop.

[TransMonk]

And I'll submit again that our CF has the pop of a corner outfielder...whereas most CFs do not. I think our outfield as a whole has average pop.

1B and C concern me, but I'm optimistic about our pitching right now. We have a much better chance of winning the games that we only score 2 or 3 runs in than we did last year.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I initially liked your idea of looking into Brandon Inge for some bench strength. However, then I looked into his numbers and saw that he may have some power, but he doesn't offer much else beyond versatility.

The offensive stats for Inge's 7 year career is not very impressive: .241/.301/.394 H
He's averaged one K every 4 at bats while producing a home run roughly once every 34 at bats. Too many K's for too little pop and a career OBP of .301 just isn't all that appealing to me. He may be versatile and could possibly serve as an emergency catcher (he last caught in 2004), but I think I would pass if he cost much at all.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

DocTee - "And he's the Tigers' starting CF on Opening Day!"

Well....yeah....there's that also.

[Frayed Knot]

The problem with guys like Inge is that he's a full time player now, so that just because we want them for part-time/platoon work doesn't mean their current team will require only a part-timer back.

IOW, is the upgrade from Pagan to Inge (or Nady, or Thames, or Juan Rivera, etc.) worth creating a hole elsewhere or burning off the last of the remaining prospects?
If we could get one of them for a spare reliever or so that'd be great but I don't think that's gonna happen.

[smg58]

As long as Granderson is out then Inge isn't going anywhere. And I think there are better options than Inge anyway.

Church is a perfectly good hitter against righthanded pitching. I think we'd all like a righty bat with some pop, but I do not see Church as a major cause for concern, his spring notwithstanding.

Raul Casanova is actually a decent hitter for a catcher. It would be nice if one of our two main catchers had a clean bill of health, of course, but it might be hard to find an upgrade over Casanova that another team would readily (or at least cheaply) part with.

Delgado? I make no promises there, although I'm more concerned about the lack of depth at the position than I am about Delgado specifically.

[Frayed Knot]

]Delgado? I make no promises there, although I'm more concerned about the lack of depth at the position than I am about Delgado specifically.

Which is why I think that, if they're looking, they'd prefer an OFer who can also play some 1st base. Inge would fit that part of the equation, but they supposedly have no interest in the recently released (from Toronto) Reed Johnson. It's also why I'm holding out for a much cheaper (possibly even free!) Justin Huber type.

Until then, we'll have to make do with Easley & Marlon Anderson (or ml-er Michel Abreu) as Delgado's backup.
Hardly ideal solutions, but whatyagonnado?

[Guest vtmet]

TransMonk wrote: And I'll submit again that our CF has the pop of a corner outfielder...whereas most CFs do not. I think our outfield as a whole has average pop. .

How many NL Centerfielders had 33 HRs, 33 doubles, 3 triples, 112 RBI, 93 runs and 23 steals in '07? Just Beltran...in fact, the only CFer that beat Beltran in total bases was Aaron Rowand, who played in 17 more games, and had a very favorable home park (whereas, Beltran's home park doesn't help him in his splits)...as far as RFers, only Brad Hawpe put up similar numbers to Beltran (minus the speed/runs factor)...and only 2 LFers had more HRs and only 2 LFers had more RBI than Beltran...So I would agree that Beltran's production is on par with the top corner OFers in the NL...

Church was tied for the 3rd most doubles of NL OFers last season, while hitting 15 HRs with a Homefield that seriously favors pitchers...So you figure between Beltran/Church, that was a combo of 76 doubles, 48 HRs, 4 triples, 182 RBI and 150 runs scored...Out of all NL Outfielders, Beltran was tied for 5th most "extra basehits" and Ryan Church was tied for 11th most "extra basehits"...

so other than the Rockies corner OF combo, that is amongst the best "corner" OF combo in the NL...which leaves us with a LFer initially, that hits/runs/fields like a "typical centerfielder"...Pagan last season had 16 extra basehits in 148 at bats; a typical starting OFer would get approximately 600 at bats; so over a full 600 at bat season Pagan's XBH equivalent would have been 64 XBH's (which would have tied him for 9th most XBH's amongst NL OFers)...I don't know how many NL teams have a starting OF that hit 130 extra basehits per season, but IMO, that sounds pretty solid especially when you consider that most NL teams don't have a 1-4&closer of Santana/Pedro/Maine/Perez/Wagner & a 3B/SS combo that hit/run like Wright/Reyes...

[Guest AG/DC]

Alou in the hole.

[Guest attgig]

now that the cubs signed Johnson, it seems like they may have someone to trade away...

Matt Murton anyone?

[smg58]

The Indians opted to demote Francisco Cordero rather than cut Jason Michaels. I have to think one of those two could be had.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Inge wants out because he's going to become a back-up, and thinks he should still be a starter in Detroit. So I don't see that he'd be any happier as a back-up for the Mets.

Then again, all things considered it's always better to be in New York instead of Detroit.

Then again again, nothing says "job security" than being Moises Alou's back-up.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

smg58 wrote: The Indians opted to demote Francisco Cordero rather than cut Jason Michaels. I have to think one of those two could be had.

Y'mean Ben Francisco? 'Cuz I'd like the Mets to kick the tires on acquiring him.

Of course, there's always that problem of crappy organizational depth that makes pulling off deals like that troublesome.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Stupid internet.

[smg58]

OlerudOwned wrote: ="smg58"]The Indians opted to demote Francisco Cordero rather than cut Jason Michaels. I have to think one of those two could be had. Y'mean Ben Francisco? 'Cuz I'd like the Mets to kick the tires on acquiring him.

Wow, I'm just full of typos today. Yes, Ben Francisco was demoted. Francisco Cordero plays for the other Ohio team and, given his salary, would most likely not be demoted under any circumstances.

[Guest Grote15]

Its frightening to think our OF corners may be good for 15 knocks total...Lets hope its 1973

[nymr83]

="Grote15"]Its frightening to think our OF corners may be good for 15 knocks total...Lets hope its 1973

its frightening to think of how you reached those numbers when you consider that Church managed 15 on his own in 470 ABs last year. He also hit 43 doubles. I just don't get the negativity some of you have for this guy.

[Valadius]

I think Church will hit at least 25 homers this year in a full season.