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[Billy]

Well the time is here. Pitchers and catchers report today with first workouts starting tomorrow. We had a great season last year but is this finally the season we win it all? It's been an interesting off season with the season ending injury to Victor Martinez, the signing of Prince Fielder, Cabrera moving to third. The possibility of Inge getting a shot at second. Does Jacob Turner take the fifth slot in the starting rotation? Here's to another great year and hopefully when this thread ends in October the Tigers are world champions.

 Some recent Tiger news:
      http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120216&content_id=26721168&vkey=news_det&c_id=det

      http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120216&content_id=26718272&vkey=news_det&c_id=det

[ducksoup]

Is the infield going to be too weak?  I think that is what it comes down to.  There will be good pitching, and plenty of bats, but will the infield be strong enough....

Privately rooting for Inge.  I am not an Inge fan but hey, he has earned the right to a chance, and he actually could prove good.  That would be nice.

[ckirish]

Duck, without Inge trying 2B the Tigers are vieing for the worst defensive infield ever!! They don't have anything to lose trying him at 2B.I'm pulling for a good season from Santiago,been around some of the darkest days and some of the brightest days of the franchise.He looks to be the strong side of whatever platoon idea Leyland comes up with.

I'm more worried about the rotation.Past Verlander ts average at best. Fister pitched way over his head last year.He is still solid but I think he is closer to a 4.20 era then last year's 2.83.
Id rather have Turner start the year at Toledo then have him in Detroit if he isnt ready.Judging pitching prospects is impossible but Detroit has tried rushing kids,Porcello, A. Miller to name 2 with less then mixed results.

[ducksoup]

Duck, without Inge trying 2B the Tigers are vieing for the worst defensive infield ever!! They don't have anything to lose trying him at 2B.I'm pulling for a good season from Santiago,been around some of the darkest days and some of the brightest days of the franchise.He looks to be the strong side of whatever platoon idea Leyland comes up with.

I'm more worried about the rotation.Past Verlander ts average at best. Fister pitched way over his head last year.He is still solid but I think he is closer to a 4.20 era then last year's 2.83.
Id rather have Turner start the year at Toledo then have him in Detroit if he isnt ready.Judging pitching prospects is impossible but Detroit has tried rushing kids,Porcello, A. Miller to name 2 with less then mixed results.

Agree that Inge at second COULD be a good thing.  He has the potential to make a bad infield better.

Agree about Turner.  Disagree about Fister.  I think he really is that good of a pitcher.  Guess we will see.

[Billy]

I have mixed emotions about the Inge experiment at second. On one hand he definitely has earned the right to try to move to second defensively. On the other his offense flat out stunk last season. I kind of wonder why they won't view Santiago as an everyday player he sure made the best of his chance at the end of last year. Don't forget Raburn, there was talk of him getting a shot too but I wasn't overly impressed with him there and his first half offense is terrible. 

[ckirish]

Inge's best position is team *****.When Cabrera came to town he wined,When VMart came to town he bitched,when Betimet came to town he wined.Its all about Brandon,just ask him.A career .235 hitter with a .305 oba and a .388 slg avg.He's lucky to be in the major leagues, and folks if his contract wasn't guaranteed he would not be in the major leagues today.So no I don't think he has earned anything but a ticket to Toledo.

The plan is to have Rayburn and Santiago platoon. Rayburn is a very good hitter against LHP,just keep his abs to a minimum against RHPs.

Billy, they tried making a regular out of Santiago a few years ago (2003).He was promptly traded to the Mariners that off season.Ramon is best as a utility guy,

[Will Sweat]

I agree on Inge.  I like the guy to be honest and while he does come off as a tad bit of a wanker (sorry been watching Top Gear on BBC for the last several days) . . . he has a decent glove (compared to what you have).  I think a nice "come to Jesus" conversation with Brandon about . . . . . hey . . . you can stay here and contribute on a team that has a chance at a penate or . . . we can trade you and you get . . what". 

[ducksoup]

The way I see the Inge thing.  He is good defensively, and can sometimes be okay at bat.  If he could become a strong defensive second baseman with an infield that is pretty weak overall, then even with a weak bat, but strong up the middle would be too big to ignore.  However, that assumes he can be a very good second baseman, which is an unknown at this point.

All I can say for sure is I am glad that I am not the one having to figure out the mess.

[Billy]

A lot of people feel that way about Inge and you can't argue it. I was looking back at that 2003 roster, talk about stink.

        http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=2003&t=DET

[Will Sweat]

The way I see the Inge thing.  He is good defensively, and can sometimes be okay at bat.  If he could become a strong defensive second baseman with an infield that is pretty weak overall, then even with a weak bat, but strong up the middle would be too big to ignore.  However, that assumes he can be a very good second baseman, which is an unknown at this point.

All I can say for sure is I am glad that I am not the one having to figure out the mess.

What is Inge's pay this year?  If he can (and he has in the past) be a team player he will be a value - assuming he isn't making a ton this could be a value - if it works.  I did not realize that he only played in 102 games last year with 23 RBI's and 3 HR . . . geez . . . . (not to be mean - but) Brandon should be happy that he is even getting a sniff of the field . . . . I doubt that he would with many other teams. 

Nice article in the Toledo Blade this morning about the Tigers. 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1069645-detroit-tigers-brandon-inge-to-compete-for-starting-spot-at-second-base

[Billy]

Wow Will I wish you wouldn't have asked that question but I found a good site dealing with baseball players salaries. Inge is due to make $5,500,000 in 2012. The site also broke down his pay per statistic for the 2011 season for example he earned $1,833,333 per HR last season or $53,921 per game. Here's the link, but I've got to warn you it's kind of depressing to see the numbers these guys are pulling down playing a kids game. The old timers have to be in complete awe.

                     http://baseballplayersalaries.com/players/189_Brandon_Inge

[ckirish]

I don't want to be so down on Inge but the facts speak for themselves. He's also seen the dark days(2003) and some bright ones but he seems to put himself before the team.He played well in a limited role after he was recalled from Toledo,and to me that's his best role,if he would accept being a versatile utility man(and that includes the "tools of ignorance") I still think he gets 300 abs.

Lets play ball!!

[T-M-T]

I think Inge knows that if he can’t hit .250 plus, he is pretty worthless to this team.

Looks like Fielder at first, Raburn at second, Peralta at short and Cabrera at third.  None of those guys have any range at all.  Verlander and Fister are going to need a lot of strikeouts in their starts.  When anyone else starts, I am imagining a lot of games the Tigers are going to have to win with scores like 17-15 or 13-10.

[Will Sweat]

Wow Will I wish you wouldn't have asked that question but I found a good site dealing with baseball players salaries. Inge is due to make $5,500,000 in 2012. The site also broke down his pay per statistic for the 2011 season for example he earned $1,833,333 per HR last season or $53,921 per game. Here's the link, but I've got to warn you it's kind of depressing to see the numbers these guys are pulling down playing a kids game. The old timers have to be in complete awe.

                     http://baseballplayersalaries.com/players/189_Brandon_Inge

WOW . . . yeah, I think T-M-T is on the right path and maybe Raburn at second. 

[Billy]

Yeah Raburn is scheduled to make 2.1 mill. this season so he is less money but I'm not sure he'll be a better second baseman. TMT is spot on we have zero range in the infield and unless the starting pitching is lights out I fully expect football type scores.