Count Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News as someone who isn’t the least bit surprised by the Detroit Tigers’ massive early season struggles.
This is a team that was willing to cross its fingers that Dontrelle Willis suddenly would move from the National League to a more hitter-deep American League and find happiness, even though scouts have been concerned since the start of last season the 200-plus-inning seasons at a young age have taken a toll on his arm.
It’s great to add third baseman Miguel Cabrera and then get ownership to step up and hand him a seven-year, $141 million deal. He is a definite upgrade over Brandon Inge. Inge, however, is a solid third baseman, and considering he already is signed for two years, the question is why the Tigers didn’t put their resources into reinforcing their pitching staff.
Tracy had me nodding my head until the Cabrera/Inge comments. I get her point about how the money could have been more useful for other positions, but if you get the chance to add a four-time All-Star who hasn’t even seen his 25th birthday yet, you jump at it. While Ringolsby makes a good point about Inge’s defense, nobody in Motown is missing his brutal bat. The Giants had several opportunities to trade for him in the offseason, yet went with a nobody Pirates’ castoff named Jose Castillo (who actually has been a decent surprise thus far), so that should tell you what other club’s think of Inge.
With that said, Ringolsby does make a good point about the Tigers’ struggles. Detroit did nothing in the offseason to address its bullpen issues and to think Willis was going to magically turn things around in a tougher AL was a stretch, too.
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