VinnyT

 If you haven't been following the Detroit Tigers and the off-season moves General Manager Dave Dombrowski has made to improve their roster, well, I have to assume that you have some sort of life. But for us here in the Rust Belt, we are following every detail with a sharp eye and a moist liver. Tigers fans have to be stoked.
 One of the ongoing "mini-dramas" that has seemed to carry over into spring training is the Brandon Inge saga. Brandon Inge...the career .241 hitter with a Six million dollar a year contract is unhappy about losing his hot corner spot to new-comer and monster stick, Senior Miguel. The prospect of being a back-up catcher and utility guy has lead Brandon to not only demand a trade, but to consistently whine and snicker to the Detroit media on a daily basis. Inge feels unloved, and at least a little bit slighted. The beat writers and Tiger honks in the press have given Inge a free pass, because surprise...They like Brandon as a person, so they refuse to speculate that the long time Tiger is being at least a little bit selfish, considering his pay scale and the Tigers post-season prospects. Inge is a cry-baby, and even worse, he's not a team player.
 But alas, the kiss-ass media types won't comment on Inge's temper tantrums. I guess he's bought a few lunches for the boys down there in Lakeland Florida. My good friend Lewis J. thinks Brandon gets a free-ride in the papers because he's white and speaks English. And although I don't totally agree with that statement, (Curtis Granderson is the real local favorite) I do look back at some of the past Tiger heros in the media and have to wonder.....Bobby Higginson? Come on, maybe my man Lou has a point. But, whatever the reason for the Inge love-fest in Detroit, I think it's time for someone to point out to him that the people of the Midwest are hurting bad right now. Jobs are being lost, houses foreclosed and  American soldiers are dying oversees everyday, so forgive me if I personally, see Brandon's little tirades of displeasure with his 6 mill a year on a high-caliber team as a little shallow, and any sympathy I might have will be placed in it's proper perspective. Do your job Inge.