Inge=HOF

With the Tigers officially out of contention, there remains one more reason to watch:

MLive poster neifiperez commented that Inge is shockingly close to setting the Tigers' record for most career strikeouts.

I couldn't believe it, so I checked baseballreference.com. Indeed, it's true. Lou Whitaker, the brilliant Tiger second baseman through the 80s and 90s, currently holds the dubious strikeout lead at 1099. Sweet Lou played 19 seasons, was a 5-time All-star, and won 3 gold gloves. His Hall of Fame chances took a massive hit when he failed to receive enough votes to stay on the ballot, but the former Rookie of the Year could still sneak in with the Veteran's Committee. The same will likely not be said for Mr. Inge.

The one pockmark on Sweet Lou's resume - Tiger strikeout leader - will soon vanish, perhaps as early as this week. Brandon needs a mere eight more Ks to surpass Whitaker and set the Tiger record at 1100. And it may only take Brandon eight more at-bats to accomplish this feat!

Now, I don't want to pile on Inge=HOF. He's been a decent Tiger. But that strikeout record took Whitaker 19 full seasons. HOF will do it in 10.

HOF will be a free agent in the offseason, and Dombrowski will likely make him an offer. I'd vastly prefer DD seek out a different third baseman. Yet, HOF is so dang popular. Folks love this guy, and I do love what he does for the community. I'd love him more if he could hit a friggin' sacrifice fly.