Inge, Cuddyer, and Easler

I’m generally a fan of Baseball Think Factory (BTF), but sometimes the participants lack logic and reason in their efforts to defend ballplayers. Earlier this week, some of the regular posters acted like rabid dogs after reading Lynn Henning’s article of complaint against Brandon Inge. It seems that Inge has stiff-armed the Detroit media, refusing to meet with them at a recent autograph session and opting not to return anybody’s phone calls to talk about his reduced role with the team in the aftermath of Miguel Cabrera’s arrival. The general response to Henning’s article at BTF was this: Inge has no obligation to talk to anyone, he’s a victim of harassment, and, in what amounts to one of the most laughable conclusions I’ve ever read, Henning is acting like a stalker. Oh, please. Henning is simply trying to do his job, following up on one of the Tigers’ largest storylines of the winter. Furthermore, Inge willingly gave out his phone number at season’s end, implying that he would be willing to talk to reporters during the winter months. If nothing else, he could call one of the writers and simply have him inform the others that he’s not comfortable talking about the situation at this time. His refusal to return phone calls is a repeated and blatant lack of courtesy and civility, something that is simply not good practice in the professional business world. Let’s turn the tables for a moment. If Inge retires in five or six years and starts making inquiries with teams about a acquiring a job as a coach, instructor or broadcaster, how would he feel if no one returned his phone calls? Folks, it simply comes down to common courtesy and good form. Some folks do it the right way, while others take the arrogant approach and act like they’re above the fray. Those in the latter category usually receive their comeuppance, later if not sooner. Wise up, Brandon, before your playing days have ended and you need to deal with people in the real world…
Have the Twins gone made—or are they simply trying to improve their leverage in trade talks for a center fielder? That has become the question of the day after Twins manager Ron Gardenhire announced that he would be willing to use Michael Cuddyer as his everyday center fielder in 2008. Let’s keep in mind that Cuddyer is a below-average right fielder to begin with; he has a strong arm, but very poor range and limited athleticism, making him a terrible fit for center field. If the Twins are serious about making this shift, they will have one of the game’s most brutal defensive outfields, with Cuddyer looking like Larry Hisle in center and Delmon Young bringing his erratic outfield play to left. Then again, perhaps the Twins are simply trying to persuade other teams into thinking that they’re not desperate for a center fielder via trade. That way, the price tag on a Marlon Byrd or an Endy Chavez might be reduced, in the event that they don’t trade Johan Santana for a package that includes Melky Cabrera or Jacoby Ellsbury…

Finally, I’m glad to hear that Mike Easler, one of baseball’s good guys, is back in the major leagues. With Don Mattingly’s marital problems having sidetracked his job as the Dodgers’ batting coach, Easler has earned a promotion from his post as LA’s minor league hitting instructor. An excellent communicator who is always approachable, Easler understands the importance of driving the ball to all fields while completing each swing with a strong follow-through. (Remember the way he used to helicopter his bat with the Pirates and Red Sox?) With young hitting talent like Matt Kemp, James Loney, and Andy LaRoche dotting the Dodgers’ roster, the outgoing Easler is a good choice to foster their development, especially in a fractured clubhouse that has pitted veterans against rookies. On a less important note, the hiring of Easler brings a small bit of coincidence. During his playing days, Easler was known as “The Hit Man.” That’s the exact same nickname that Don Mattingly had with the Yankees. Strange.