Moneyball and Brandon Inge---A Leadership Decision

After 12 years of totally giving everything he had to the Detroit Tigers, the management decided team leader and all around great teammate Brandon Inge was disposable.  So the Tigers' management did what many of the fans wanted and released the former VCU Ram.  When you look at the stats, it was an easy decision.  Inge was struggling at the plate and while he had successfully made his fourth position transition during his Tiger career, management just did not see his value. 

Inge had always done everything he could do to help the Tigers win with no concern for his own situation.  Last year in the throws of a bad slump when given the option to be released and be picked up by another team or go to Triple A, Inge chose to go to the minors and earn his way back to the “Bigs” with the Tigers.  When asked to play catcher, he put on the tools of ignorance and became a spectacular receiver.  When the Motor City 9 acquired Pudge Rodriguez, the Lynchburg, Virginia native found a home at third base and became an American League All-Star.  He opened another season as the Tigers starting centerfielder and this year was shifted to second base. 

Inge has always been the guy that would do whatever it took to win.  Playing on a team that has had many of the high priced superstars, Inge was the man that always put the team first.  He clearly was a chemistry guy that was great in the clubhouse and in the community. 

Now after being picked up by the Oakland A’s, Inge has been remarkable.  The young A’s have already acknowledged that he is a great leader and adds so much to the club.  Inge also has discovered his swing and has demonstrated the power the placed him in the All Star “home run derby”.  Amazingly, Inge is the only player since Lou Gehrig to have four 4 rbi games in 5 consecutive contests. Two grand slams and a three run blast has the ex-Tiger tied for the A’s rbi lead.

While the home runs and rbi’s prove that Inge can play, the real story is that Inge will be the perfect Moneyball player.  Billy Beane understands what it takes to win and he saw that Brandon is important as a great teammate and leader.  Brandon Inge is a winner and every organization needs a guy who is totally committed to the success of the organization.  Some leaders diminish the value of the person who can be the one who keeps everybody together.  As A’s outfielder Josh Reddick emphasized, “I don’t know what those guys across the way were thinking when they let him (Inge) go. “  It will be interesting to see how much the intangibles that Inge brings will be missed by the super talented Tigers.  Clearly the A’s love the early returns on their most recent Moneyball acquisition and are willing to take a chance on a guy who can bring more to the plate than just hits and great defense.  He brings a unique talent to the A's called leadership.  I would want Brandon Inge in my organization to set the example for all the "young folks".