Inge critical to team's success

The gold-glove candidate third baseman should decide how far the Tigers go.

It was only last year that trade rumors surrounding Brandon Inge surfaced. I'm sure you're all familiar with what happened that season: The Tigers loaded up with what were apparently hard-hitting veterans and benched Inge. Everyone thought that they were headed for the World Series. Instead, they finished last in the A.L. Central.

Now Inge is back, playing everyday third base, and the Tigers are winning their division. Although the title is far from in the bag, the Tigers do appear to be the no-brain favorite. Because of their weak division, the Tigers can afford mediocre hitting as long as their pitching staff remains formidable.

But will that be enough in the playoffs? Not a chance. If the Tigers are going to overcome powerhouses like the Yankees and Angels, they're going to need some offense. The return of Carlos Guillen has helped, and Placido Polanco and Magglio Ordonez are looking much better than they did earlier in the season. Alex Avila has emerged as a useful pinch-hitter.

But for the Tigers to truly be considered a strong offensive team, they need Inge to keep hitting the way he is now, and not like he was, say, a few weeks ago. Back in '06, Inge was hitting his best, and the Tigers won the A.L. crown. Last year, he sat out and the Tigers finished in last.

Inge supplies the Tigers with the extra power that they will need in order to be considered an elite team. He energizes the rest of them. He has been here longer than any of his teammates. It wasn't too long ago that it seemed that the Tigers could not win a game unless they shut out their opponents. Miguel Cabrera appeared to be the only hope of scoring. But now that Polanco, Ordonez, Guillen, and Inge have stepped it up and new weapons Alex Avila and Aubrey Huff have started hitting, they appear to be in good shape. But will it last?

It's hard to tell, but Brandon Inge may decide the answer to that question.