August 5, 2008 I can't overstate how bummed out I am by the Pudge Rodriguez trade. The guy is hitting .300, is a great catcher, knows how to manage the game—and people think Brandon Inge is going to be able to replace him? Um...does anybody remember how the Tigers played the last time Brandon Inge was their starting catcher? I like Brandon Inge—he's a great 3rd baseman and is one of the 'glue-guys' on the team. But as a catcher, he's a backup. Inge hates catching and is a much worse hitter when he catches than when he plays 3rd base. So, basically we've downgraded from a .300 hitter to someone who will hit .250 maximum....in exchange for Kyle Farnsworth, whom the Tigers traded to New York just four years ago for Zach ("Major") Miner. I understand that the Tigers need pitching...but trading Pudge for a middle reliever? Even if his contract was due to expire this season, couldn't they have tried to re-sign him for a couple of years? I guess the Tigers assumed—perhaps rightly—that Scott Boras would just send Pudge off to the highest bidder, no matter what, so there was no point in even trying to keep him. But Farnsworth's contract is expiring at the end of this season, too, so what's the difference? The Tigers may need pitching, but not at this price. And by the way, why is it that the Tigers need pitching? Oh, I guess that has something to do with the fact that the traded away pitching for hitting over the winter! Thank you, Dealing Dave Dumbrowski!