Craig Monroe

[racosun]

I just got back from a two-game trip to CoPa, during which my father and myself witnessed victories over Kansas City and the Angels. Both were great wins, and featured awesome hometeam pitching and a pair of Brandon Inge home runs, as well as Joel Zumaya's first MLB victory.

After the Kansas City game, which Craig Monroe homered in, I stood along the edge of the Tigers dugout and hoped someone would come by and sign an autograph. There was about 20 of us there waiting for a chance. We all watched as Monroe was interviewed by a local TV station, and Brandon Inge was interviewed by a radio station. Monroe's interview finished earlier than Inge's did, and he was kind enough to come over for about 10 minutes and give autographs to everyone who wanted one. Some people had numerous items signed, and Craig never complained once. He even retrieved a ball from the dugout and gave it to a little girl. This completely changed my views about Craig Monroe. I know I've ripped him both recently and in the past, and I apologize to Craig for that. Of course I'll still get on him when he's slumping and hacking at junk, but for me his character issues are repaired. It was obvious he truly cares for the game, and for his fans, and I appreciate that.

By the time Inge's interview was over, Monroe had finished up and headed back to the clubhouse. The same throng of fans began calling for Inge to come over, but he put his head down and jogged into the tunnel. That drew a few boos and some choice words from the group, and Brandon Inge lost some fans at that moment. I've said before that I hope he gets benched by the trading deadline to make room for a new arrival to play third base, but I'd like to change that stance. Now I'd like to see him traded and off the team altogether (I'd take a bucket of balls, or Shane Halter and two buckets of balls). I'm not sour because he didn't give me an autograph (Monroe's was the first I sought in at least 15 years), but because he completely ignored his fans, some of which didn't want autographs, but had compliments for him. I didn't intend to ask him for anything (or compliment him), since he was already my least favorite Tiger, but it was still harsh the way he went about bolting from the fans that actually did like him. He could have at least said "thanks" to the people that complimented him. He was benched the day before for his lackluster hitting perfomance thus far, so one would figure he'd want to win the fans back any way he could. Not Inge. He's an ungrateful, overrated son-of-a-gun, and nobody will change my opinion of that. It's stronger than Donald's hatred of Comerica antiseptic toilet bowl Park. Brandon Inge, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

Well....that probably should have gone into the Rant Thread, huh? I'll try to sleep it off now and maybe I'll calm down after some much-needed Z's.

[2Chance]

Racosun, it sounds like you witnessed some good baseball and the good and bad in players.

I haven't been much of a Monroe fan, but this kind of thing changes opinions, as you said.

And think of what it cost him: ten minutes on a game day. That's what I don't understand about the players who are labelled "sullen" or worse. If you've ever had to go someplace that you didn't want to be, couldn't you suck it up and be gracious for a couple of hours (or in some cases a couple of days)? Even for those unfortunate people who work a job they hate...don't they know when and how to "play the game" well enough to smile and say the right things around certain people, like a boss or a coworker they don't really like?

And baseball should be a job to like, if it's your job. If not, try to remember the people in the stands who wish that could have been them out there.


Well, this one probably needs moved to the rant thread... :rolleyes:

Glad you got to see some good ball with your father, Racosun.

[Captain Cold Nose]

That sounds a lot like Kirk Gibson, who I had seen on a few occasions yelling and actually swearing at people to get out of his way on his way out of Tiger Stadium.
At least you got to drive down and catch a couple of good games to watch, raco.

[bennett_park]

Craig Monroe is probably the most under-rated .265 hitter in MLB, let alone the Tigers. Just read the box-score... it seems that he's always showing up one way or another whenever we win... Hits, Runs, RBIs, maybe an occasional HR. One of my favorite unsung heroes... solid, if unspectacular.

[tigers527]

Craig Monroe is probably the most under-rated .265 hitter in MLB, let alone the Tigers. Just read the box-score... it seems that he's always showing up one way or another whenever we win... Hits, Runs, RBIs, maybe an occasional HR. One of my favorite unsung heroes... solid, if unspectacular.

Offensively, Craig Monroe is the biggest front runner I've seen in sometime. Yes, he puts up numbers, but most come when the team is already up. Put Craig up in the 7th or later down by 2.....Called strike 3 or perhaps swing and a miss. 7th inning and up by 2....CRACK, 2 run homer by Monroe. Now I know those 2 extra runs are important especially with Todd (the rollercoster) Jones. Still, Craig with your 20 HRs and 80 some odd RBI, odds say at least 1 of those RBI would at least tie a deficit.

Deffensively, Craig seems to be out in LF (literal and figurative) at times. Sometimes just sort of spacing out, letting hits drop in, that should be caught. Getting to a ball and not coming up with the catch (hit you in that old bad spot, right in the glove). To be fair, this problem is not nearly as pronounced this year as before, all the broadcasters say it is cause of Andy VanSlyke. Whatever it is Craig is playing much better defence. Still, every fly ball out to LF makes me hold my breathe.