If baseball’s annual All-Star Game is, indeed, meant to honor those players who are having great years, how can the American League leave Brandon Inge off the team?
        “I’m partial,” Jim Leyland admitted on the Tigers’ last homestand, “but I think he’s the best. He’s the best I’ve ever seen. I’ve never in my life seen anybody go down the line for pop-ups like he does. It’s unbelievable.”
        And Leyland was just talking about Inge’s fielding.
        Inge is currently a distant fifth in balloting for third base, behind Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria, the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez, Boston’s Mike Lowell and the Rangers’ Michael Young. But, in addition to his superior defense, Inge has hit more home runs (18) than any of those guys and has knocked in more runs (52) than all but Longoria.
        Leyland believes Inge has earned the right to be Longoria’s back-up. If Inge makes the team, it will be his first appearance as an All-Star.
        Simply put, the Tigers would not be where they are today, in first place, without Inge.
        And isn’t that what the All-Star exhibition is supposed to be all about?
        Justin Verlander will probably make the team on the strength of his league-leading 130 strikeouts. However, his 8-4 record now makes it highly unlikely that he will be named the starting pitcher.
        Although Edwin Jackson ranks second in the league in ERA (2.49), his 6-4 record, due in large part to his lack of run support, leaves him with little chance of being included on the AL staff. Fernando Rodney remains a longshot among closer candidates.
        Miguel Cabrera is fourth among first basemen, behind Boston’s Kevin Youkilis, the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira and Minnesota’s Justin Morneau. I think Cabrera is a longshot, too.   
        The All-Star teams will be announced on Sunday afternoon.