It's amazing how quickly things can change. In a moment. In one pitch.
    Two weeks ago, Brandon Inge was standing in front of his locker, a smile on his face, talking about how much fun baseball had become again.
    After suffering through an increasingly painful second half last season, then undergoing off-season surgery on both knees followed by a lengthy, often frustrating rehab, Inge was admittedly amazed at how much better he felt.
    He was running much faster. He was again fielding like the Inge of old. And he was finally hitting with regularity once more.
    Early in the season, even Inge had his doubts.
    "I didn't want to panic anyone, but I was afraid they (his knees) weren't coming around," he admitted. "Earlier in the year, when the adrenaline hit me and I pushed it, I'd get instant feedback from my knees. But now when I push off, the only thought is the goal of getting where I want to go."
    Aside from the fact it took him longer to loosen up his knees before the start of each game -- a small price to pay -- Inge, at age 33, felt as good as new.
    He was looking forward to a solid second half.
    Then, in an instant, everything changed.
    Inge was struck on the hand by a pitch from the Rangers' Scott Feldman on Monday night.
    Now Inge, a guy who hates to sit still, is staring at four to six weeks on the shelf with a busted bone in his left hand.
    It was a costly blow, both for the Tigers' suddenly flickering postseason hopes, and possibly for Inge's future.
    Two weeks ago, there was little doubt the Tigers would offer Inge a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season. Inge has made it clear he hopes to stay here and, even at $6.6 million, he remains a bargain in today's baseball.
    Now, depending upon how effective Inge is when he returns, the Tigers might want to rethink that decision.