On-Base Perception

The search phrase "Brandon Inge" was a top Google trend last Thursday and Friday and again for much of today (Monday).

Yes, we realize there was some news about the former Tiger -- released by Detroit on Thursday and signed with Oakland on Sunday -- but we don't understand something here.

What is America's fascination with a career .234 hitter? Help us out here, Tigers fans....

Nothing like a little trip out west to channel a New Yorker's inner cowboy, huh?

Sheriff R.A. Dickey can be seen on the right here, and in a larger size here.

Below, you'll find Ruben Tejada and Dillon Gee.

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Alex Rodriguez's two RBIs on Sunday moved him into 10th place ahead of Willie Mays (pictured above) on Major League Baseball's list of the all-time leaders in runs batted in. Here's a look at the top 20 players on that list. Some impressive company.

1. Hank Aaron -- 2,297

2. Babe Ruth -- 2,213

3. Cap Anson -- 2,075

4. Barry Bonds -- 1,996

5. Lou Gehrig -- 1,995

6....

MAGIC NUMBERS

From the week that was in Major League Baseball:

52.4 – miles run in one day by Marlins’ president David Samson to raise $550,000 for charity. So far, Miami’s front office doing much more good raising money than spending it.

15 – days on the disabled list for Rockies’ pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who injured his shoulder falling off his bike when the chain broke on ride...

This has been one of the craziest months ever for closers in fantasy baseball. There have been season-ending injuries and ineptitude all over the place from ninth-inning pitchers.

Kenley Jansen was drafted ahead of Javy Guerra in many leagues before the season. Jansen certainly has the better arm, but Guerra was very successful last season when he was the closer converting 21 of 23 saves....

Ruben Tejada went 3-for-6 Sunday and had 10 hits -- all singles -- in 17 at-bats in the Mets' three-game series against the Rockies.

The shortstop is batting .310. The man he replaced, Jose Reyes, is hitting .205 and has been dropped to second in the order by the Miami Marlins.

"He had quite a series," manager Terry Collins said. "He's starting to do the things that they've...

Ike Davis admitted that heading toward the pitcher's mound to chase a 10th-inning pop-up hit by Ramon Hernandez put him in "panic mode in the head."

It was at Coors Field last May 10 that Davis went after a similar pop-up and injured an ankle in an innocent-looking collision with David Wright. Davis missed the rest of the season.

This time Wright was nowhere near Davis, who...

Andres Torres will reclaim the centerfield and leadoff spots when he rejoins the Mets in Houston Monday, Collins said.

Torres has been on the disabled list since re-injuring his left calf on Opening Day. Kirk Nieuwenhuis will shift over to left for most games, giving the Mets an all-lefthanded-hitting outfield until Jason Bay returns from the disabled list.

Scott Hairston will spell...

DENVER – David Wright called it “a big, big thrill” and a “once-in-lifetime opportunity.”

He was talking about meeting Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who visited Coors Field today and walked into the stadium with Wright and some other Mets.

One thing: Manning didn’t recognize the Mets’ third baseman. Wright was wearing a sombrero and fake mustache as part of the Mets’ special...

Girardi said before the game that he's not concerned about Robinson Cano's slow start.

"You can only hold a good hitter down for so long and then eventually, it's going to turn,'' Girardi said.

Cano went 0-for-4, dropping to .253, and stayed at one homer and three RBIs. Nick Swisher homered from both sides of the plate, the 11th time he's done so in the same game in his career,...