I'm glad Detroit Tigers' third baseman Brandon Inge has proved me wrong this year. He is more than worthy of a spot on the American League All-Star game roster.

He was so brutal at the plate last year, I was ready to give up on him. The fans and media had a split opinion as late as March.

Inge's connection to the West Michigan Whitecaps and his boyish charm gave him a super-hero-like shield, even though he was swinging like a lost Little Leaguer.

The call by Tiger's general manager Dave Dombrowski to give him the job going into spring training this year was the Tigers' best offseason move.

A story such as Inge's is what makes baseball so great. His loyalty to the fans and team throughout the good and bad years almost makes this unexpected first half a gift from the baseball gods.

I never viewed Inge as an All-Star in March.

But if he truly is an All-Star, he needs to deliver similar numbers at the plate in the second half.

The Tigers have the look they had in 2006. The only problem with that year, though, was that they nearly missed the playoffs. Only then did they give us a lighting bolt of energy by winning the pennant.

I want Inge and the Tigers to prove they are serious contenders. If pitcher Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays is available at the end of the month, I would give up top prospects and Rick Porcello for him.

Can you imagine any series the next three years with Halladay, Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson on the front end of the starting rotation?

Can you say three World Series trophies in the next five years? But my gut tells me the Tigers never will make a move for Halladay.

I hope the team proves me wrong by making the right moves and winning it all this year.

Prove me wrong, Joe

I also hope Detroit Pistons president of Basketball operations Joe Dumars proves me wrong with his moves during the past year. To watch the Pistons go from world champions to a franchise that hires John Kuester, an assistant coach NBA teams bypassed for 20 years, shows how far the franchise has fallen.

Kuester talked about defense in his first news conference, and all I could think about was how newcomers Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva defend like bad lawyers.

Even with all of the new faces and a new coach, the Pistons will be lucky to reach .500. It's too much change to be a contender any time soon.

I think the deaths of owner Bill Davidson and former coach Chuck Daly took away two sounding boards for Joe Dumars.

The young Pistons have no stars and are stuck with a coach with no head coaching experience.

Sound familiar? Can you say, 'Lions?'

Please prove me wrong, Joe.