Comments on: Michael Young is having a tough time, is killing the baseball

By: spindervish

spindervish — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:58:01 +0000

Well for one thing, he’s not really a backup. He’s the primary DH, and on the days Napoli or Hamilton or whoever needs to DH he’ll be in at 2nd or 3rd. I fully expect the guy to get 500 ABs this year if healthy.

But as I already pointed out, I don’t believe it’s the griping or the trade request in and of themselves that people are reacting so strongly to. It’s the self-serving way guys like him and Chris Davis continue to claim they’re the kind of guys who put the team first while simultaneously grumbling about the way they’re being handled. Talking out of both sides of your mouth is a pretty good way to elicit some negative reactions.

Plus, they both seem to suffer from an over-inflated sense of their own abilities. Does Young really not realize that Beltre and Andrus are far superior defensive options at this point and that it’s in the Rangers’ best interest to have Young’s bat in the lineup every day but not his glove? Does Davis really not realize that he’s like a career .240 hitter in the majors with poor on-base skills and an astronomical strikeout rate? It’s just maddening how these guys seem to think they “deserve” things they haven’t earned the past few years.

By: larryhockett

larryhockett — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:45:11 +0000

What whining? The guy wants to play everyday rather than be a back-up so he requested a trade. The guy was asked how he’s adjusting to his new role as a back-up and he said it’s harder than playing everyday because he can’t get in a rhythm. WTF is so bad about that?

I’ve been shocked at the animosity this storyline has generated ever since the Rangers got Beltre. I don’t think the Rangers owe Young anything beyond the benefits of his generous contract but I also don’t think Young has done anything to warrant this level of scorn. He’s not holding out, he’s not saying outrageous things, he’s not seeking out all this attention. He’s just a guy who’s been a regular his whole career (and a damn good one at that) making the very difficult adjustment to being a back-up.

By: spindervish

spindervish — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:53:19 +0000

If he wants to whine, fine. But what I think most people are reacting so negatively to is the juxtaposition of his “classy, professional, team-first” reputation and his recent behavior which has been anything but. Also, your cute little narrative there is missing a chapter. While I don’t remember whether he “gladly” moved for Soriano and A-Rod, last year he most certainly pitched a fit about moving off SS for Elvis Andrus. Then he did the same this year about moving for Beltre. Fact is, most regular people are not going to have much sympathy for a millionaire with a sense of entitlement.

I don’t really get all you apologists. Like the people who argued that the Yankees “owed” Jeter his ludicrous demands because of his past service. Young has been a cornerstone of that franchise for a while, and he’s been paid handsomely and showered with praise and accolades for years even while his play, specifically his defense, continued to decline. I think people like me would like to see more self-awareness from these guys in general. The fact is his D was hurting the team, or at least not helping much. Andrus and Beltre are flat-out studs. Young is an employee, to be used as the team sees fit. Deal with it.

By: marinersnate

marinersnate — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:38:29 +0000

“Nobody ever said the guy couldn’t hit…just don’t expect him to make any saves with a glove on.”

Yes. Just like Jeter. Heck at least he can hit!

Oh. Wait a minute.

By: Richard In Big D

Richard In Big D — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:23:54 +0000

Michael came up as a second baseman, and a fine one. While there he hit for right around .300, got 200+ hits, and hit about 16-20 HR. Then the Rangers picked up Alfonso Soriano intending to use him in left field, which the whiny little left fielder didn’t see in his plans. Mike goes to Rangers brass and tells them not to worry, he’ll be glad to move to SS. So he does, and while there, he hit for right arounf .300, got 200+ hits, and hit about 16-20 HR every year. After a few years, Tom Hicks outbid himself for the services of A-Roid. Mike goes to Rangers brass and tells them not to worry, he’ll be glad to move to 3B. So he does, and while there, he hit for right around .300, got 200+ hits, and hit about 16-20 HR every year. After a while at third, the Rangers finally gel, and have their best season ever, going to the Worls series for the first time ever, with Michael Young as the long time face of the franchise. Now the Rangers go out and pick up Adrian Beltre. Given all his infield experience, Mike now becomes an exceptionally valuable commodity as a roving replacement infielder and DH, but this time he is not happy about it, and the whole baseball world thinks Mike is a whine bag who should just shut up and play. For those that have beeb Rangers fans throughout Mike’s tenure with the team, he deserves much better treatment than this. And we also know that he will eventually settle in and embrace his new role with gusto, and be the best utility infielder in the game. If there were a “UTIL” slot on the AllStar ballot, he would appear in that role for as long as he keeps lacing them up every day.
Bottom Line: Cut Mike some slack, he paid his dues, earned his skins, and if whining a little bit helps him settle in and do well in his new role, so be it. Mike and the Rangers will be fine…

By: angrycorgi

angrycorgi — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:22:00 +0000

Nobody ever said the guy couldn’t hit…just don’t expect him to make any saves with a glove on.

By: bigharold

bigharold — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:50:03 +0000

Imagine if he WAS locked in!

By: cur68

cur68 — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:45:09 +0000

This may illustrate a point that Robbie Cano was making re. his potential for 40 homers and Berra made more succinctly; you can’t think and hit (homers). Young, ‘unable to lock in’ can’t focus on hitting anymore. He’s distracted with his situation. Hence he’s hitting a ton. On instinct. Arguably, his mediocrity when ‘locked in’ might have something to do with focusing too much on hitting; thinking about hitting too much, I mean. If so, then I say make the bugger learn to play catcher. He might hit .400 or more.

By: phukyouk

phukyouk — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:43:53 +0000

“” should have started at Whiny

NEED EDIT BUTTON please

By: phukyouk

phukyouk — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:42:58 +0000

“Michael Young is having a tough time, is killing the baseball”

“you spelled whiny little bit*h” wrong.

seriously this guy needs to STFU already.

By: Jeremiah Graves

Jeremiah Graves — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:32:55 +0000

Last I checked he’s still expected to get a ton of at-bats between DH/UTIL work, right?!