Delmon Young can hit. He just usually doesn’t. One of the main reasons for this is terrible plate discipline. Young swings at 44% of pitches out of the strike zone, even though his contact rate on pitches out of the strike zone is below average. Year after year, he has one of the highest rates of swinging at bad pitches, and not surprisingly, one of the lowest walk rates.

Even after five years, it is reasonable to say, as Mathew does above, if he would only improve his plate discipline, he could still realize his promise. But what evidence is there that he will ever change his attitude?

According to all accounts by those with better access than me, he is one of the most uncoachable players I have ever read about. Gardenhire used to cover for him, praising his work ethic, etc. But he finally admitted, Young refused to even work with the team’s hitting coaches. He has always followed his own advisors, be that family members, himself, whatever. And year after year, he has never, ever improved.

He still has the talent. He just refuses to listen to anyone. That alone might not prove him a jerk — but there’s plenty of evidence of that, too.

As a platoon hitter against lefties, he has value. But waiting for him to change his personality is a depressing endeavor. Three times have tried that already. To the Phillies, I would just say: Good luck with that.

Second, what else was going on yesterday?

Third, they were all different aspects of the transaction. 1) Rumor, 2) confirmed signing, 3) statement of intended roll by the GM (which directly contradicted what many commenters were saying in previous posts), and 4) that it was actually a good deal for the Phillies as long as they dump the guy if he isn’t producing instead of wasting a roster space and playing time on him.

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Isn’t the idea to get Brown to shit or get off the pot? Bring in Young to tell Brown, they think his play matches his name.

Maybe give the kid more than 200 PA in a year to determine his value?

The Phills can cut Young, trade him or, if he hits, play him alittle or alot. Remember, there will be more regular DH games this season as well as the fact that Howard can’t touch a lefty.

It’s a good move by the Phills with zero risk. Best case, Brown hits and Young can bail Howard out against the lefty specialists.

I wish he played below average defense. His glove was so bad the Tigers had no choice but to move him to DH. At the plate, his 2010 is an outlier, not the norm. Young he was a lousy DH, hitting .267/.296/.411, which isn’t much lower than his career numbers. Despite having Miguel Cabrera (.393 OBP) and Prince Fielder (.412 OBP) consistently on base in front of him, Young could only drive in 72 runs in 574 ABs.

Trust me, you’ll rue the day the Phillies signed Delmon Young.

Using 342 plate appearances against the NL as an encouraging sign is pretty much saying “forget about almost all the other seasons he’s played. I know that’s not what you mean but still.

But Young should not be the everyday starter in RF or anywhere. Especially not when the Phillies already have multiple people with even the slightest chance of being better, plus more long-term upside to boot.

I’m no Phillies fan, but honestly–to Ruben Amaro Jr: PLAY THE KIDS

I mean, he’s gotta be worth $50,000 more than Bobby Crosby just in Truffle Shuffles alone.