Chris Young: Should he stay or should he go?
by Jim McLennan on Jun 11, 2009 10:00 PM EDT
in Diamondbacks News
Email
Print"I gave her a little hug back, too. I was feeling the love, so I gave her a little back. It was all good."
-- Chris Young on the field invasion last night"I thought it was funny" -- Justin Upton
Unfortunately, love from Diamondbacks fans for Chris Young has been pretty rare this year. Over two months into the season, and our center-fielder is still stuck solidly below the Uecker Line. Indeed, there's a very arguable case that he is the worst hitter in baseball at the moment. Tyler from KTAR pointed out that among qualifying batter, Young is dead last in the majors in most of the offensive metrics. Coming into this afternoon's game:
BA: .177 - next worst is Colorado’s Garrett Atkins at .193
OBP: .234 - next worst is Texas’ Chris Davis at .256
OPS: .542 - next worst is San Diego’s Brian Giles at .554
And that's before you even take park factors into accounts - obviously, you would expect Giles to have a tougher go of it in Petco than Young does at Chase. When you take that into account, and measure OPS+, Chris Young is even further dead last, with an OPS+ of 38, and it's not even close. The next worst is Atkins, at 48 [why, yes - he is on my fantasy team, thank you for asking...] Chris might want to hope the Rays' Dioner Navarro gets more playing time, since his line - .197/.221/.283, a 31 OPS+ - would bail Young out of last, with a few more plate-appearances.
This has been an ongoing issue almost from Opening Day, though he was batting .238, basically in line with his career average to that point, as late as April 28. But as early as May 2nd, the Republic was reporting, "Young searching for answers to slump," in which he said:
I've been working with different stances and different hand slots lately. I had a good spring, and I kind of got away a little bit from what I was doing. I have to find whatever I can do to make myself as comfortable as I can be at the plate. Right now I'm kind of in between different things, and I'm not getting the results right now... My batting practices have been really good," he said. "So I have the feel. It's just a matter of getting that feel with the timing of the game, bringing the two together. I plan on things turning around real soon - as soon as tomorrow.
It didn't happen. May was truly a month from hell for Young, in every way. He completed what could be described as the Trifecta of Uber-Suck, with a batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage all sitting below the Uecker Line. His numbers for the month: .141 BA (10-for-71), .162 OBP (just two walks in the entire month, compared to twenty strikeouts) and a .197 SLG (no home-runs and three extra-base hits). By the 21st,, Nick Piecoro said, "Young's struggles have become so pronounced, just watching him hit has become a painful endeavor." Young still remained optimstic:
I don't feel that bad I had a tough series in Milwaukee and (Los Angeles), where I was kind of swinging out of the zone and I was trying to change a lot of things. I wasn't really seeing the ball. But since then, I feel like I've been seeing the ball and having good at-bats. I'm just fouling the balls that I need to be driving. I'm fouling them back right now... I'm not thinking about my past at-bats or where my average is at. I don't think about the game like that. I kind of forget about the past and just go out there and play, and play my game. I know that my natural ability will take over. I have to trust in that and believe in that.
Once again, any improvement has been hard to discern. In the nineteen games since,in which Young has appeared, he's hitting .197, though is at least taking some walks and has a couple of home-runs. Still, his OPS over that time is barely cracking the .600 mark. Now, obviously, Chris Young's defense is generally regarded as being a help in justifying his presence on the roster, though the massive whiff in center-field last night certainly weakens that argument.
There have been the occasional moments where it seems like he is on the verge of breaking out. Twice in the recent San Diego series, he reached base safely four times, with multi-hit, multi-walk performances. But we've seen these apparently false dawns before - even during the hell of May, Young put together a five-game hitting streak...and then went hitless for the next ten days.
So, the poll question for this week is, should Chris Young be sent to Reno until he gets things sorted out? Or should he be left to tough it out here? However, for extra credit [or what would be extra credit, were any enterprising school to offer a course in SnakePitology], you also need provide more details in the comments. If you're going to send him down, then you need to explain who replaces him and why they would be an improvement. If you're going to leave him here, then you need to say what he brings to the team.
A final point. We know Young sucks. He knows he sucks. Everyone - except, apparently, the impromptu tenth player on the park from last night - knows it. So please refrain from simply pointing that out. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter... :-)
89 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Muahahaha
I LOVE skewing the poll 100% to 0%
But really. He is probably our best outfield defender, and I don’t care what AZBOMBERS says, Eric Byrnes would NEVER be able to track down the balls that CY does. Also, it’s been mentioned before (kishi, maybe?) that you don’t expect your center fielder to be a huge offensive power. Corner outfield, you do, and Byrnes isn’t doing much there (and that’s why he’s the fourth OF).
by emilylovesthedbacks on Jun 11, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions
I think we could get better offense from Alex Romero....
and still get they above-average defense in center. Romero would at least hit 50-60 points higher than CY is at this point we would be really losing anything defensively in center. I don’t mean to bag on CY as I really like him and I hope to god that he turns it around but I think he needs to go down and figure things out in AAA.
I think
I was the one who mentioned that…
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 12, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow! I'm A STAR (just like CY)
Chris Young had 201 at bats for an AVE of .184 OBP of .243 SLUG of .323 OPS .567
Eric Byrnes had 163 at bats for an AVE of .215 OBP of .257 SLUG of .362 OPS .619
What gives Young the right to be out in CF EVERY NIGHT while stinking it up?
He is a minor league player and when you pay $35 for a ticket to see the D-backs you expect better.
It's amazing then that you expect so little
from Eric Byrnes
"He who controls the Spice, controls the universe! "
by unnamedDBacksfan on Jun 12, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Is
there a way to limit Baseball Reference to show offensive numbers by position? I can’t help but doubt the idea that you shouldn’t expect good offense from a center fielder.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
I don't think
it’s a hard and fast rule. In theory it’s a position where great defense can be just as helpful as great offense. He plays adjacent to four other positions, and covers more territory than any other player. So, if you look at center fielders in a certain light, from the right angle, squint your eyes and cock your head just so, they can get by with sub-par offense.
But, as good as he is with the glove, CY is putting a lot of strain on that theory. If his hitting gets any worse, he’s gonna need to cover the entire outfield (allowing the D-Backs to stack 8 players in the infield) in order to justify his spot in the lineup. Even if it hurts our big-league club this season, I’d rather see CY in the minors, where he can regain his footing. The D-Backs of the future need him more than we need him right now.
"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson
I feel
like I need to see some numbers on this. Just because a center fielder theoretically covers more ground than a left fielder doesn’t mean we should expect shortstop type offensive numbers. I guess what I wonder is where does the center field position rank against all the others (with left field having the highest offensive numbers, most likely, all the way down to shortstop and catcher)?
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
That'd be interesting to see.
Without any factual basis to back it up, I’d guess that CFs sit in 2nd-base territory, just above catchers and shortstops. They’d be in the “offense is great if we can get it” category. But that’s just a guess.
"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson
Not
that home runs are a good measure at all, but if I recall all-time outfielders as a position (and each subdivided out) had more homeruns than any other position but first base, which was third if I recall.
I’m more than willing to have my mind changed on this, but I’ll be honest in that I’ve never heard this idea until now, especially when you consider how many great offensive center fielders there have been.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
See, I would EXPECT
outfielders to hit a lot of homers and have plus power, because they’re naturally expected to be strong armed to make the throws back to the IF. It’s part of the position.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
Splits for the league by position for 2007
Splits for the league by position for 2008
In 2008, the positions rank like this by TOPS+: 1B, RF, LF, 3B, CF, 2B, SS, C. In 2007, center field and second base are tied at 100. The difference between center and corner positions is usually about 10 points.
"And that's not just a metaphor. We're actually building an umbrella."
So middle
of the road, but I don’t see how this adds up to not expecting a center fielder to not do well offensively just because of their fielding job, especially since a lot of teams have trended to looking for an offensive-first second basemen.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
Well,
remember, that’s compared to the rest of the batters as a whole. In the NL, that includes pitchers, and most catchers are pretty lousy hitters as well, since it’s a position that’s almost exclusively defined by defense.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
That's true
If you go up to the top of the page, you can split it by American and National Leagues. Interesting to look at that and see how the AL’s production out of left field is only a bit better than center, while it’s the second-most dominant position for the NL.
"And that's not just a metaphor. We're actually building an umbrella."
2008 Left-fielders
Of the top eight by OPS, only one [Quentin] was purely AL. Two split time between the leagues, five were purely NL.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Jun 12, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
You catch the ball, you throw the ball, you hit the ball.....
Playing outfield is simple, that is where I played and I hit a ton.Because the center fielder requires a good arm and fast legs, center field is generally considered one of the positions which produces power hitters; many center fielders such as Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees or Carlos Beltrán of the New York Mets are renowned as excellent batters and base runners. During the 1990s Ken Griffey, Jr. (especially during the early part of his career), was another center fielder who excelled in both batting and fielding.
And, as we know
Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey, Jr. should be seen as the average for the position, rather than some of the greatest players of all time.
"And that's not just a metaphor. We're actually building an umbrella."
Although
I agree that they are outliers, I’m still remain unconvinced of the original claim. I need someone to actually give me a breakdown of the reasons why a center fielder should be given a pass because of defense to be convinced.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
I didn't say
it was a reason to give him a pass.
Last I checked, he’s the best defensive CF in the league, and I honestly think that with the way our system looks right now, that is a good enough reason to keep him with the big club.
by emilylovesthedbacks on Jun 12, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm sorry
but I’m not picking on you specifically. I just saw the statement, and you had mentioned kishi had mentioned the same sentiment, so I just wonder what the thought process is.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
I know.
Just thought I’d add to it. No worries :-)
by emilylovesthedbacks on Jun 13, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
great defense????
I haven’t seen a live game, but it appears evident to me that CY’s defense is weak when either the adjacent fielder or shortstop is attempting to make a play. It appears that he doesn’t take command and backs off the play and lets someone else make the attempt.
Am I the only one that is seeing this?
He has made some great plays and I hold no issues for the ball he missed yesterday, but the center fielder needs to be the commander.
I agree
CY does look timid when he’s maneuvering around other players. I was half-expecting him to collide with Justin Upton when he made one of his gret catches today. But even without the obvious leadership, his physical skills are uncanny.
"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson
Welcome
to the Snakepit!!
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 12, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I hang with him (a while longer)
Two reasons:
1: as alluded to, we really don’t have anyone really screaming to take the job. Brynes/Parra aren’t exactly offensive powerhouses, and I’m not seeing any future star centerfielders in the minors (correct me if I’ve missed someone) ready to step in.
2: Young still has a strong potential upside. His mix of power and speed is rare, despite this season’s crappy hitting. If (obviously not a given) he can get it back together, he’s about as good as we’re going to get.
Given that this season is already down the tubes, we’re not going to suddenly trade for a new centerfielder. So being patient and hoping that the coaches can fix Young’s hitting makes sense. Moving him to the minors would make sense if we were playing for this year. We’re not.
"I know a place where life is a game, and Baseball's really real"
All things
considered I can’t be confident that the coaches with the Diamondbacks can fix anyone’s hitting.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
Easy Choice For Me
He has to go to Reno to figure things out.
“Won’t sort himself out swatting minor-league scrubs around. Leave him here: it’s not as if we have anyone better.”
Swatting minor-league scrubs around should be the perfect dose of medicine that Chris Young needs. It’ll give him time to figure out his stance and it’ll free up some of the pressure that he’s facing right now in front of 20,000 fans every game. As for a replacement, that’s tough. Gonzo is still available. ;)
In all seriousness though I think the D-Backs have just as good of a chance with one of their minor-leaguers than they do with Chris Young right now. Cyle Hankerd is mowing them down in Mobile (.352/.439/.934) and Romero is having another good season in AAA (.354/.421/.892). Another bonus about Alex is the simple fact that he’s been to the majors before and has had a small sample of how tough it is to earn a spot and keep it. I’d make a bet that he would be doing the best he could to prevent himself from being sent down again. One can argue that he didn’t fair too well when called up last season but it’s irrelevant at this point. Chris Young has been so wretched that we should be willing to try anything.
Young is too large of an investment to just sit back and say, “Oh, he’ll snap out of it soon.” He needs to be sent down where he can figure things out and not have to deal with the media and hype after each game.
Oh, and the defense, not worth it if you ask me. Gamble on some offense for defense.
Wear your own fur.
Cyle Hankerd is not the answer for cf
he is well below average in speed and below average in arm strength. He is at best a corner of but would need to hit with power to justify his defensive shortcomings. He has not shown that kind of power so far. He is CoJack without the ability (?) to play first base.
by dbacks watcher on Jun 12, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
That's what I was thinking
If they did bring Hankerd up, I’d think they’d put him in left and move Parra to center. Parra is listed as a center fielder for the BayBears, anyway.
"And that's not just a metaphor. We're actually building an umbrella."
That was my reason too
I think sending him down to be with the AAA scrubs will help him regain his confidence. He can learn from those guys, and he can regain confidence. I think he needs to feel like the big fish in a small pond and not the small fish in a big pond.
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Put him on the DL and let him clear his head
We only hurt him by keeping him here while he needs training. That is what coaches are for.
Put him on the DL for what?
Isn’t the DL for injured players?
Oh, look, CY just hit a double and drove in a run. Doesn’t look injured to me.
by emilylovesthedbacks on Jun 12, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
He sucks. DFA him.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 13, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Young is too much of a liability
Not only is Young a miserable performer in the batting lineup, but he adds pressure to the guys in front of him, they feeling that they have to try for an extra base hit cos Chris won’t advance them. I can’t see how Romero will do any worse and the odds are that he can hit 250+. If we are going to get anything out of this disappointing season, let it be to identify the genuine OF alternatives to Young and Byrnes.
Alex Romero
career BA in majors: .230
Romero is NOT a “genuine OF alternative”.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 12, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Granted,
that’s all of 135 ABs, all coming last year….
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 12, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Romero
2009 is apparently a much more solid year.
I suppose I’m looking for minor league miracles!
Any college OFs in the draft – ready to go next year?
Our CF, AJ Pollock, from Notre Dame,
(the 2nd first round pick, #17) is supposed to be fairly polished already and shouldn’t take long to get to the majors.
I highly doubt we’ll see him this year, but maybe late 2010. I’m sure he’ll be invited to ST next year. (This is all pending his signing, incidentally, which Piecoro reports the Dbacks are very close to doing)
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 12, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted to send Young down, but
I think it is to make him a better player. I have to believe part of his problem is the pressure of failing at the major league level. I don’t think CY will ever be a .300 hitter, but he’s certainly at least a .240 hitter (he’s done that for 2 years – you’d think he could get better).
I think we would be a better team with Parra in the outfield. But that’s not the purpose of my vote. If it actually made us a worse team, I would still send Young down to try to get him fixed.
I think
we would be a better team with Parra in the outfield, too. I just think Parra should replace Byrnes, not CY.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 12, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Move CoJack back to first when he come back?
CoJack played above average defense in left, would you move him back to first? I think I might consider it but I would rather have Reynolds play there.
I would say
let’s deal with that when he returns. Until then, we can evaluate the rest.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
True
I have a sinking feeling that CoJack won’t be back this season.
"And that's not just a metaphor. We're actually building an umbrella."
young's not done
although the curse of the rookie superstar diamondback has struck again (travis lee, anyone???) young still needs more time to develop into a solid veteran player. this is only his third year and his defensive skills are sharpening save for that rediculous blunder the other night. So I agree that Hinch should send him to the minors to gain some confidence with his “new stances” and move upton to center, let parra get some starts at right and give Byrnes a last hurrah in left before Connor Jackson is healthy enough to return. ALSO, big mistake on the DBacks part in letting Jeff Salazar go, the finest 4th outfielder if I ever saw one, that would’ve solved all their problems
by themadscientist on Jun 12, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions
I Looooooove Jeffy!!
You’re right, he would’ve been GREAT to keep around!!! He isn’t the strongest arm or the greatest range but he can make all the plays out there, including some spectacular bring-em-back catches. He won’t hit .280 but he had a decent BA.
Where IS he now, anyway?
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
OMG!! This is TOO FUNNY....
He plays for Pittsburgh’s AAA team – in Indianapolis!! I AM GOING to Indy next week and there are games – BUT the game’s a night game and I can’t stay out because I have soccer games early the next morning.
Daaang… it almost might be worth it to try to go just for 3 innings……
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I am reeeeeally thinking about it :D
I started a fanpost on Pittsburgh’s site to ask about their stadium and traffic. (My hotel isn’t exactly close.) IF it looks like I can get close enough to meet him and say hi… I’m there. But if I can’t get down there to see him, then, eh… I mean I can’t stay for the whole game anyway, it’s a night game, but if I can say hi to him, 5 innings and $13 to sit behind home plate would absolutely be worth it.
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you going to
try and talk to him before the game, during BP?
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
That's what's determining it right now
Absolutely.
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm looking into it!
Heck at this point even if I can’t get down to autograph level, it’d be fun to go see them play! :)
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions
DUDE!
AND Mike Koplove is an Indian!!! He knows me really well too, I talked with him at Team USA practice last summer.
OKAY, now I REALLY want to go to this game….
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaamnit
It doesn’t look like I can get down there……. but I’m calling the stadium to ask anyway….
by snakecharmer on Jun 12, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Leave Upton in
rf and play Parra in cf. Upton is just getting comfortable in rf and Parra is the more consistent cf between the two.
by dbacks watcher on Jun 12, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
We didn't "let him go".
We tried to pass him through waivers and keep him in our AAA team after Spring Training, and he was claimed by another team. We didn’t have a choice, since we didn’t expect him to be one of our top OFs out of Spring Training, and we thought we were going to compete for the division title this year.
That’s baseball.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
Shame we didn't pick up Andruw Jones
125 OPS+ for Texas this year. It’d have been sweet to get him for league minimum and basically have the Dodgers paying him an eight-figure sum to play for us.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
Eh.....
at the same time, I have it on pretty solid authority (family member who knows Joe Torre) that Jones is a huge asshole.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
I sorta feel like
this question answers itself.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
Mike Koplove
Yeah. We had great hopes for him way back in our best years. He could throw some wicked, filthy stuff at 86mph. Smiled a lot though a tad emotional!
Hall of Fame center fielders (NOT CHRIS YOUNG)
* Richie Ashburn
* Earl Averill
* Cool Papa Bell
* Willard Brown
* Max Carey
* Oscar Charleston
- Ty Cobb
* Earle Combs
* Joe DiMaggio
* Larry Doby
* Hugh Duffy
* Billy Hamilton
* Pete Hill
* Mickey Mantle
* Willie Mays
* Kirby Puckett
* Edd Roush
* Duke Snider
* Tris Speaker
* Turkey Stearnes
* Cristóbal Torriente
* Lloyd Waner
* Zack Wheat
* Hack Wilson
Just a thought
Know what Kirby Puckett’s OPS was at the end of his age 25 season? .688 – compared to Chris Young’s current .731. Not that I’m saying Young will be HOF-worthy, but it’s a little early to be giving up on him, I think.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Jun 12, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
DUKE SNIDER.295, TOOK SEVEN YEAR TO GET TO THE MAJORS
Growing up in Southern California, Duke was a gifted all around athlete and strong armed quarterback at Compton High School who could reportedly throw the football 60 yards on the fly. Spotted by one of Branch Rickey’s birddog scouts in the early 1940s, he was signed to a baseball contract out of high school. He played briefly for the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1944 (batting twice) and for Newport News in the Piedmont League in the same year. Serving in the military in 1945, he came back to play for Fort Worth in 1946 and for St. Paul in 1947.
Chris Young is Fantasy Hot?
Click it quickly folks — he won’t be there for long:
I don’t get it — how does a .234 avg and 5 SB and 4 RBI equate to a “hot” fantasy player?
Probably the stolen bases?
That’s a nice total from a player for the week.
"Scott, if your life had a face, I would punch it. I would punch your life in the face."
Look at the not so hot section.
Joe Mauer is on there. Look at what he (Mauer) has done the last few days and you’ll see that he clearly has been sucking (lots of sarcasm there).
I have to say
Every time I look at that picture I think, “Was she trying to hug him, or frisk him?”
"Scott, if your life had a face, I would punch it. I would punch your life in the face."
Did you
watch the video?
That’s him raising his hands so security can get to her, and her using his body to protect her from security. He put his arm around her at first.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: Invincible in 18 innings since '01
by DbacksSkins on Jun 13, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Random question for AZBOMBERS
Have you ever gone by the names of Azphan? or FoulPole? Also, have you ever actually played/watched baseball? Just wondering….
:::goes back to lurking over emilylovesthedbacks’ shoulder:::::
"When fascism comes to this country, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross" - Upton Sinclair
by C. Wesley Baier on Jun 12, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions
Paranoia at such a young age??
There was no mention of 3.6 +2, hence not azphart
And the issue is with Young, NOT Conor Jackson, don’t think it’s foulpole
Pretty sure this is a new one.
"He who controls the Spice, controls the universe! "
by unnamedDBacksfan on Jun 13, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm fine with it too.
It takes all types to make a fanbase. Whether I agree or disagree with a POV is immaterial.
"He who controls the Spice, controls the universe! "
by unnamedDBacksfan on Jun 13, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Howie Kendrick is all i have to say
a 4 year veteran of the Angels, SENT DOWN today by the team to AAA to figure IT OUT and get his swing back.
“Scioscia doesn’t expect Kendrick to be in the minors for long, but he felt this decision was necessary. “We feel it’s time for Howie to go down and just take a little pressure off of him, let him exhale a little bit, get some at-bats and find his swing,” the manager said. “Hopefully it’s going to be a big turnaround, but it’s tough to search for it up here. I know he’s pressing.”
Now, why do the dbacks feel that we are different than other teams in how they deal with players. Why is everyone so AFRAID to send Chris young down to better himself?? Are we afraid that when we send him down he continues his downward spiral???
Every other team in MLB will send down players that have options to help them get there act together – if this was a SP we were throwing out every 5th day and sucking this bad would we allow it to go on for 2 months – or bc he is a OF/hitter there is a preference to think they WONT mentally scar themselves and will be able to break out of it.
Sending an All-Star caliber OF down to figure out a swing during a HUGE, in fact a VERY HUGE SLUMP lets not kid ourselves – is not that big of a deal in the vastness that is baseball. In fact, i would wonder if he was sent down sometime in May if he wouldnt have figured his swing out already.
All i read in this post by Jim by the comments by Young himself is that he is still trying to FIGURE OUT what will work and what wont and is IN BETWEEN stances/direction/understanding of his swing – Well doesnt that preclude a minor league assignment.
Im not mad at chris young, i want the best for him. But would we leave any of our pitchers out there to slump like this, would we leave any of our players on our team out to slump like this???? The man is only 25 years old – most minor leaguers dont even make it to the show by that age; we would lose nothing by sending him down and fixing him – its not like he is WINNING GAMES for us now anyways.
Young and Byrnes
Why are the Dbax continually giving these 2 guys chances? They paid them the money, but with the exception of one good year from Byrnes, they have received zip, zero, nada. Young has not hit over .250 in any year. He is continually a disappointment with runners in scoring position. Of the “5 tools” he has one that benefits the team—his glove, and not many good teams can sacrifice their CF position for exceptional fielding. Trade him or send him down. The same with Byrnes. The Dbax are playing around with guys like Parra that has the potential, but they play him 2 games, sit him the 3rd. That will not get his confidence level going, nor will it allow him to gather any momentum. Josh & AJ need to go, as well……
This is the claim I never understand
Trade? If we didn’t want these guys, what are we going to get in trade?
Besides, Young can- and will- get better. He’s a better player than this. If we give him time to work it out, he’ll get back on track.
"Scott, if your life had a face, I would punch it. I would punch your life in the face."
YOUNG
HE STAYS—HE HAS A FUTURE——ERIC BYRNES NEEDS TO BE RELEASED IMMEDIATLEY..HE IS A CLOWN, A DISCRACE TO BASEBALL—THE GUY IS WORTHLESS AND WHO CARES ABOUT THE BAD CONTRACT OF 10 MILLON PER YEAR JOSH BYRNES SIGNED HIM TO—ACTUALLY—JOSH BYRNES NEEDS TO BE FIRED AS WELL…WORK ON BULL PEN AND A FEW POSITION PLAYERS FOR NEXT YEAR…IT IS OVER FOR 2009…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on AZ Snake Pit
Related FanShots on AZ Snake Pit
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Does Billy Beane’s contract extension signal an optimistic dawn for Oakland fans?
- Ask Alex: Will Alex Avila be an All-Star again?
- Create-a-Caption: Matt Cain’s great pair of golf pants
- Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries autographed ball being auctioned by Twins
- George Brett lawsuit claims his company falsely advertises ion necklaces’ health benefits
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
