Superb (but somewhat obvious) Delmon Young Post

by Summer Biscuits Associate on Jun 11, 2008 6:43 PM EDT

http://resultsdisoriented.blogspot.com/2008/06/delmon-young.html

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Delmon Young

While hanging out with some friends tonight, I casually suggested that Delmon Young might be the worst everyday player in the majors. I was overstating the case a little--Tony Pena is the clear choice, had I remembered him--but man, Delmon is bad.

Once projected as a perennial 30-HR threat, Young currently has zero homers in 60 games. He only has ten doubles, so it's unlikely this is a fluke--he seems to have simply stopped hitting for power.

Young ranks only 17th in lowest VORP this year, but almost all those behind him bring great defense to the table (Jason Bartlett, Willy Taveras) or are good hitters that are going through a rough patch (Paul Konerko, Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano). One is both (Khalil Greene). One--Bill Hall--is no longer an everyday player, in spite of his whining.

Additionally, Young carries baggage that goes beyond his poor hitting. He plays the easiest defensive position on the diamond and plays it very poorly; perhaps only Manny Ramirez and Jack Cust are worse with the leather. His personality issues are well-known: there's the bat-throwing incident, obviously, plus every now and then he pops up in the news to complain when his coaches bench him or encourage him to change his style.

Delmon Young still has a chance to be a star, but the odds have turned violently against him.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Comments

Raul Ibanez is way way way way way way way way way worse with the glove.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Jun 11, 2008 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

Raul also DH's.

by Summer Biscuits Associate on Jun 11, 2008 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

He's DHed twice this year.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 11, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

It's so sad and so true.

Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.

by BrettJMiller on Jun 11, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Carl Crawford is giving Delmon a run for his money. (Look at the stats, they’re nearly identical).

9 = 8

by websterjtc on Jun 11, 2008 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

Only if you completely disregard their counting stats

by GomesSweetGomes on Jun 12, 2008 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he just pressing a little to much. I am shocked to hear that he plays bad in the outfield. He did fine when played for the Rays I liked how he was constantly moving pitch by pitch doing things such as back up ground balls.

Delmon’s power was never really there. One of the reason’s why the DRO kept him in the minors for so long was his lack of power numbers.

On the upside, I see delmon maturing to a good hitter. I see .280 15-20HR and 80-1000 RBIs in his future. He just needs to mature in all levels and realize what a gift he has.

In the name of Sinji Mori, we shall win!

by thebaddancingraysfan on Jun 11, 2008 7:55 PM EDT reply actions

If Delmon ends up

as a .280 hitter with his current walk rate and 15-20 home runs he will be a below average corner outfielder. I do think he has a chance of improving over what we have seen so far; in fact, I think he still has a chance to be a star. But what you are describing is anything but. It is essentially Ty Wigginton with a few more BA points and a few fewer home runs.

I do think we have to keep in mind the comment by Rays Rule about his youth and potential (albeit not about anyone telling ya so). He is a 22 year old who has not been overwhelmed in the majors even if he has not himself been overwhelming. There is plenty of time for him to develop his quite obvious talents.

As a matter of fact, as an 18 year old in low A he showed excellent power and even pretty decent plate discipline. In AA at 19 his BB rate slipped, although it wasn’t awful, but his power numbers actually improved. Then at AAA the next year, although he hit for average, his power and plate discipline nose-dived and continued to weaken when he hit the majors at age 20.

So I think there is little doubt he can hit for power. At his age and with his tools, there is still a good chance he will emerge although obviously he is less a sure thing than he was when drafted.

by bobr on Jun 11, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

if he gets a 1000 rbi's, we got ripped off...

by davidsmarch on Jun 12, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 12, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

as of yesterday

In case no one noticed, Carl’s slash line is almost like Delmon’s.
.265/.310/.367
.266/.315/.357 (DY)

by Ben Tumbling on Jun 11, 2008 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

So I guess Carl Crawford sucks now too doesn't he?

I know there are alot of Delmon Young haters out there and rightfully so. However, remember how young he is and how much potential he has. He’ll come around. If not this year, then the next. And when he does, remember I told ya so.

by Rays Rule on Jun 11, 2008 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Carl Crawford has sucked this year.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 11, 2008 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Assuming CC ends the year at .285/.330/.420, would you trade him and find a more productive bat?

by Ben Tumbling on Jun 11, 2008 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends on who.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 11, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

well, say another another “stopgap” situation like they have in RF this season.

by Ben Tumbling on Jun 11, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Questions like this

are pointless. It is something like a tautology. Of course, all else being equal, it would be sensible to trade anyone for a “more productive bat”. After all, if Pena hits .260/.350/.480 with 30 home runs, would you trade him for a healthy Pujols? If Shields ends the year with a 3.90 ERA and 210 IP with 45 BBs and 180 Ks, would you consider dealing him for Felix Hernandez?

Of course, the next comment you make contradicts, in spirit at least, the implied answer to what seems like a semi-rhetorical question here. If you are asking do you trade Crawford for a stopgap, by which I assume you mean trade down to a lesser player, then of course the answer is self-evident, unless of course you are thinking of a more complex trade.

For example, suppose the Rays were to deal Crawford to the Padres for Peavy and Brian Giles, who would be an obvious stopgap in the outfield. Would that be worth considering? (I know it is dumb, but the question is so open-ended it calls for totally hypothetical responses to clarify what it means.)

by bobr on Jun 11, 2008 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

You are a philospopher aren't you

“tautology” gave it away… it’s a good thing this is a baseball bolg because if it was football no one would know what that means.

by rglass44 on Jun 12, 2008 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

i live in MN and delmon really sucks right now

i cant even watch his AB sometimes and he has only 1 HR and it was in a out of hand game that MN lost like 3-11 and delmon hasnt hit for that many doubles either and is hitting in the 7 spot in the lineup

by RaysOfHope on Jun 11, 2008 11:14 PM EDT reply actions

Delmon may never reach the lofty heights that were predicted of him (i.e undisputed MVP and future HOFer) but I do think he will still be a star in this league. IMHO two things are holding him back; first those lofty expectations and two, that thick water balloon he calls a mule-head.

But please do not tell me DY is a good outfielder. He is not. Yes, he has a bazooka for an arm but that’s about it. And if you don’t know how to use that bazooka it can end up doing more harm than good, such as in Delmon’s case. Sure it was exhilarating to watch him throw out Ichiro at third, but far, far too many times he failed (or refused more likely) to hit the cutoff man with a misguided throw to the plate or third with no chance of nailing the runner. Meanwhile the trail runner moves up an extra base, or worse, if the throw is errant (often the case) everyone moves up.

Methinks someone needs to tell him that he still gets an assist if he hits the cutoff man and they nail the guy.

And his arm is the good part about his defense. The guy plods around the outfield, gets horrible reads/jumps on the ball, and not since a guy named Magellan has anyone taken more circular routes to the ball. And don’t get me started on balls that he has to go back on or play off the wall. Can anyone say Conseco?

As for his hitting the guy has skills but until he learns patience at the plate he will not be more than what he is. The problem is the guy thinks he’s a great ball player with more knowledge than his coaches. Therefore said coaching doesn’t pertain to him. Until that changes, his game never will.

by TampaMet on Jun 12, 2008 11:27 AM EDT reply actions