GameDay Chatter: Delmon Young

by Jesse on Apr 27, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in GameDay Appearance

If you tuned into Sunday's post-game show and heard the GameDay Chatter segment, also known as the blogger rant, then you were lucky enough to hear my velvet voice coming to you from across the ocean. I wasn't able to hear it, but here's what I wrote...if you've read comment threads over the last week or so, you may find this somewhat familiar:

Delmon Young gets a hard time from fans. Part of what plays against him are the expectations for his ceiling. He was “supposed” to be a five-tool guy, which he clearly isn’t. It takes time to learn a field; to find the ball, to play the wall, how much room you have and how much room you have to cover when you’re playing next to one guy or another; but Delmon just doesn’t move well in the outfield. Even when he made those sprinting catches in foul territory last week, he wasn’t exactly sprinting gracefully, and appearances say a lot about how comfortable you are.

At the plate you can give him a little more leeway, but he already has a great deal of professional plate appearances under his belt. Patience is said to be his biggest issue, but patience doesn’t develop. It’s a trait that doesn't organically happen. Pitch recognition, control of the strike zone; these things develop. These are the things that Delmon needs to work on, because right now he struggles with both of them. If he improves in these areas, he doesn’t have to worry about being more or less patient, because he’s such a talented raw hitter that those two things alone could drastically help his production.

Like I said, people give Delmon a hard time, but they just react to what they see. Still, everyone wants him to succeed. Whether it’s because they’re a Twins fan, because they like him as a player, or because they want something to come out the Matt Garza trade. But ultimately the reason it’s such a big deal, all of this over a 23-year old kid, is because of expectations. And whether it’s fair or not, those are the expectations he’ll be judged on.

Thanks to the Twins and GameDay.

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Right on

The problem is, take away the expectations that are unique to him, and what should we expect from a 23-year old major leaguer with two plus years of experience?

1. Competence:: Is he a liability relative to replacement level with the bat or the glove (or both)?

2. Progression: Is he working on the stuff he needs to work on? Is he developing, or is he stagnant or worse?

3. Hustle: Does he get after it or is he just lollygagging around out there?

That’s not asking a lot. At times, we see him doing none of 1-3. At times he not only meets, but exceeds those expectations. As long as he meets or exceeds 1-3 consistently, his upside says give him a season to figure it out. When he starts going below the line on basic expectations, it’s time to start looking for alternatives. It’s up to him, really.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 27, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Cuddy vs Young

How long have we put up with Cuddyer? This guy has had some of the worst AB’s I have seen so far this season. Delmon has far more upside at this point the Cuddy because of his age. Cuddy doesn’t get it after several seasons and Delmon is trying to figure it out still after only 2 full seasons.

Delmon does piss me off when he swings at the first pitch 3 out of 4 AB’s. But then again sometimes that first pitch fastball is the best pitch you will get. Vlad Guerrero swings at the first pitch alot also. So who the hell knows……

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds"

Samuel Adams

by RileysCannibalJct on Apr 27, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Cuddy is swinging at bad pitches

People talk about the two at bats with the bases loaded by Morneau and Kubel that ended in Ks. But to me, the worst at bat came an inning earlier with two on, two out and Cuddyer at the plate. Ahead in the count 2-1, he swung at a sinker in the dirt and grounded to the shortstop. If he waits for his pitch and drives it, that was at least one run right there. Normally a very patient hitter, he’s really reaching out of the zone a lot this year.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Apr 27, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Kris Atteberry kept calling you a Londoner

A great analysis of Young. Was great to hear you on the airwaves (again!), although they had technical difficulties when they tried playing your segment the first time – hopefully the link I sent you worked, otherwise it blew up your computer because I know the file is huge.

by Trevour on Apr 27, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions