Dear Delmon Young, Keep It Up, Love Twins Territory

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 10:35 AM EDT in Player Profiles Comment 38 comments

Delmon is on another one of his streaks.

Over the last few days we've seen the best of what Delmon Young has to offer. For the first time in a while the Twins are giving Young consistent playing time, and while his aggressive approach hasn't changed the results have been solid. After last night's RBI extravaganza Delmon has now blasted four impressive looking home runs in his last eight games, and he's hitting .302/.333/.651 over his last 11.

The realist in everyone should be saying well, we've seen streaks like this from Young before. Over 12 games from April 25 - May 8 he hit .405. But just like last season, when he picked it up in the second half after a slow start, we're seeing evidence of Delmon finding his unique style of a stride. Since June 3, Young is hitting .293/.307/.483 with eight doubles and six home runs. Those four walks aren't impressing anyone, but we already know what kind of a hitter we're talking about.

This latest hot streak, over the last few games, has seen Young making some good contact. He's getting around quicker and getting the head of the bat to make contact, and he's also using his legs to help him get something behind his swings. I'm not about to say that these mechanics are somethig that Young can duplicate going forward, but right now something is definitely working. Either Delmon is just riding hot, which we've seen before and has just as much to do with luck as it does talent, or we're seeing him get better at reading pitches and taking advantage.

Anyone who approaches a plate appearance like Delmon will always be subjected to hot and cold streaks of productivity, moreso than more patient or at least more selective swingers. The result is that, at his best, he can provide Joe Crede-like power while walking like Christian Guzman, finishing the season with a respectable but relatively empty batting average.

Right now, I'd love for Delmon to turn into that player on a regular basis. If Young can be the guy he's been since June 3, the Twins would be looking at a very valuable bat who can comfortably hit right behind the boys in the middle of the order.

Keep your eye on him. Maybe this is something he can carry forward the rest of the season, maybe it's not. But when Justin Morneau started reading pitches a few years ago and understanding how we was being approached by pitchers, it was rewarding to watch him bloom into the hitter he is today. It didn't happen overnight, but it happened quickly and you could see the results in his at-bats almost immediately. If Delmon does ever catch on, and any hot streak could be the time, you'll want to take notice. It's a special thing to watch a hitter come into his own.

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This would be great to see

It’s such a mess in the Twins outfield as we thought it would be, with Gardenhire struggling to get them all efficient playing time. But it would be great to see Delmon finally come out of his shell and be the player everyone was hoping he would be. If he doesn’t press too much and swing out of his shoes he can be. This goes the same for Carlos Gomez, but if Delmon keeps this streak up, watch out Gomez, because yes the combination of Gomez, Span, and Cuddyer is arguably the best defensive outfield in baseball, Gomez has not been consistently getting it done at the plate. But, we will wait and see how long Delmon’s good hitting lasts

by Cody_3_twins on Aug 19, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Young

becomes the new DH if Kubel hurt something last night.

But let’s home he’s okay.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes true

And if it keeps it up it wouldnt be bad to see him at DH a little more often against lefties if kubel continues to struggle

by Cody_3_twins on Aug 19, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Kubel's hurt enough to DL

It’d be a perfect time to prepare for next year by playing an OF of Span-Gomez-Young full time and let Cuddyer get his AB’s when they come. Call up Morales, let him catch alot. Let Mauer DH alot. Let Cuddy do whatever, because we know what we have with him; and we’d like to see if Gomez and Delmon can develop into what we hope they can be.

by ajmargarine on Aug 19, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That seems like a bad way to handle Cuddyer.

Your best-hitting OF? Even if you wat to trade him, then you have to play him. By letting his AB’s “when they come” you’re telling the baseball world that he’s already not a part of your plans going forward and you hurt his value. If Kubel would go to the DL, you need to DH Young. It’s a better use of resources to let him getting his innings in RF “when they come”.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

I disagree. My thoughts are assuming that they’re not even considering trading Cuddyer, which I don’t think they are or will do. He’s like Veronica to Punto’s Betty in Gardy love affairs.

We need to prepare for next year. We know Cuddyer and what he brings. Finish the season with Gomez and Young playing almost every day. Cuddy can DH some, take a few more games from Span than what has been happening, and then get maybe 1/9 games each from DY and GoGo, with those guys playing 8/9. That should get him 4-5 games every 9 or so.

by ajmargarine on Aug 19, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This puts us back

to what we talked about before the season started—getting enough playing time to everybody. It works well in theory, but in practice it’s a difficult balance. If somebody is hitting well (or not), or if somebody has more success against certain pitchers (or not), then you still have to play to those strengths. And these guys haven’t given up yet. If you start giving one of your regulars 50% playing time, you’re pissing off guys like Mauer and Morneau who are still battling their tails off. Presuming Justin gets back on the field asap.

I just think it’s easier said than done. I do agree with you re: trading Cuddyer. The organization loves him, and rightfully so. It’s a hard position to be in when you have a couple of young, talented guys and a couple of more productive players playing for three spots.

Once September rolls around it will be easier, because unless we go on a huge winning streak those call-ups will be getting a lot of time anyway. Then we can focus on making sure that Delmon and Gomez get their PA’s, along with Danny Valencia.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trade Cuddyer

I think they have to trade him for a veteran starter rather than an infielder. I’d rather repeat Lawton for Reed than repeat Brunansky for Herr.

by DJL44 on Aug 19, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather do neither.

I still don’t want to trade my best-hitting OF for a starter. I’ll take my chances with free agency or dealing through minor league depth.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't want

to bad mouth Cuddyer, he has alot of positive’s as a player and team leader. However, if they can get a SP for him and mayble minor league player I think the Twins should make a trade, we have no shortage of outfielders. Gomez and Young will continue to get better, they just have to play. Sometimes you have to give something up to receiving something. MN has too many outfielders! Our offense isn’t going to drop off by trading a 270+ batting average.

by justintime on Aug 19, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

include a minor

league player with Cuddyer i meant to say….sorry

by justintime on Aug 19, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree partially

I agree that the outfield alignment should be Span-Gomez-Young if Kubel is out for an extended period, but I’d DH Cuddyer. Per Jesse’s worry, it doesn’t completely shut out Cuddyer (he can give any OF or Morneau a day off in the field), but it does provide an incremental move toward the future by seeing if Delmon can hold his own in right field.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Aug 19, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gardy was saying last night that Young's attitude has changed a lot lately

and that probably has something to do with his success too. He’s coming into his own now. I really am hoping this isn’t just another streak, but that he’s going to become a more solid player from now on.

by fischean on Aug 19, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How?

I wonder what that means? Is he listening to Vavra?

by wcooley on Aug 19, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dear Gardy

if you’re going to play Delmon, can we at least go Span/Gomez/Young? Span is amazing in left, Young is actually pretty good in right. Let’s just play your defenders where they should be played. K thanks.

www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com

by fetch9 on Aug 19, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is true

Delmon has the arm strength of a typical Right Fielder. I think he would be better suited there as well

by Cody_3_twins on Aug 19, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On some baseball show somewhere in the last few weeks

They were talking about an IF making the transition to playing one of the corner OF spots after never playing OF. The “expert” was saying it was harder to learn LF than it was to learn RF, which surprised me. I think it was on MLB network but I don’t remember the particulars.

by ajmargarine on Aug 19, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's interesting.

Just spit-balling, I’d have to say left is harder to learn in part because more balls are hit to you…although that comes from a mind thinking that most hitters are right-handed. If they’re not, then that goes out the window.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's for sure harder in Metrodome

LF in the dome is large, grounders move quickly, the foul pole corner is tricky, there’s the roof and worst of all there’s a bank of lights staring you straight in the face.

Target Field will be easier in LF but it will still be easier to play RF there than LF. Did anyone else notice that Mauer’s opposite field power happy zone wall is 10 feet closer at Target Field?

by DJL44 on Aug 19, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

10 feet?

I’ll take it!

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

how does that work out?

b/c after all it will be 10 feet closer to everyone else as well…

by caluofmn on Aug 19, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Judging from our own pitchers' performances

it wouldn’t matter if the wall were 10 feet back.

Plus if Delmon is still playing left field next year, it’s a smaller space for him to rumble around in.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody else has that swing

It will increase HR overall, mainly for RH batters but it’s like they saw where Mauer likes to hit to LF and cheated it in. Other dimensions are more similar to Metrodome

Dimension Metrodome Target
LF line 343 339
LC 385 377
CF 408 404
RF 367 367
RF 327 328

see here

by DJL44 on Aug 19, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgive me if I restrain my excitement for at least awhile longer.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Aug 19, 2009 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thou art forgiven.

by Jesse on Aug 19, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be excited if this hot streak allows us to tradehim for an arm

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

by cmathewson on Aug 19, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly what I was thinking

if he can stay hot for a while, we could recoup some value. An arm, a shortstop?

by lookatthosetwins on Aug 19, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Empty batting average"

I’d disagree with your characterization of Delmon’s potential batting line as a “relatively empty batting average”. I realize the walk rate is still brutal, but if he’s putting up a .200+ ISO, that average is still providing value, as long as it stays high. When I think of an “empty batting average”, I think of something more like Ichiro or Juan Pierre – guys who don’t walk much and whose hits are mostly singles, so the batting average is basically all they’ve got going for them.

Despite that, I don’t particularly relish the idea of a guy who was supposed to be an offensive cornerstone topping out at a below-average OBP.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Aug 19, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Joe Carter

I still think Delmon has some Joe Carter seasons in him with a top potential for 1980s Jim Rice.

by DJL44 on Aug 19, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I noticed about 6-8 weeks ago..

That Delmon was making a concerted effort to get more “uppercut” in his swing. Looks like that’s paying off.

Anyone have an idea of his ground ball/line drive/fly ball percentages in the last couple of months vs. the the first two months of the season. Just based on observation, I’d bet they’ve almost reversed. He’s hitting a lot more fly balls, which is allowing his power to come out.

"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"

by mutleyil on Aug 19, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Delmon, this month:

LD – 11.5% GB – 42.3% FB – 46.2% IFFB – 4.2% HR/FB – 16.7%

For the year:
LD – 17.4% GB – 50.0% FB – 32.6% IFFB – 4.8% HR/FB – 11.3%

So, a few more flyballs, and more of those flyballs are travelling out of the park.

Also – 9 BB’s on the year.

by Mike I on Aug 19, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

(sigh)

Those batted ball numbers are entirely unimpressive (other than this month’s HR/FB), although I will say that it’s both amazing and depressing that that his HR/FB is that good and yet he still has so few homers on the season.

Tons of grounders, no walks… Delmon is the batting version of 2005 Carlos Silva.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Aug 20, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs