FanPost

Young Impressive Early

Delmon Young has been a relatively slow starter during his brief tenure in Minnesota. But that appears to have changed this season.

Through the first ten games of 2009 Delmon was sporting a .228AVG and a .285OBP with 1 double, 1 HR and 2 BB compared with 10 SO.

Through the first ten games of 2008 Delmon had a .263 AVG, a .289 OBP, 1 double, 0 HR, 1 BB and 8 SO.

This season through his first 9 games played, Delmon has a .300 AVG and a .324 OBP with 2 doubles and 2 HR, only 2 BB but also only 4 SO.

In addition Delmon had 13 ground balls to 5 line drives through ten in 2009, 18 ground balls to 5 line drives through ten in 2008, and only 9 ground balls to 4 line drives (not counting last night's game) so far this year.

Yes, yes, yes, small sample size theater. But many of us have seen what appears to be a more patient and more selective Delmon Young at the plate. Many of us have sensed from his at bats that he appears to have a plan when he steps up to the plate; a plan that doesn't necessarily always include swinging at the first pitch. Of course it is pretty hard to get an accurate impression from so few at bats so early in the season through a t.v. screen (or in my case MLB Gameday), but those numbers support our positive first impressions.