I'm a little late with the Michael Young blog and by now the whole thing has played out. The whole incident really makes me question the integrity of the Rangers' management staff save for Nolan Ryan. But here is what i think should be the focus of this topic....
It's not necessarily asking a veteran player to move forty feet to the left that makes me scratch my head so much as the reason they are doing it. To make room for a 20-year-old S.S. "Phenom" by the name of Elvis Andrus. This "Phenom" has never seen pitching above the AAA level. Last year he bat .295 at AA (hardly head-turning) and commited 33 errors at his position at S.S. I believe the general argument is that he has insane range at short and only has so many errors because he gets to more ground balls than most other short stops can get to. My question is: Is it that actually better? Seems like an even trade that doesn't benefit anyone. If you're getting to more balls that's great. If you're committing double the errors in the process then i don't consider that a good trade off. I don't understand that. I'd also like to see what percentage of those errors are throwing versus fielding errors and how many of those errors translate to un-earned runs. I'm too lazy to look these stats up.
Whether or not Michael Young over reacted or management mishandled the situation is moot. My problem is that they told Michael to move over for a 20 year old who has been gaurunteed his spot before making it to AAA or looking at him in spring training.
The punch line is that after the dust has settled from the Michael Young meltdown, we turn right around and sign a 42 year old short stop (who hit .220 last year) to mentor young Andrus at his position and step in when he is over matched by really good big league pitchers.
Keep em comin' Rangers. The punchlines to these round about, half thought out schemes are splitting my sides.

Hilary Rhoda
Deanna Clover



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