Comments on: What To Do With Delmon

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:38:00 +0000

Well, from a developmental standpoint, Gomez probably belongs in AAA. Yes, I know his defense makes him valuable with the club, but it would be easier if he didn’t have to learn how to hit on the fly.

By: David

David — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:49:54 +0000

The worst part about the Delmon Young situation is that Gardenhire continues to use him and have Carlos Gomez sit on the bench, when Gomez 1) plays outstanding defense, 2) has amazing raw athletic ability, 3) actually works hard with batting coaches every day. The long the Twins let Young try to play his way out of this, in the vain hope that he become even a passable hitter who plays bad defense, they let Gomez and his vast, if distant, potential sit on the bench.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:42:53 +0000

How many years to FA for DY? Let’s say it takes him three years to become league average or better for a corner OF.

Is it worth carrying him for three years? Will he be a FA, or close, by then?

He won’t be league average this year, and I doubt he will next year. So, how long can you carry him, on the promise he might be good (and if he is good, do you reap the benefits, or does he leave)?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:27:04 +0000

thrylos is a believer, despite the GB% and other indicators. He’s got some stats he thinks show hope. I’m not a believer, I hated the trade when it was made, and I really hate it now.

The problem is, what to do now?

If you think you can win it all, he’s got to be your 4th/5th OFer at this point. But, how will he get better if he never plays?

If you don’t think you can win it all, you better trade Cuddy, as his value will never be higher (actually, that was true two weeks ago, less so now) and play Young in RF for the year, and see if he can get better.

Not being there, I’d say if he is unwilling to take coaching, you are better off just cutting him at this point (or trading him for some random low A player who might be a prospect). You can’t wait for someone that won’t work with coaches to magically get better, not if it will take 2-3 years (which is what it looks like right now). If he was willing to work with coaches, you might wait 2-3 years for him to be good, but if he’s not, why put in the effort?

By: hinky

hinky — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:03:57 +0000

the man’s a lot like his brother was when he was younger…a spray hitter, despite having enough size and strength to hit for power with a better approach. he needs to make mechanical adjustments, and won’t.

you can’t fix someone who doesn’t want to work at it.

while it may be true that his mother’s death hurt him some…the fact is he’s been regressing for several years, now.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:14:11 +0000

It’s easy to drive in 93 runs when you completely eschew the walk. What about the 65 runs he scored that year because he was never on base? You can’t consider one without the other.

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:20:46 +0000

For you and I this probably true, but this Delmon Young were talking about. He does have a past history of not being a happy camper. Also, being in place/originzation that your are not totally on par with, despite “the love the game” and contracts, bitterness can effect production is certain players. Just a theory, not one with solid ground, just a personal one.

I’ll pass on a 3-series on how RBIs are lucky, RBIs are RBIs and he drove in 93 of the them at a very young age with some other promising sabremetrics.

By: Joe Twinsfan

Joe Twinsfan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:26:33 +0000

I don’t think that does or should have anything to do with it. So what if he doesn’t like Minnesota as a place to live? He gets paid a whole lot of money(in real life terms, not baseball, obv.) to help the Twins win. Logically, the best and easiest way to get out of MN is to play his butt off until free agency when he can go set himself up financially for the rest of his life with a big contract in LA or NY or wherever else he wants to be.

And as for 93 RBIs, go to Driveline Mechanics and read their recent 3-part series on overrated RBI guys. You can luck your way into 93 RBIs.

By: Joe Twinsfan

Joe Twinsfan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:20:13 +0000

Do you have a reason for saying that, or is it just blind faith? I also think its funny that you picked two elite-level defenders at important defensive positions to compare with a poor defensive corner outfielder.

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:11:43 +0000

Maybe I’m being too simplistic here, but has anyone tossed around the idea he doesn’t like living in Minnesota? Add in the fact that the team that traded him to the Twins went to WS.

It’s only a matter of time before he’s shipped somewhere else or signs with another team, but for a player that once racked in 93 RBIs at such a young age I still believe there is untapped potential there.