In November 2007, I sat playing a game of MLB 2K7 on my newly repaired XBox. The Twins had just completed a terrible season in which they failed to make the playoffs. General Manager Terry Ryan had just resigned, leaving his duties to Bill Smith. Smith would have a very active winter as at this point, the Twins had already lost OF Torii Hunter to the Angels, a move that devastated the Twins fan base. Smith knew he had to get a big bat to fill the lineup, so he made a move that now lives in infamy. Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Eduardo Morlan all went to Tampa Bay for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie.
At first, it was good. Delmon went to Twinsfest and greeted his new fans, which seemed to already love him despite he never picked up a bat for the team. After all, he was the runner up for AL Rookie of the Year in 2007. A lot of Twins fans envisioned Delmon to be a force and be able to mash in the Metrodome. At 22 years old, it seemed like a Kevin Garnett situation: Anything was possible.
Then came the 2008 season. Delmon couldn't hit the ball out of the infield. It took until June to hit his first home run. Delmon wouldn't listen to hitting coach Joe Vavra about his swing and proceded to hack at pig slop nightly. On top of all this, Delmon forgot his fielding skills in Tampa Bay.
Delmon now routinely struggles with the routine play in left field, usually running into the wall to make it look like he gave a good effort. Delmon also can't do anything at the plate. Last night, with the Twins down a run and one out. Michael Cuddyer was on third base. The Pirates were playing back which meant that if Delmon hit it to anywhere but the pitcher, Cuddyer would have scored. He just had to wait for the right pitch. Delmon swung on the first pitch and grounded to the pitcher, who got Cuddyer in a rundown. Delmon would later ground into a double play.
I'm sick of this. Yes, he's only 23 years old, but he has to get it at some point. He can't go around not receiving advice on his swing, which has no chance to generate power at this point. This is a much different situation than Joe Mauer because Mauer's swing could always generate power, but oh yeah...HE'LL TAKE A FREAKIN WALK EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. Delmon has walked 5 times...THE ENTIRE SEASON!
The worst part about this is that once Delmon leaves the Twins, there is NO doubt in my mind that Delmon will become an absolute force. I don't know why, but it seems like Delmon can't wait to get out of Minnesota and once he puts on a Yankee or Red Sox uniform...BOOM!
So to sum it up, I should quote one of my childhood heroes, The Rock. As the People's Champ would once say "It looks like a monkey came down here, took a crap, and out popped Delmon Young." Needless to say, I hate Delmon Young.
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