ADSENSE Link Ads 200 x 90
ADSENSE 336 x 280
King of the infield hit They've come in all shapes and sizes. RBI doubles. Home runs to left. Game-winning singles up the middle. Opposite field doubles. Gap splitters in left-center. Doubles down the left-field line. Homers to straight-away center. Hits with two outs. Hits with no outs. Hits in the bottom of the ninth down two.
Nos. 1,999 and 2,000 travelled about a total of 120 feet combined. Dribblers in the second and fifth down the third-base line gave Young the milestone.
I was lucky enough to be at the Ballpark and I have to admit that the Rangers faithful did right by Young. They were well aware (despite no notice from inside the park) that the first hit was 1,999 and in his next at-bat he'd be going to 2,000. Everyone was screaming for the third baseman to not make a throw. Last thing we wanted was an error. (Although, the crowd would later -- down 2-0 -- start The Wave.)
Then the ovation. One word: Goosebumpy. Nothing like 38,000 people screaming, clapping and stomping over one guy.
I'm not going to come on here and talk glowingly about Young as if I'm his biggest fan. I've grown tired of his immaturity when its come to improving this ballclub, even if that means he needs to move to a new position. Fact is, the Rangers have improved every position he was in, they've become a winning ballclub and they've extended Young's usefulness another five or eight years.
Why Young can't see this by now is a mystery. Why a guy that is so infatuated with winning can't see that he's been a liability defensively and is seemingly "fighting" to keep getting his at-bats isn't what the club needs.
Young, to his credit, is probably far more pleased the Rangers cameback on the Cleveland Indians tonight for the 5-3 win. Certainly, a really nice capper on a pretty sweet evening.
As for Young's future -- in terms of milestones -- it's unclear. I think he's extended his playing career mightily with the move from shortstop to third and then third to designated hitter. Also, batting in the middle of the line-up and not in the two-hole, I think, has changed his approach. All of this has made him seem more focused. His job now is to drive in runs and he's healthy.
He's 34 now and 35 this October. Let's say he has five more quality years left (which may be pushing it) with 170 hits (he's not hit 200 since 2007, but has never dipped below 174) per season. That's about 850 more hits putting him around 2,900, depending on what he does the rest of this season (another 60 seems very doable), injuries and a crapload of other circumstances.
I just don't think 3,000 is out of the question, but it'll be tight. Of course, would 3,000 mean anything if it were so easy?
Notes:
1. Darren Oliver got his 111th career win. If anyone cares.
2. Mike Adams with his first American League save! Eh. No one's listening.
3. Going under the rug is Colby Lewis' fine start. Went 7.1 innings allowing three runs. He ran hot or cold, but he was also screwed by another Elvis Andrus non-error. Lewis' seven innings including five 1-2-3 frames. In the second, Lewis allowed two runners. He gets a double-play ball that Andrus bobbles before the relay to first. Instead of runner on third, two outs, it's runner on third and first, one out. Lonnie Chisenhall hits a sac fly and it's 1-0. Andrus turns two and the Rangers get out of the inning. However, it's not an "error" because of the non-assumption that he could've turned it.
4. The Rangers' eighth-inning rally included five singles and two walks.
5. Two-and-a-half hour game. The starters -- Lewis, Josh Tomlin -- recorded 25 groundball outs. I counted nine to Ian Kinsler. The Rangers had two hits going into the eighth inning.
0 Response to "Mr. 2000"
Posting Komentar