Dmitri Young released
posted in roster moves |Thursday update:
Bilfer of the Detroit Tigers Weblog reported first Dmitri Young has been unconditionally released.
(Hat tip Jeff in DTW’s comments): Tom Gage adds this on the Detroit News Web site:
In a surprise move Wednesday, The Tigers released designated hitter Dimitri Young after losing to the Seattle Mariners, 5-4, in 10 innings.
Young, who batted third in the loss but was pinch-hit for in a bunting situation by Kevin Hooper in the eighth inning, was batting .250 in 48 games but had slumped lately after initially coming back strong from personal problems earlier this season.
General manager Dave Dombrowski said the move was strictly performance-related. “He’s been struggling,” he said. “We just felt it was best for the ballclub.”
UPDATES:
Tom Gage weighs in on his blog:
Don’t know why it happened, no one is saying – but do you really hit a guy third that you’re going to release after the game? This one is very strange, indeed.
Jason Beck wonders the same thing in his story at MLB.com.
Added Leyland: “We just didn’t think the performance was up to snuff. Period.”
Nevertheless, the sudden nature of the move suggested that the Tigers came to the decision in a hurry, for performance or whatever reasons.
… The Tigers could have made a move before the game. They had to create space on the 40-man roster to activate pitcher Mike Maroth from the 60-day disabled list, which they did by designating for assignment the contract of right-handed pitcher Chris Spurling, who had spent most of the season at Triple-A Toledo save for two brief stints with Detroit. Further, the Tigers chose to unconditionally release Young, rather than designate him for assignment.
It add up strange to me, too. Why does a guy about to get released if he has a bad day get fitted into the No. 3 slot? Why the sudden announcement after the game? I understand that the team was about to leave for Minnesota, so it’s not like they’d fly him up there. But it just seems if the decision was made already, why would he start?
My opinion was never hidden. I felt Dmitri Young should never have re-joined the team. He seemd to prove me wrong, and I was glad for that. But DY seemed to contribute less and less as August went on. I hope Marcus Thames sees near daily play at DH and plays up to the Tigers’ confidence in him… unless they have other ideas up their sleeve. Honestly, I don’t know any more.
But I do know Dmitri gave his best to the Tigers for several sad years. He lifted us up in 2004 or 2005 when he said “we’re not kittens anymore.” He was a good character and a bright spot. It was too bad this season was such a bad one for him. He’ll be missed. It’s just too bad it had to come to this point.
Also, thanks to Ken in my comments.
MORE:
Danny Knobler weighs in both on the air (recorded at the Cut-off Man) and in his stories today.
They didn’t come to the ballpark yesterday expecting to release him. I was told by many people, including Jim Leyland that there was no confrontation between he and Young. No one could point to one incident.
In the papers:
[C]lub sources suggested that Young had become more trouble than he was worth, that other players were complaining and that he was an unnecessary distraction for a team trying to hold onto first place with 22 games left in the season.
… In the 45 games since Young returned, the Tigers went 21-24. While it’s hard to believe that his return was the biggest factor in their struggles, but team officials seemed to wonder if it was one factor.
I always take Terry Foster’s bloggings with a grain of salt, whether because I don’t believe him or I don’t believe his source. So I present this to you with with that preface. Take it as 100% accurate at your own risk, but there’s probably something real in there or I wouldn’t link to it.
He was not accepted by teammates. Most of the smiles and hugs were public relations spin to convince the public all was ok. Tigers manager Dave Dombrowski got ride of Young because he was not producing at the plate. But he also got rid of him because of growing resentment in that clubhouse.
And here’s Michael Rosenberg’s column in the Freep.Â
I don’t know who will bat third tonight, but I assume it’s the guy they are most likely to release.
RUN MARCUS!!