Young honored

Rays RF Delmon Young finished a distant second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting to Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia, but he was a unanimous selection to the Topps Rookie All-Star Team.
Young was one of five players chosen unanimously in a poll of major-league managers; the others were Dodgers 1B James Loney, Brewers 3B Ryan Braun, D'backs OF Chris Young and Astros OF Hunter Pence.

The full squad:

1B James Loney, Los Angeles (N.L) (98 games, 15 HR, 67 RBI, .331)
2B Dustin Pedroia, Boston (139, 8, 50, .317)
3B Ryan Braun, Milwaukee (113, 34, 97, .324)
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado (155, 24, 99, .291)
OF Delmon Young, Tampa Bay (162, 13, 93, .288)
OF Chris Young, Arizona (148, 32, 68, .237)
OF Hunter Pence, Houston (108, 17, 69, .322)
C Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia (115, 6, 54, .259)
RHP Brian Bannister, Kansas City (165 IP, 12-9, 3.87, 77 K, 44 BB)
LHP Hideki Okajima, Boston (69 IP, 3-2, 2.22, 63 K, 17 BB)

Rookie of the year?

Rays RF Delmon Young would be something of a surprise if he wins the the AL Rookie of the Year award that will be announced shortly after 2 today.
Young had a strong season for the Rays, but the popular opinion among most observers is that Boston 2B  Dustin Pedroia will be the winner. Baltimore pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, Kansas City pitcher Brian Bannister and Boston pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki OKajima are also candidates.
Pedroia certainly raised his profile during the Red Sox's championship run, but there are two things to remember in this award process:
First , the voting done by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America is based on regular season performance. The ballots for all the BBWAA awards, in fact, are required to be cast before the start of the playoffs. And up until his not-running-out-a-ground-ball incident the final weekend in Toronto, Young had a very solid and controversy-free season that was sure to catch the attention of some voters.
Secondly, the winner is chosen based on ballots fron two voters in each of the 14 AL cities. So even if there is "Northeast" or big-market bias for Pedroia, there are only two Boston writers who vote, two New York writers, two Tampa Bay writers, etc.
As for the "experts," most seem to think Pedroia will win. Among ESPN's 20 baseball contributors, 16 pick Pedroia. Keith Law doesn't have Young in his top three, picking Guthrie, Pedroia, Bannister. Buster Olney picks Pedroia.

Young comes up short

The official AL Rookie of the Year award doesn't come out until next month. But if what the people on the field think is similar to what the baseball writers vote, Rays RF Delmon Young is not going to be the AL Rookie of the Year and Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia is.

Pedroia was named the winner Thursday of the Players Choice top rookie award, which is voted by the players and presented through their union. Pedroia also won the Sporting News award, overwhelmingly, which is voted by the players and managers. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun won the NL award.

1B Carlos Pena, however, is a strong candidate for the Players Choice AL Comeback Player of the Year award, which will be announced Friday.

Delmon apologizes ...

The day after getting yanked from a game for not running hard to first base, rookie RF Delmon Young apologized, manager Joe Maddon said. Both Young and Maddon said the incident was behind them. And Maddon changed his mind and allowed Young to play in Sunday's finale - he went in to play rightfield in the sixth - so he will have played in all 162 games.

Maddon, who Saturday said Young showed a "blatant disrespect" for the game and the team, said Young initiated the Sunday morning conversation in the Rogers Centre clubhouse.

"I thought it went well,” Maddon said. “We talked about the situation and just reviewed what we had talked about in the past, he and I, and that basically I had to do what I did yesterday. I didn’t want to, but I had to and we talked about and came to the conclusion.
"He apologized and I’d like to see him play 162 games because he came in to see me today. Had he not come in and seen me today, I would not have done that, but he’s going to play at some point today to get that 162, based on our conversation.”

Young said the he felt the issues was resolved but not did want to discuss what he said or why he went to Maddon: "That was yesterday, we don't need to talk about any of this no more. End of conversation.''

Young, 21, said he learned "a lot" during his first full major-league season. What he learned specifically from Saturday's incident: "Do things that won't p--- people off.''

On Saturday, Young said he felt he was being unfairly singled out because other players were also not running hard to first. As for Maddon saying having all players run hard is one of his most sacred rules? "No comment,'' Young said.

Young yanked; Maddon cites "blatant disrespect" for game

Manager Joe Maddon yanked rookie RF Delmon Young from Saturday's game for not running out a sixth-inning ground ball and criticized Young for not showing respect for the game. Young responded by saying he was being unfairly singled out and said he would not play in Sunday's finale.

Maddon had talked to Young about this issue before, and said after the game: "That was a blatant disrespect for the game and what we’re about. I’ve had several conversations regarding that, and that was it. ... For us, for the Rays, we're going to run hard to first.''

Young said he wasn't the only one "doing it" and didn't think it was right that he was singled out. "So, I’ll see you guys next year,'' he said as he walked out of the clubhouse. "I’m shut down tomorrow.’’

Young, 21, had been having an successful season on the field - so much so that Maddon has been campaigning heavily for him to win the AL Rookie of the Year award - that was relatively free of controversy. He has had some issues before, specifically when he tossed his bat at an umpire last season when with Durham.

Promo time

The second full squad workout of the spring ended without any casualties on Friday, which is something of a success given the schedule featured live batting practice - with pitchers who have been in camp for a week throwing to hitters who just showed up.

Jonny Gomes had another big day, knocking a number of balls over the fence. J.P. Howell looked impressive on the mound.

The front office was busy too, announcing a promotional schedule that includes a team-record 37 giveaways. Highlights include a replica of Tropicana Field (April 7), Akinori Iwamura Thunderstix (June 14), Don Zimmer Turn Back the Clock bobblehead on June 23, a Carl Crawford Action Figure (July 29), a Scott Kazmir baseball card with a piece of a game-used jersey (Aug.4), figurines of Rocco Baldelli (Aug. 18) and Delmon Young (Aug. 25).  There are giveaways for children at all Sunday home games.

Delmon on the way ...

CHICAGO - The Delmon Young era will start Tuesday night for the Devil Rays.

The Rays have decided to call up the talented but occasionally troublesome outfielder from Triple-A Durham and he is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Rays open a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox.

Young said he was surpised and excited by the opportunity.

“It’s a dream come true,’’ he said from Durham late Monday night. “When you start playing baseball as a little kid you want to play in the big leagues and it’s about to happen.’’

With a second doctor on Monday confirming Jonny Gomes needs season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, the Rays will turn to Young, the 20-year-old who is expected to be a huge part of their future. Young was likely to be called up next week after the end of the Durham season.

He was suspended 50 games after throwing his bat at an umpire during an April 26 game, and created more controversy in late July when he made comments to USA Today critical of the organization for not calling up their top prospects. He also ripped the organization at the end of last season when he was not called up.

But team officials have been pleased with his performance on and off the field more recently.

“We feel pretty confident that he is ready to come up and fit into our clubhouse,” Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said, “although obviously we will continue to monitor that, and also gauge his development on the field.”

Young was in the starting lineup for the Bulls Monday, then pulled out and told his promotion. He has played well since his returning from his suspension in June. Overall, he has a .316 average, eight homers and 59 RBIs.

Times photo; click to enlarge.

Delmon Young returns ...

DURHAM, N.C. - Devil Rays top prospect Delmon Young returned to the field on Monday night for the Triple-A Durham Bulls, having served a 50-game suspension for throwing his bat at an umpire on April 26.

   ""First of all, I'd like to apologize to the Devil Rays, the fans, my teammates and everyone out there for my actions back in April,'' Young said Monday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

   Young, 20, spent much of his suspension working out in St. Petersburg and doing community service work that was part of the disciplinary action handed down.

   He said he learned from the experience and was eager to return to the field.

   ""I want to come out here and play baseball and come out here and have fun and try and move on with it,'' Young said.

   Young was expected to be called up to the major leagues at some point this season. How much the 50-game absence impacts those plans remains to be seen.

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