Yardbarker: Michael Young

Wednesday Rockpile: Clint Hurdle Arlington bound as Rangers hire him as hitting coach

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:54:14 -0500

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP At the very least, Clint Hurdle ought to be able to teach Michael Young the proper way to bunt. Browse more photos » Some people always seem to wind up with the best gigs. According to reports out of Texas, former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has been picked up by the Texas Rangers as their hitting coach. Similar to when he held the post with the Rockies at Coors F...

Cubs Hitting Coach Jaramillo Gets 3/2.4

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:10:17 -0500

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

It looks like Jim Hendry accomplished the first splash of the offseason. Rudy Jaramillo is the new Cubs hitting coach. The highly respected Jaramillo (according to a David Kaplan tweet and a Bruce Levine/ESPN post) has signed a 3 year, $2.42 million deal to spin his 5 point hitting magic on Cub hitters both young and old ($800K a year, but we all know you-know-who likes to write back loaded contracts). Bruce Levine reports that Jaramillo and his wife will fly to Chicago Wednesday to meet with Cubs officials and attend a mid-afternoon press conference after he officially signs his new contract. Jaramillo has spent the last 15 seasons with the Texas Rangers and sports the resume of helping the likes of Mark DeRosa, Michael Young, Lee Stevens and even a young Jeff Bagwell. He won the Baseball America's Major League Coach of the Year in 2005.

The Cubs hope he can fix whatever was broken last year with Alfonso Soriano who still has 5 years left on his contract. Soriano in his 2 years with the Rangers loved working with Jaramillo. Soriano said, ‘We had very good communication because he speaks Spanish. He’s very good and smart. He works very hard, too.’’

Although the media doesn't want to hear or write about it, he's even left his magic touch on Milton Bradley who parlayed the 2008 season into "feeling like $30 million bucks". It was one of Bradley's best hitting seasons and propelled him to his first All-Star game. I'm not sure the Jaramillo signing will restore any of the burnt bridges Bradley left in his wake but who knows, especially if Hendry can't pull a Todd Hundley for Karros and Grudz trade out of his tush once again.

Jaramillo has broken his batting instruction into 5 tenets to hitting and he explains it in detail in this video.

• Rhythm.

• Timing the arm and the ball.

• Separation of hands and front foot.

• Staying square to the plate.

• Weight shift.

Hopefully the Cubs newest coach can bring back our 2008 rookie of the year's swing, working with Geo Soto and putting special emphasis on Weight Shift. I'll hope Jim Hendry will include a copy of the Rosetta Stone software, Japanese edition, so we won't see so much SPIN-A-RAMA next season. Remember that after the season, when the Cubs didn't re-hire Von Joshua, Derrek Lee said neither Perry not Joshua deserved any blame. "I hate to say it, but a hitting coach is overrated,"

So expecting tangible evidence that Jaramillo will make a difference in 2010 is a lot of magic to expect out of just a hitting coach. Still, if he does to hitters what Cardinal's pitching coach Dave Duncan does to pitchers, next summer just might be fun once again at Wrigley.

Happy birthday, Michael Young

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:59 -0500

More photos » by Tom Gannam - AP 3 months ago: American League's Michael Young of the Texas Rangers singles during the fourth inning of the MLB All-Star baseball game in St. Louis, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam) Browse more photos » Happy birthday to Michael Young, who turns 33 today.

Rangers All-Star Young back from disabled list

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:05:37 -0500

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young has returned to the starting lineup, two weeks after being injured.

Vintage video: Young Michael Jordan highlights

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:00:45 -0500

To celebrate Michael Jordan going all "Naismith Hall of Famey" on us next week, NBA.com video gurus have pulled, chopped and cut together a great collection of young MJ highlights from back in the day. Seeing as it's Friday, and we're all just waiting by the phone for Iverson's Grizzly decision, let's put on our gold chains, press play and feel sorry for the gentle giant that is poor Randy Breuer.Want more? Of course you do. Hit the jump.*****

Will Carroll on Michael Young's hamstring injury

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:05:25 -0500

by Tony Gutierrez - AP 1 day ago: Texas Rangers athletic trainer Jamie Reed, right, walks Michael Young off the field after Young injured himself attempting to run out a ground out off of Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brian Tallet in the third inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. Young did not return to the game. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) View full size photo u...

Michael Young Out Two Weeks

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:53:39 -0500

Michael Young, the All-Star third baseman for the Texas Rangers, will miss approximately two weeks due to a strained left hamstring. Initially fearing that the injury was going to keep him out the rest of the season, Young was thrilled to hear the 14-day outlook. “For them to tell me there’s a good chance I’ll be available the last two weeks,” said Young, “that’s great news to me.” Arguably the best player on the Rangers, Young has hit .322 with 22 ho...

Rangers All-Star Young to miss multiple weeks

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:20:34 -0500

Rangers All-Star third baseman Michael Young is out for at least two weeks because of a strained left hamstring. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Wednesday that Young could miss "a couple" weeks or more. Young got hurt running out a grounder Tuesday, pulling up after crossing the first base for the final out of the third inning of the Rangers' 5-2 win over Tornoto.