Detroit Tigers’ Delmon Young replaces Magglio Ordonez – MLB Playoffs
The Detroit Tigers have decided to bring in Delmon Young to replace Magglio Ordonez after the latter was shelved for the whole post-season due to a broken ankle. The strained left oblique, on the other hand, had kept Young away from Game 1.
Delmon Young was given rest for the Game and there were apprehensions within the team that he might even be out of the post-season. But none materialised. Playing against the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, Young had ended up suffering
an injury on a swing.
While he was initially thought to be out of the series, Monday saw the team manager announce that Delmon Young was replacing Ordonez. "He's fine, swinging good," manager Jim Leyland said in his pregame news conference. "And he will play."
The severity of the injury was a palpable cause of concern. However, as Young got rest for Sunday’s game, he had adequate enough time to assess if the injury could heal. The pregame batting practice turned out to be fairly successful, reviving the hopes
of his return.
"We never thought it was severe from the beginning," Leyland said. "But we thought rather than take a chance, just go ahead and let him sit this one out."
Delmon Young’s return was necessitated after Magglio Ordonez suffered an injury that sent him packing from the series. Suffering from a broken ankle, the team decided on Sunday to reorganise the roster.
It is important to recall that last year was also devastating for Ordonez after he had to end the season prematurely owing to a broken right ankle. This year too, coincidently, Ordonez fell victim to the same injury.
According to Major League Baseball rules, any player who is injured in the post-season can be replaced. However, once the team succeeds in advancing in the next round, the player stands ineligible to play again
Should the Detroit Tigers qualify for the World Series, therefore, Ordonez will not be able to play while Young has to replace the player in a way that could compensate the seemingly big loss for the team.
Tags: