Ruben Amaro, Jr. hints reduction in playing time of Michael Young if he struggles-MLB Update
Philadelphia Phillies’ General Manager, Ruben Amaro, Jr. has stopped short of saying that if Michael Young does not live up to the expectations during the first half of the next season, his playing time will be reduced significantly.
The comments from the GM have come after Young stated the other day that coming to the Phillies made sense to him due to various reasons.
Among them, the most important was the assurance he, apparently, claimed to have received from the Phillies to play matches uninterrupted.
Young proclaimed that the Phillies are going to trust his abilities and make him a regular third baseman during the 2013 season.
He also shared his fears for being rendered only a bench player by the Rangers if he stayed with them using the no-trade option that he had in his contract with the club.
He was unhappy with the way he was treated in the last season by some of the officials of the team.
Young has had a tremendous success as infielder since joining the Rangers. However, the 2012 year was an exception in his otherwise extra ordinary Major League season expeditions.
Due to this, he was used by the Rangers as designated hitter more often during the last season.
The Rangers were concerned about his defensive woes in the field. If he was allowed to play games as position player, he might have caused many failures for the club.
For a player with the calibre of Young, being excluded from the top line-up was displeasing and thus the reaction came off from him after the season.
It is interesting to note that the team that he has joined now is equally aware of the possibility of his decline down the road. The GM of the Phillies has hinted that he may call up Minor Leaguers if Young’s struggles continue.
"Frankly, the only hope this team has is if Roy Halladay can bounce back a little bit, and if Chase Utley and Ryan Howard can stay on the field. Otherwise, our third baseman would just be window dressing for another 81-win season, I don't care if he's Mike,
Kevin Youkilis, David [bleeping] Wright, whoever," Amaro said.
The statement from Amaro may make Young a little uneasy from now onward. His response to it will be worth noticing for the fans.
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