Post by Fish Troll on Mar 26, 2007 16:24:21 GMT -5
Young to man first base as Lee leaves
Close spring battle ends quietly as veteran asks to be released
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Several weeks ago, while still in the Nationals' Minor league camp, first baseman Dmitri Young vowed that he would be on the team's 25-man roster. He kept that promise, as his competitor, Travis Lee, requested and received his unconditional release on Sunday.
Lee told general manager Jim Bowden that he no longer had the passion to play the game.
"During the conversation, [Travis] explained to me that it was a difficult decision for him, but he didn't have the passion to play the game anymore," Bowden said. "He felt that way last year, and he hoped it could be rekindled this year. But his passion to play has not come back. As he looked around our clubhouse and saw the amount of passion that the players have, he realized that it was in the best interest for him at this time to give up baseball."
A source close to Lee said the left-handed-hitting first baseman felt he didn't have a chance to make the team because Young is a switch-hitter and that the organization likes prospect Kory Casto at first base. Lee was 8-for-30 (.267) with a home run and seven RBIs this spring.
Asked if Lee was retiring, the source said, "I don't know."
Lee, 31, has played nine years in the big leagues, hitting .256 with 115 home runs and 488 RBIs. His best years were with the Diamondbacks and Phillies.
Young was shocked when told by reporters that Lee had quit. It means that Young will be the everyday first baseman, while Robert Fick will remain the backup.
"It's sad to hear that Lee feels that way. I think he would have made a great addition," Young said. "You have to tip your hat to Travis Lee for having a fine career."
The Nationals invited Young to Spring Training in February. It came on heels of the Tigers releasing him last September because of lack of production and Young being sentenced to one-year probation on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.
The Nationals adopted a no-tolerance policy toward Young and his off-the-field problems. Young appeared to be a long shot to make the team, because Larry Broadway and Lee were given the first crack at the position. But a lack of power led to Broadway being sent down last week, and Lee stopped hitting this past week.
Young has been nothing but a model citizen since putting on a Nationals uniform. He is often credited for being a mentor to the top prospects in the organization and has made an impact in the Major League locker room, too: He has been appointed the judge in the team's Kangaroo court. As one person put it, "Dmitri is going to get Austin Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman out of their shell."
Young also has helped himself with the bat. Entering Sunday's action, he was 8-for-18 (.333) with a home run and three RBIs and has been adequate at first base. Young has never played the position on a regular basis. He has played most of his games as an outfielder and designated hitter.
"Dmitri has shown that his bat is still there," manager Manny Acta said. "Obviously, that made the decision easier. Travis did play well. He made it tough on us."
Young said he has been successful because he has a clear head and no distractions off the field.
"I didn't exactly have passion when , but being down in the Minor Leagues with those [prospects brought back the passion]," Young said. "They would come up to me every morning and ask me big-league-related questions. They would say, 'We would love when you take your helmet off when you get a base hit.' It got the old juices flowing. It made coming to work a lot easier for me, just having something to work for and proving to people that I had the ability to play. It has been pretty much my mission.
"I learned from my mistakes, knowing that I can't let things bug me. I'm playing for a purpose and getting back to the kind of player people heard about the last 10 years."
Young's goals are to be in the range of 20 homers and 80 RBIs, and he vows that the Nationals will be a winning team.
"I hope that my passion rubs off -- have fun while you are out here playing," Young said. "I hear about these losses that we are supposed to have, but that is not going to happen. We have too many proud people that love to play this game and know how to play this game. It's just going out there and doing it."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Close spring battle ends quietly as veteran asks to be released
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Several weeks ago, while still in the Nationals' Minor league camp, first baseman Dmitri Young vowed that he would be on the team's 25-man roster. He kept that promise, as his competitor, Travis Lee, requested and received his unconditional release on Sunday.
Lee told general manager Jim Bowden that he no longer had the passion to play the game.
"During the conversation, [Travis] explained to me that it was a difficult decision for him, but he didn't have the passion to play the game anymore," Bowden said. "He felt that way last year, and he hoped it could be rekindled this year. But his passion to play has not come back. As he looked around our clubhouse and saw the amount of passion that the players have, he realized that it was in the best interest for him at this time to give up baseball."
A source close to Lee said the left-handed-hitting first baseman felt he didn't have a chance to make the team because Young is a switch-hitter and that the organization likes prospect Kory Casto at first base. Lee was 8-for-30 (.267) with a home run and seven RBIs this spring.
Asked if Lee was retiring, the source said, "I don't know."
Lee, 31, has played nine years in the big leagues, hitting .256 with 115 home runs and 488 RBIs. His best years were with the Diamondbacks and Phillies.
Young was shocked when told by reporters that Lee had quit. It means that Young will be the everyday first baseman, while Robert Fick will remain the backup.
"It's sad to hear that Lee feels that way. I think he would have made a great addition," Young said. "You have to tip your hat to Travis Lee for having a fine career."
The Nationals invited Young to Spring Training in February. It came on heels of the Tigers releasing him last September because of lack of production and Young being sentenced to one-year probation on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.
The Nationals adopted a no-tolerance policy toward Young and his off-the-field problems. Young appeared to be a long shot to make the team, because Larry Broadway and Lee were given the first crack at the position. But a lack of power led to Broadway being sent down last week, and Lee stopped hitting this past week.
Young has been nothing but a model citizen since putting on a Nationals uniform. He is often credited for being a mentor to the top prospects in the organization and has made an impact in the Major League locker room, too: He has been appointed the judge in the team's Kangaroo court. As one person put it, "Dmitri is going to get Austin Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman out of their shell."
Young also has helped himself with the bat. Entering Sunday's action, he was 8-for-18 (.333) with a home run and three RBIs and has been adequate at first base. Young has never played the position on a regular basis. He has played most of his games as an outfielder and designated hitter.
"Dmitri has shown that his bat is still there," manager Manny Acta said. "Obviously, that made the decision easier. Travis did play well. He made it tough on us."
Young said he has been successful because he has a clear head and no distractions off the field.
"I didn't exactly have passion when , but being down in the Minor Leagues with those [prospects brought back the passion]," Young said. "They would come up to me every morning and ask me big-league-related questions. They would say, 'We would love when you take your helmet off when you get a base hit.' It got the old juices flowing. It made coming to work a lot easier for me, just having something to work for and proving to people that I had the ability to play. It has been pretty much my mission.
"I learned from my mistakes, knowing that I can't let things bug me. I'm playing for a purpose and getting back to the kind of player people heard about the last 10 years."
Young's goals are to be in the range of 20 homers and 80 RBIs, and he vows that the Nationals will be a winning team.
"I hope that my passion rubs off -- have fun while you are out here playing," Young said. "I hear about these losses that we are supposed to have, but that is not going to happen. We have too many proud people that love to play this game and know how to play this game. It's just going out there and doing it."
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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