Where Art Thou Michael Young?

 The Epitome of Michael Young's time with Texas

          Peyton Manning going from the Colts to the Broncos. Albert Pujols wearing an Angels hat. LeBron taking his talents to South Beach. Players are nothing more than mercenaries now and teams will due whatever it takes to make themselves better, including trading the face of their franchise. The past two days have been a culmination of this as well as weird for Rangers' fans as we have seen the death of Michael Young's time with Texas across the front of his jersey. No more T on his hat, no more hitting doubles towards the Sonic sign, no more 200 hits in a year and no more Eric Nadel, "Past a Diving Michael Young" calls. As I have written before, Michael Young was a below average player last year. He was only able to hit Left handed pitching, could not field well, and was put into poor opportunities to succeed by Washington. Texas will miss his leadership and clubhouse presence and will need Beltre or Kinsler to pick up the slack. However, I can not wait to see Profar and Olt (If he does not get traded) get their chance to play everyday.  
          As well of the loss of Young, Rangers' fans are mourning a Zach Greinkeless future. He would have solidified Texas as having the best rotation in the American League. Darvish, Greinke, Harrison, Ogando and Holland with the Colbra and Felix coming back sometime this Summer would have dominated the AL. With absence of a player like Greinke there is a huge whole in the middle of the rotation. It's dissapointing to see Greinke somewhere else after hearing the rumors about the impression that Nolan Ryan, the Maddox brothers, and the farm system had on him. Only to be seen going to the movies with another guy while we were left crushed in the parking lot. I wanted Grienke, but not for six years 147 million dollars. It's too much risk for a pitcher that has been great, but not a top five pitcher. Money like that should only be spent on players like Verlander, Cain, Kershaw or Halladay. Since the new Dodgers ownership group has come into play the have taken on 588 million dollars in contracts. I guess the days of monopoly money baseball will continue even after the Yankees becoming more frugal and staying underneath the luxury tax. Greinke's signing will get the market going like Metamucil and hopefully Josh makes his decision soon. Hamilton will be staying with Rangers again unless someone offers him a Prince Fielder like contract and the rumors have been he is looking for six to seven years. The free agent pitching market was slim this morning and is much slimmer now that the Royals have traded their tow best hitting prospects Will Myers, Jake Odorizzi and two other prospects for James Shields and Wade Davis. I understand this will help the Royals contend in a weak AL central, but they should be wary of former Rays pitcher throwing half their games in a different ball park.

Top Free Agent Pitchers Left

Anibal Sanchez

Kyle Lohse RHP

Edwin Jackson RHP

Ryan Dempster RHP

Shawn Marcum, Roy Oswalt, Fransisco Liriano, Joe Saunders, and Daisuke Matsuzaka round out the rest.

Meh... Is the best reaction to the rest of the leftovers. Sanchez, and Jackson are good pitchers, but not for the money someone will give them. I do not see Lohse having the type of season he had last year and the Dempster experiment did not work out last year. Texas has been snooping the Mets about a trade for Dickey, but they want more than just Olt. However, there is no way he has a dream season like last year and I think the Ball Park in Arlington would be terrible for him.  If I was making the decisions I would stand pat and use Perez or Grimm as a 5th starter on opening day and then make a trade mid season after knowing what you have.  hearing all the talk of us obtaining a top pitcher and hitter this is an extremely disappointing off season. Hopefully Texas is able to bring Hamilton back and make a trade for a pitcher. If Myspace was still around my mood will be set to lugubrious.
          I never thought I would see the day of Michael Young wearing a different jersey. I imagined him breaking every Rangers record, leading Texas to their first World Series Championship and becoming the first Ranger I have grown up watching to join the Hall of Fame. After last season's turd in the punchbowl type of year I thought he could stick around play until he reached 3000 hits (I will still see this occur in MVP Baseball 2005) just like Craig Biggio. The problem is Texas is a contender, and this is not a Disney movie, but a baseball team that is trying to get better and win games. Now Young gets to do what he has craved, be an everyday position player for a contender. He does have value, but not in an everyday format for the Rangers, especially with the young talent they have.
         The other day at work a man came in wearing a Propane work shirt, blue jeans, and boots. Each article of his clothing was covered in dirt and grime. On top of his greasy curly hair sat a beaten up Texas A&M hat. In the restaurant the Heisman trophy presentation going on and everyone was watching in silence. Despite, having his order to go he sat stone face waiting for the results to see if his freshman would win the Heisman and bring relevancy back to College Station. When the Heisman trustee announced Johnny Manziel as the winner, a glimmer came to his eyes and his mouth turned into a waxing crescent moon. As soon as Manziels's speech was done he was gone into the night just quick as he came. He probably went home, ate his BBQ plate, drank some beers and went to bed only to wake up early in the morning to go to work and go through the same routine all over again. At least that night something different happened. Johnny Football won the Hesiman, the freshman superstar he had been watching all year did something no one has done before. Life is not completely awful when one has these moments like these.
          That is the beauty in sports, all it is is just a silly little game, but it brings happiness and meaning to the fan's life. It teaches those that play life lessons that they will carry until they die and beauty to them as fans when that reaches an end. As a fan our job is to love our team and stay with them until we die, and through the bad and the good. I will always love Michael Young as a baseball player and will always look back on the years watching him opposite field singles with a smile on my face. But, with him being gone the Texas Rangers are a better ball club. I wish the best for Michael Young and I hope to see him in Arlington again next October in the World Series.