Young at heart

Padilla flotilla

In early March, in the middle of Spring Training, I said that I could live with 5-3 wins all season. 

After losing nine of 12 real games, 5-4 will do. 

All thanks to a guy that has kinda gotten lost over the past two years: Mike Young. 

Young hit another game-winning home run to help the Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4. 

Young takes a lot of crap. When the team loses, it's his fault because he's the face of the franchise. When they win, it's never his doing. It's Ian Kinsler or Josh Hamilton or Milton Bradley last year. Now all the young prospects coming up get all the glory.

Quietly, Young's got five home runs (two game-winners ... he had 21 total homers the last two years), 11 RBI and is hitting .308. 

Years ago, Young played good teammate and moved from second to shortstop to appease Alfonso Soriano (who was later traded and forced to play outfield by Frank Robinson). This winter, he was asked to play third and he threw a bit of a temper tantrum, but eventually saw the light. Now, he's playing great D on the hot corner with only one error in 37 chances. 

He's a pro and should be appreciated accordingly. 

Notes: 

1. Rangers: 8 strikeouts, 0 walks. Blech. 

2. Will a 3-4 day jumpstart Jarrod Saltalamacchia. 

3. I'll be a happy camper whenever the Rangers see less of Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff. 

4. What bullpen was that and what did they do with the real Rangers relievers? Darren O'Day, C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco combine for 2.1 scoreless innings. 

5. Francisco looks great as the closer. He's allowed four total baserunners in eight innings and opponents are hitting .125 against him. 

6. Like Kevin Millwood Thursday night, Vincente Padilla was far from perfect. But the Rangers need less perfect (although it's a welcome sight) and more tooth-and-nail starts where they keep opponents at bay for seven innings.