Being that this podcast and this webpage is my outlet to get out my sports thoughts and opinions I felt the need to talk about the fact that Michael Young is no longer a Texas Ranger anymore. Michael Young for the last decade has been the face of the Rangers and today the Rangers completed a trade that would send Michael to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Michael for so many years was the Rangers for a long time he was our only perennial All Star in some extremely difficult years of Ranger baseball. Michael produced multiple 200 hit seasons , won a batting title and a Gold Glove he was the closest thing we had to a superstar. If you really look at the traditional “superstar” in baseball Michael definitely wasn’t that but he was a great player and will go down as one of the best Rangers in the history of our franchise.

For years you wanted to see the Rangers win and contend for a title for a guy like Michael who had been here and played hard and produced so many years for extremely bad teams. He gladly moved positions to shortstop from Second Base when we traded A-Rod because no one in the organization had the stones to make Alfonso Soriano play a new position. Not only did he change positions but he eventually one a Gold Glove at that position. Not only did Michael do great things on the field but he has done great things for our local community here and truly made a difference. He has started multiple charities and has been a multiple time nominee of the Roberto Clemente Award which recognizes Major League Baseball’s best player who not only is great on the field but has the most impact in his community. Michael Young for 12 years has not only been a well above average Major League Baseball Player but been a great guy.

In the last few years as the Rangers were building what would be their most successful run as a franchise Michael began to be at odds with the franchise. When Elvis Andrus was promoted to big league club and essentially given the SS job Michael was asked to move to the 3B a move he initially rejected and demanded a trade because of. This was the first time you saw what you may call a little bit of an ego from Mike. I’ll be honest as a fan it bothered me but when you think about it can you really blame Mike for being upset there? Here is an All Star and after just a couple of years ago volunteering to change positions he is being asked to change positions for a completely unproven rookie. Now Mike eventually relented and I think just like all of us shortly after watching Elvis play and how special he is , he realized ok I should have moved.

Then after their initial World Series run the Rangers signed Adrian Beltre, a player who is widely considered to be one of if not the best defensive 3rd baseman in baseball. Mike was being asked to become the team’s DH and super utility guy another move which he initially rejected. After a few weeks where Mike’s ego showed up again and it looked like Mike’s tenure as a Ranger was going to come to an end. Just like before when Elvis came up Mike eventually relented and went on to excel in that role and have one of his best seasons as a Ranger. Then last year Michael looked like a player that was just getting old and his skills may be diminishing. He had moments but overall he had one of his worst hitting years as a ranger. A year which left us all wishing Wash would bench him and at the end of the season made us think that he needed to be nothing more than a role player as his career continued.

Then this past week you started to hear rumors of a trade to Philadelphia. The Phillies wanted Mike to play 3B everyday and he would be nothing more than a part-time player for the Rangers anymore. For me personally as a Ranger fan I hate to see Mike go but for the future success of this team it’s the best move. The Rangers have great young talent that needs at bats names like Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt who they need to get on the field and give at bats too. Players that could cornerstones of the Rangers for years to come. You can’t work in young talent when you feel you have to give at bats to an aging diminishing player who doesn’t really have a position.

I know there are fans out there that will look at this move negatively because the long time face of the franchise is being traded away but I really feel like this is the best move for both the Rangers and Mike Young. The Rangers get to move on and start featuring their younger talent and giving more DH at bats to players like Nelson Cruz and possibly Josh Hamilton if they bring him back. Mike gets to get back to playing in the field and playing on a regular basis at 3B a position he feels very comfortable at. Also Mike gets to go to a team in Philadelphia that if they can manufacture a little bit of offense has a chance to win and win big because of their pitching staff. Michael honestly probably has just as good of a chance to win a World Series title with the Philadelphia Phillies as he does with the Rangers.

It will be very interesting to hear Micheal’s comments on this trade and if he has a positive take on it or his feelings are hurt and he is angry. I hope he can look at in a positive manner and be thankful for the fact that he is getting a chance to still be on a winning team and play everyday again. Honestly though I can understand if he is angry , here is a guy that put his heart and soul out there for a decade and his team has repeatedly tried to move him. If he is angry I hope one day he will realize just what he has meant to the Ranger fans. There is no doubt he will go down as one of the Greatest Rangers ever and depending on how long his career lasts he has an outside chance to one day make the Hall of Fame.

Michael thank you for the memories and as Ranger fans we definitely won’t forget you. I think I can speak for the bulk of Ranger fans in saying we wish you nothing but success in Philly.