LOCAL WATCH: YOUNG AGAIN THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, BIG-LEAGUE VETERAN DISCOVERS ALL HE NEEDS TO GET BY IN MOTOWN.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer Dmitri Young Dmitri Dell Young (born October 11 1973, Vicksburg, Mississippi) is a Major League Baseball player. He is the starting first baseman of the Washington Nationals. His nickname is "Da Meat Hook. arrived at his locker one day during spring training to find a letter supposedly from the commissioner. The letter read, ``It has come to our attention that your hair is out of the batter's box Noun 1. batter's box - an area on a baseball diamond (on either side of home plate) marked by lines within which the batter must stand when at bat baseball diamond, infield, diamond - the area of a baseball field that is enclosed by 3 bases and home plate ,'' and asked him to fix the problem. A box of hair-care products accompanied the letter that was a joke from his new Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Tigers have played in Comerica Park. teammates. Young, known as a clubhouse clown himself, welcomed the prank. It was only one of many ways his teammates had made him feel like he was part of the team, but it also exemplified the change in clubhouse atmosphere he's experienced since being traded from the Cincinnati Reds to Detroit during the offseason. After being on a team he described as being divided and filled with turmoil, the former Rio Mesa High of Oxnard star is pleased to be with a more relaxed and unified group. Such an environment is enough to make Young happy about a move that sent him from a team currently in first place to one in last. ``I don't have to put up a front,'' Young said. ``A lot of these guys know me, and we all have a common goal.'' Young liked the early appreciation he felt he received and direction the organization showed it was heading as it signed key young players to long-term contracts; Young signed a four-year, $28.5 million contract with the Tigers in February. The pricey demands he could have commanded as a free agent at the end of this season were the main reason the Reds had been trying to trade the versatile slugger since last season. ``The writing was on the wall,'' Young said. ``It was time for me to go. This is a new situation, and I'm glad to be here.'' Being surrounded by a group of fellow Ventura County products helped increase Young's comfort with the Tigers. Newbury Park High graduate Robert Fick Robert Charles Fick (born March 15, 1974 in Torrance, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Washington Nationals. The left-handed batter, who throws right-handed, attended California State University at Northridge. said Young, 28, has taken him under his wing. Young also counts Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. High graduate Jeff Weaver This article is about Major League Baseball player Jeffrey Weaver. For other people named Jeff Weaver, see Jeff Weaver (disambiguation). Jeffrey Charles Weaver and Oxnard's Jacob Cruz Jacob Cruz (born January 28, 1973 in Oxnard, California), is a professional baseball player who played outfield in Major League Baseball from 1996-2005. Teams
``It's nice to have guys familiar with where you're from,'' Cruz said ``You can talk about things like certain restaurants and they'll know what you're talking about. He's a great guy.'' Young's good-natured demeanor and leadership were what the rebuilding Tigers needed. They also need his hitting. The Tigers weren't sure where they would play Young when they acquired him, but they knew they would find a spot in the lineup for the player who has hit better than .300 the past four years and last year hit 21 home runs to set the Reds' season record for homers by a switch hitter switch hitter n. 1. Baseball A player who can bat either right-handed or left-handed. 2. Slang One who is attracted to both sexes; one who is bisexual. . Young, who has played outfield, first base and third base at the major-league level, settled at first base this season. He had just three home runs and seven RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in entering this weekend, but a three-week stint on the disabled list because of a hernia is partially to blame. Young returned to the lineup Tuesday and homered in two of his first three games back. Despite struggles that included an 0-11 start, Young tries to remain positive about the team's outlook and looks forward to being around when his younger teammates have the benefit of experience. ``I look at it as a challenge,'' he said. YOUNG FILE Name: Dmitri Young Team: Detroit Tigers Position: First base Age: 28 Local tie: Rio Mesa High of Oxnard Career highlights: Was named Cincinnati's team MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. last season after batting .302 with 69 RBI and 21 home runs, which broke his own team record for most homers in a season by a switch hitter. ... Reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances June 27-29, 2001, with his nine consecutive hits falling one shy of the National League record. ... Led Reds in games played Games played (most often abbreviated as G or GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested. (152), hits (166) and doubles (37) and tied for lead in triples (6) in 2000. ... Had career-best 18-game hitting streak April 20-May 13, 2000. ... Selected in the first round (fourth overall) by St. Louis in the 1991 draft. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Dmitri Young of the Detroit Tigers, the former Rio Mesa High of Oxnard star, has been able to make a smooth transition to his new team. Duane Burleson/Associated Press Box: YOUNG FILE (see text) |
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