A-Rod To Have Monster Season

A-Rod hopes to celebrate his
 second World Series title in
2011 rather than his fourth
MVP.

It's 2011. Which means New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have a monster campaign.

Dating back to 2003, Rodriguez won his first American League Most Valuable Player Award with the Texas Rangers. Months later he would be shipped to New York for second baseman Alfonso Soriano. He would continue the tradition in the Big Apple by winning his second MVP award in 2005.

Then in 2007, Rodriguez set the record for most home runs hit by a Yankee right-handed hitter with 54 long balls, capturing his most recent AL MVP.

Despite Rodriguez did not bring home his fourth MVP Award home in 2009, he did however, exercise his postseason demons, blasting six home runs and winning his first career World Series title, something he would say trumps any individual accolade.

A-Rod has recorded a Major League record 13 straight 30 home run, 100 RBI seasons, but has been able to reach 40 since '07. That may be due to the injury factor and Rodriguez having hip surgery prior to the start of '09 season. The 13-time All-Star says he is healthy and ready to get back to his full workout regime, something he has been unable to do the last two seasons, still feeling the effects of the surgery.

Rodriguez seems to be in a different place mentally after admitting to the usage of performance-enhancing drugs and having success in the postseason the last two seasons. Now, with him finally fully recovered the Yankees can expect a huge year from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is coming off a great spring, driving the ball with authority. He hit .388 with six home runs and drove in 15 runs.

If the pattern continues A-Rod will either win his fourth career MVP Award in his decorated career or the Yankees will raise their 28th World Series Trophy in franchise history, either way it's an odd year and can expect another great year from the Yankee third baseman.

Young a Class Act

Young talking to the media at Ranger camp
in Surprise, Arizona.

Michael Young has been through every high and low in his 11 seasons as a Texas Ranger, while being the face of the franchise during that time.

Only a year after their first World Series appearance in franchise history, Young supposedly wants out of the only team he has ever known.

With the offseason acquisitions of Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and the emergence of Mitch Moreland in the postseason last year, it makes Young wonder where he is going to get his at-bats.

Young was asked to move from his original position at second base to shortstop in 2004 when they traded their superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. After becoming a Gold Glove shortstop in 2008, the Rangers asked Young to moved positions again, this time to third base.

In 2009, Young willing did so without a peep, making room for highly regarded prospect, Elvis Andrus. It was a formula for success with the Rangers reaching the playoffs in 2010 for the first time since 1999, after being a laughing stock much of the decade.

Young would be asked one last time to move positions with the signing of Beltre, he would no longer play the field, but be the designated hitter in Arlington.

Then the final straw had been drawn. Texas traded for Napoli, cutting into Young's at-bats. Now the face of the franchise of the past decade and the man that was willing to do what was best for the team has had it and wants out. At the age of  34, the Rangers may be thinking Young is on the backend of his career.

Young's career has been extremely under appreciated by most Ranger and baseball fans. Young silently had five straight 200-hit seasons, 2003-07, while winning a batting title in 2005 at a .331 mark. He also won the 2006 All-Star Game MVP and responsible for driving in the winning run in '08 at Yankee Stadium with a sac fly to center field.

All that being said, Young has flown under the radar much of his career to the average baseball fan, which is just the way he would want it.

The Rangers are replacing Young at third base with a .275 career hitter and his two best seasons have come conveniently in contract years. Beltre has been a quality player during his Major League career, but his work ethic and dedication to the game has been in question for sometime, especially after signing that five-year contract with the Seattle Mariners prior to the '05 season.

Now, when the Rangers have finally reached the mountain top and have become a significant World Series contender, they seem to be pushing out the face of the franchise of the past decade and someone who went through all the hardships of being on a bad team much of his career.

Yet, Young reported to camp this week, saying he will not be a distraction and is focused on the season ahead with this club. Would we expect any different from the six-time All-Star, who is the definition of a consummate professional.

If Young wants out of Texas, he has earned that right, but one thing is for sure when he steps between those white lines it will be business as usual, no matter what uniform he is wearing.

Mr. Young you are truly a class act.