Slump or Chump?

Okay. I understand that players go through slumps at the plate, but you can no longer consider what Chris Young is doing at the plate a "slump". He is now under the "just not very good with a bat in his hands" category. Sure, he's probably the best defending outfielder the Arizona Diamondbacks have right now, but hovering around .200 at the dish is unacceptable, especially now that we're at the end of July, and more importantly, at the price he's being paid. Yes, he had a good 2007 campaign, but he was new to the League, and pitchers just didn't know what not to throw him. Now that the word is out, he hasn't adjusted properly.

My suggestion? Move him for some immediate bullpen help, get rid of the $6 million he's owed for each of the next 4+ years, and replace him with man-child Justin Upton in center (he will get better in the field). Gerrardo Parra would play every day in left, and Alex Romero right, at least until Conor Jackson is able to return (get well soon, buddy!). You may think that sounds silly right now, but just pay attention.

There's one man in particular that the Diamondbacks front office personnel NEEDS to start sweet talking, and that, my friends, is Matt Holliday. His offensive numbers while playing in the national league are great when compared to the underachieving Young, and with a career .980 fielding percentage, there won't be a problem defensively. Imagine the top half of the lineup every day when you plug Holliday in. Stephen Drew leads off, Parra is next, then J-Up, Mark Reynolds, with Holliday in the 5-hole. With that breed of hitter behind him, Reynolds would get more fastballs, and easily hit 50+ bombs every year. By the way, did you see the one he murdered off Lidge? Wow! That kind of continuity past cleanup has been a thorn in the foot of this offense all season, among other problems they've had (for another blog). I love this team to death, but something needs to be done, and that something, unfortunately for C.Y fans, is to get rid of Chris Young.