MLB Notebook: Young looking to fit in at third for Phillies
BY Associated Press
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
2/19/13 at 3:23 AM
Michael Young looked right at home on Monday, taking ground balls and pop ups with the rest of Philadelphia's starting infield.
Philadelphia acquired the 12-year veteran and Texas Rangers star in December for right-handed reliever Josh Lindblom and a minor leaguer.
Young had to waive his no-trade clause, and while leaving the only team he had known was difficult, he has no complaints about his landing spot.
A career .301 hitter, Young spent the last two seasons moving among four infield spots and designated hitter in Texas.
"Before I was getting 25 percent of the reps (at third) because I had to keep bouncing around making sure I keep sharp at all four spots," Young said. "This year I can put everything I have into third."
No salary arbitration cases go to hearings: Major League Baseball pitched an arbitration shutout.
Reliever Darren O'Day completed a $5.8 million, two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, becoming the final player to settle without a hearing among the 133 who filed for arbitration Jan. 15.
This was the first year since arbitration began in 1974 that no player went to a hearing.
Clemens says he won't 'lose sleep' over HOF vote: Roger Clemens said he's not about to start a lobbying campaign to get into the Hall of Fame.
"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," Clemens said. "If those guys feel I deserve to be there, then I deserve to be there. If they feel I don't, then that's OK too."
Clemens was at spring training Monday as a special instructor for the Houston Astros.
Pirates expected to give Hurdle extension: The Pirates are expected to extend third-year manager Clint Hurdle's contract through the 2014 season with a club option for 2015.
Hurdle is 151-173 in two seasons with the Pirates. Pittsburgh went 79-83 in 2012, tied for the franchise's best record in 20 seasons, although the Pirates went through a late swoon.
