Delmon Young

Plate discipline is often a problem for Delmon Young. If he can show more restraint at the dinner table than he does in the batter's box, Young can earn another $600,000 in 2013.

The Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 7-5 in game 5 of the American League Championship Series Thursday night. Former Twin Delmon Young hit 2 homeruns and drove in 3 runs on the night. Justin Verlander allowed 4 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings to get the win for the Tigers. Texas leads the best of 7 series 3 games to 2. Game 6 will be in Texas at 7:05 Saturday night.

The Tigers beat the Yankees 3-2 in Game 5 of the American League Divisional Round playoff series Thursday night. Don Kelly and former Twin Delmon Young hit back to back homeruns in the first inning to lift the Tigers to the win. Joaquin Benoit struckout 2 in the 7th inning with the bases loaded and Jose Valverde struckout Alex Rodriguez to end the game.

The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 5-4 Monday night to take a 2 games to 1 series lead. Former Twin Delmon Young hit the tie-breaking solo homerun in the 7th inning for the Tigers. Game 4 of the series is tonight in Detroit beginning at 7:37pm.

At 52-67 and 11.5 games out of first place, the Twins might finally be starting to look to the future. Monday’s trade of Delmon Young to the Tigers may be the first domino to fall, as there are several holes the team must address in the offseason.

The Twins have trade oufielder Delmon Young to the Detroit Tigers for left handed pitcher Cole Nelson and a player to be named later. Nelson has been pitching at Class A Lakeland and has a 4.87 ERA and 5-11 record in 26 appearances for Lakeland. Young was hitting .266 for the Twins with 4 homeruns and 32 RBIs this season. Young is under team control through 2012.

The Twins defeated the Angels in Anaheim 11-4 Wednesday night. Minnesota knocked out 5 homeruns led by Michael Cuddyer with 2 homeruns and 5 RBIs. Cuddyer broke the 4-all tie in the 5th inning with a grand slam homerun. Delmon Young added 2 homeruns and 3 RBIs for the Twins and both Jason Kubel and Ben Revere each had 3 hits and 2 runs scored.

The Twins are 7 games back of Detroit for first place in the American League Central with 2 months remaining and a week to go before the Major League Baseball trading deadline. The Twins should finally cut bait on Liriano, Slowey and Delmon Young. Liriano is inconsistent and doesn't keep the team in the game half of the time. Kevin Slowey doesn't want to be here and his value doesn't seem to be increasing.

The Twins activated outfielder Delmon Young from the 15-day disabled list Sunday after the game. Young had been rehabbing a sprained ankle playing rehab games at Triple-A Rochester last week. Young is batting .256 with 2 homeruns and 20 RBIs for the Twins this season.

The Twins will make some serious changes after this embarrassing 2011 season. Who won't be back? Pitchers Carl Pavano, Kevin Slowey, Matt Capps, Glen Perkins and Francisco Liriano could all be traded before the trade deadline. The Twins we also need to decide whether to bring back free agents Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel and Jim Thome could be done after this season.