It's a bit cliche to say that someone has been "to hell and back". Last season, between divorce, diabetes, and a hospital stay for alcoholism and depression, Dmitri Young was in hell. In 2007, as the Nationals new starting first baseman, Young is back."I was at the bottom of the mountain, the bottom of Mount Everest, and I climbed my way up, one day at a time, knowing that I had to work," Young said in the visitors' clubhouse before Washington's 6-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.It helped that Travis Lee asked for and received his release today, but in all likelihood, Young probably won the job anyway ... if for no other reason than Young can play at least a little bit of outfield, potentially giving him another place to play if he tears up the league with his bat while Nick Johnson is out. His powerful bat gives him an extra edge as well, giving the Nationals a third big threat to go with Ryan Zimmerman and Austin Kearns. Travis Lee and/or Larry Broadway don't put quite as much fear into opposing hitters as a guy who once hit three HR's on opening day.
"It wasn't going to be given to me by any stretch and I had to work. I worked every day in the minor league side: do my cardio every day out there, take extra ground balls, take extra swings. I did everything it would take to earn it."
It's still up to Meat Hook as to what he does with this chance on the field. But off the field, he's already won.
Previously on The Fanhouse:
Larry Broadway sent down
Dmitri Young looks to stick with Nats
