Note on Young and information on services for Monica Barlow

SARASOTA, Fla. - Delmon Young is back on the bench today after collecting two hits for the Orioles yesterday in Fort Myers. Young could get an at-bat or two later, and he's expected to make the trip to Tampa for Tuesday night's game against the Yankees. He's on a typical spring schedule as he attempts to crack the 40-man roster and break camp with the team. The work day started early for Young, who already was bathed in a heavy sweat before players took the field for batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter praised the veteran for his preparation after yesterday's game. "Delmon can hit," Showalter said. "He's probably in as good a shape as he's been in in a long time. You bring in guys who have been around, they know the gig. They're not waiting to get their timing. They come in here with that mentality that every day is a chance to make an impression." For Young, it's just business as usual. The minor league contract doesn't influence him. It hasn't distracted him, either. Young is 3-for-5 with a double in two games. "I treat this like any other spring," he said. "I try to get my swing down in the cage with the hitting coaches, and then when I get on the field, try to duplicate it once I'm out there." Despite his contract status, Young figured to win a job as a right-handed DH and part-time outfielder after the Orioles signed him during their mini-camp in January. However, the deal with Nelson Cruz provided another layer of competition. "Buck said, 'If you show what you can do in spring, anything can happen,'" Young said. "This was before and even after, so I'm just out there playing and if it doesn't happen here, there's 29 other teams out there." Before closing this blog entry, I wanted to pass along information regarding services for Monica Pence Barlow, who passed away on Friday. You can read her obituary here on DNRonline.com. The family invites friends to informally drop in and share memories of Monica anytime between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Mountain View Fellowship Church of the Brethren on Friday, March 7. A memorial service will be held at Montezuma Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Va., on Saturday, March 8, at 6 p.m. followed at a later date by a service in Baltimore to honor Monica's life. In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome in Monica's name to Lungevity or Stand Up to Cancer until a fund can be established in her name.