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Delmon Young to play left field in National League parks during World Series

Detroit Tigers' Delmon Young holds up the MVP trophy after the Tigers defeated the New York Yankees and advanced to the World Series after Game 4 of their MLB ALCS baseball playoff series in Detroit

Detroit Tigers’ Delmon Young holds up the ALCS MVP trophy after the Tigers defeated the New York Yankees and advanced to the World Series after Game 4 of their MLB ALCS baseball playoff series in Detroit, Michigan, October 18, 2012. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

REUTERS

Well, this should be fun.

Delmon Young won the ALCS MVP after batting .353 (6-for-17) with two home runs, a double and six RBI against the Yankees, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland won’t have the luxury of the DH spot during the World Series in National League parks. However, he’s prepared to sacrifice some defense in order to keep him in the lineup.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Leyland plans to play Young in left field in National League parks. Of course, the Cardinals or Giants will have home field advantage in the World Series since the National League won the All-Star Game back in July, so the Tigers could play as many as four games on the road.

We could see Young removed for a late-inning defensive replacement, but Leyland appears determined to roll with him as a regular. Andy Dirks has started in left field for all nine of the Tigers’ postseason games, but he could share playing time with Avisail Garcia and Quintin Berry in right field in National League parks.