Rangers third baseman Michael Young has known only one hitting coach in his major league career. So Wednesday's news that Rudy Jaramillo would no longer be with the organization was surprising and disappointing.

"Rudy saw my first at-bat in the big leagues in 2000," Young said. "To think about him not being here is obviously unsettling. For me, it's difficult to accept. I love Rudy. I respect him. I consider him to be a friend and I know how much he wanted to be here. It's tough to take."

Jaramillo rejected the Rangers' one-year offer for 2010, opting instead to test the open market looking for, as he said, a job with "more security."

Young said Jaramillo was blamed too much for the offensive struggles in 2009. The Rangers' offense scored 784 runs, the fewest since Jaramillo's arrival. Texas hit .260, the lowest average since moving into Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Young said the offense didn't have as sound an approach as it needed.

"We do have to find a way to make harder contact more consistently and be tougher outs, play along with the scoreboard and get better. Those are things that Rudy stressed."

Young added that Jaramillo stressed the mental approach and to be confident and tough at the plate.

"It's not Rudy's fault somebody goes up and swings at the first pitch in the dirt and gets out," Young said. "Rudy can't make a hitter stop doing that. At some point, a hitter has to take responsibility and find a way to be better. It's a shame that Rudy's name gets brought up when there's a lack of production for one year. I'd prefer to praise him for the previous years."

For the Rangers hitters, including those who make up the young core of the club, there will be an adjustment period when they arrive in Surprise, Ariz., for spring training in February and Jaramillo, a constant since 1995, isn't there.

"He's been there a long time and has helped build something from the minor league up with their hitting system and having guys in place to enforce it," Josh Hamilton said. "It might throw things for a loop. The guys at the big league leave, you need somebody to guide you, look after you and let you know what they see and Rudy was always great at that."

Hamilton does not blame Jaramillo for altering his swing in January in an effort to make it more repeatable and consistent through the zone. Hamilton struggled at the start of the season and eventually reverted back to his old swing. He hit .268 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs in just 336 at-bats.

"Rudy made a recommendation," Hamilton said. "But the player has to agree with it too. I felt like we should attempt it. I don't blame him at all. We have a mutual respect for each other. It was something we tried and it was good I was able to go back to him and tell him that I tried and gave it a fair shot, but that I felt like I needed to go back. He said he wanted me to do what's comfortable. He's very accessible."

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