"Eric has worked very hard to get here," Piazza said yesterday. Piazza and Young came up together in the Los Angeles farm system, both as s long shots. Piazza was a 62nd-round draft pick in 1988 and Young was taken in the 43rd round in 1989. "Coming up with him I thought he had a real good chance of making it," Piazza said. "You have to get the breaks and you have to work hard. He did that. He's very determined and he's taken advantage of his opportunity." "EY has worked extremely hard," Rockies outfielder Dante Bichette said. "He played football in college and brings that intensity to baseball. If you say sparkplug, that's him." Young missed the first 17 games of the season after breaking his hand in the off-season during a batting cage session. He came off the disabled list April 22 and has ignited the Rockies' high-scoring offense ever since from the lead-off spot. In past seasons he has played second base and the outfield. He won't be moving any time soon. "The difference is that I'm playing every day and I don't have to look over my shoulder," he said. "I'm more comfortable and more relaxed and I'm playing one position. Put all those factors together the real Eric Young is coming out. I'm being left alone to play my game." The rest of the league has taken notice, which makes pleases Young. "Making the All-Star Game is something you dream about," he said. "It's an honor in my fourth season to make it. But the biggest thing is the respect you get from around the league from your peers, coaches and managers. Everybody is taking notice. To be known as a complete ballplayer is what you want. I think right now I'm getting that respect." a superb first half and has turned himself into one of the NL's best at his position. "(Colorado) said they wanted an All-Star caliber player, so I wanted to bring my performance up to an AllStar level," said Young, who hit .317 and finished sixth in the league in stolen bases last year, with 35. "I had something to prove. The Biggio thing escalated my drive." In 77 games at second base last season, Young made 11 errors. He has made just three in 69 games so far this year. Atlanta Braves coach Jimy Williams said yesterday that Young's all-around improvement has been one of the most amazing stories of this baseball season. Young, who debuted in the majors with the Dodgers in 1992, has always been able to hit and run in his professional career. He was selected by the Rockies in the expansion draft and has been a original member of team since 1993. In fact, he was the first batter in the history of the franchise. The former Rutgers University baseball-football star is enjoying his best season. Young finished the first half with a .345 batting average, second-best in the league to the Dodgers' Mike Piazza (.363). Young leads the National League with 31 stolen bases - 11 short of his career high - 1993 and he's fourth with his .428 on-base percentage. Two days before Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox picked the NL All-Star reserves, Young put an exclamation point on his first half with six stolen bases in one game - tying the major-league record - against Hideo Nomo, Piazza and the Dodgers. Young From page C1