Baseball speed is usually measured in the 60-yard dash and the sprint from home to first. However, some players are called “fast” for stealing bases, covering ground in the field and having great base running ability. But, who’s the fastest? Did you ever wonder if any of the current MLB players would challenge Usain Bolt in a race? Well, it’s time for the 2008 MLB Track Olympics. Here are 16 guys that could give him a run for his money.

If Bud Selig decided to hold a MLB’s Fastest Man competition, there would be several players that would come to mind: Ichiro, Willy Taveras, Jose Reyes, etc… However, what if you lined them up on a track. No baseball uniforms and no batting helmets or gloves. Which speedy baseball player would come out on top?

My ideal 100-meter lineup would be comprised of two heats. Here are the competitors for heat number one:
Lane 1 – Joey Gathright, OF, Kansas City Royals
Lane 2 – Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Seattle Mariners
Lane 3 – Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Lane 4 – Willy Taveras, OF, Colorado Rockies
Lane 5 – Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
Lane 6 – Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Lane 7 – Carlos Gomez, OF, Minnesota Twins
Lane 8 – Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Now that would be a fast, fast race. I think Figgins, Reyes or Gathright would out-run the others and cruise to victory. Add Pierre as the fourth place finisher and that’s my top four moving on to the finals.

Here is the lineup for heat number two:
Lane 1 – Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Lane 2 – Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
Lane 3 – Curtis Granderson, OF, Detroit Tigers
Lane 4 – Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox
Lane 5 – B.J. Upton, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Lane 6 – Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Lane 7 – Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds
Lane 8 – Fred Lewis, OF, San Francisco Giants

Not many people understand just how fast Michael Bourn and Fred Lewis are. They show up in this race and finish first and second with Brian Roberts and Jimmy Rollins also advancing.

For the finals, here’s a loaded lineup:
Lane 1 – Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Lane 2 – Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Lane 3 – Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Lane 4 – Joey Gathright, OF, Kansas City Royals
Lane 5 – Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
Lane 6 – Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
Lane 7 – Fred Lewis, OF, San Francisco Giants
Lane 8 – Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

Before we analyze this race, I think this would be a heat that would rival Bolt’s competition at the Olympics. This is a lineup of world-class speed. Gathright and Bourn both have that speed that is so amazing when you watch them play the outfield, you understand why they are on the field. Roberts and Lewis are two guys that are under the radar with their speed, but both could challenge this field in a race. Everyone knows what kind of speed Pierre, Figgins, Reyes and Rollins bring to the table. It’s long been discussed. However, the winner of the ‘08 MLB Fastest Man competition has to go to Gathright, with Bourn and Figgins claiming second and third, respectively.

Post from: EveryJoe

Could baseball’s fastest man challenge Usain Bolt?

Woody Williams started the game for the Astros and gave up five earned runs in four innings. Geoff Geary pitched two scoreless innings for Houston and was credited with the win.

Andre Ethier was the hitting star for the Dodgers in this game, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. The contest marked the final game ever for the Dodgers at Dodgertown, a facility in Vero Beach, Florida. The Dodgers have played games at this location for the last 60 years but will be moving to a facility in Glendale, Arizona.

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Hunter Pence Homers as Astros Win

Unfortunately, the Houston Astros lost the game against the Cincinnati Reds by a final score of 5-4. The Astros took a 4-0 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning, but Houston was unable to close it out as the Reds scored five runs to take home the victory. Alvin Colina won the game for Cincinnati with a three-run double.

On Wednesday, the Astros take on the Detroit Tigers.

Post from: EveryJoe

Hunter Pence Hits First Spring Homer

Finally spring training is here and I have some baseball to talk about! Even though I haven’t been able to do much in spring training, other than watch, there’s still a lot going on. And for the record, I’m healing quickly and rather excited because I am supposed to be back at practice tomorrow!

It’s been a bummer that the accident had me sidelined, but I was very fortunate that my injuries were not serious and that my recovery has been quick. So back to spring training …

When I arrived, I was happy to see that my locker was right between Bourn and Erstad. It’s been nice getting to know Bourn. I was also excited to talk to Erstad and found it interesting to hear what his impression of me was last year. You see, Erstad is one of my favorite players to watch so it’s weird to think that he has seen me play. I found out that he initially I thought I was some know-it-all rookie!!

I asked him why he thought that and he said that when we played against the White Sox, last season, he saw me taking my 100 practice swings before the game. During my swings, he saw me walk over to the home plate where I started talking to the umpires. So it appeared to him as though I was acting like I ran the show. Keep in mind, he saw me doing this when I hadn’t been in the League for long. Little did he know that the umpires had called me over and I was just following their orders.

For whatever reason, last year, the umpires got a kick out of picking on me, in good nature. I remember the day Erstad referenced, the umpires had called me over to tell me that they heard I was a big trouble maker and to watch it because I was on a tight leash. I just laughed and said, “Yes sir.” Anyways, I got that all straightened out with D-stad and have gotten to know him pretty well now. As a matter of fact, I’m actually debating on what his nickname is going to be and I figured I could ask you guys for some help? Any suggestions would be good!

As a joke, I told Erstad I was going to call him by his first initial and the last two letters in his last name “Dad” or possibly even Fred Derstad. I don’t think either of those are going to stick, so help me out and send me some suggestions =) In baseball, you can’t call anyone by their regular name, everyone has to have a nickname.

Just to wrap things up, I wanted to share that there is a great feeling in the locker room this year because everyone has high expectations and a new attitude. On the field, I’ve mainly been standing behind the cage watching all of our pitchers and I’m excited because, as I’ve mentioned before, we are going to have a solid staff this year. In addition, with a little more help from the defense, things are looking good for the Astros this year.

The thing is we can’t just talk about it, we have to do it. I really liked how Tejada put it to me when I told him we were going to have a lot of fun with this team, I think I’ll stick with his plan. Next week I’ll gladly get to talk about PLAYING in spring training! haha, ’til next week.

Thanks.

Hunter

Post from: EveryJoe

From Hunter: Erstad Needs a Nickname

Coming off of a disappointing 73-89 campaign in 2007, the Astros and new general manager Ed Wade decided to shake things up. While the legendary Craig Biggio decided to hang up his cleats following the 2007 season, many other players were brought on board to hopefully get Houston back to the playoffs.

Miguel Tejada
Tejada is a slugging shortstop who won the AL MVP in 2002. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, Tejada is a player who will play everyday and provide the Astros with some power in the middle of their lineup.

Jose Valverde
With the Arizona Diamondbacks, Valverde led the major leagues in saves last season with 47. The Astros acquired him to serve as the team’s new closer. Valverde, who was an All-Star in 2007, will be a huge upgrade for the Astros in 2008.

Kazuo Matsui
The Astros wanted to add some speed to their lineup. To do so, Matsui was brought in to play second base. Matsui had a breakout season last year for the Colorado Rockies and signed with the Astros as a free agent.

Michael Bourn
Another speedster, Bourn was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies and is slated to become the team’s centerfielder in 2008. The 25-year-old Bourn doesn’t have much big league experience but has already shown the ability to steal bases.

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Astros Offseason Upgrades