http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2137637 NATIONAL LEAGUE MEDALISTS GOLD MEDAL: WILLY TAVERAS, ASTROS Willy Taveras We didn't expect anybody to win this derby unanimously. But Taveras ran away with this race in more ways than one. SPEEDY STATS: Has almost twice as many infield hits (60) as anyone in the big leagues. ... More bunt hits (26) than extra-base hits (18). ... Has a chance to join Gerald Young, Cesar Cedeno, Sonny Jackson and Jimmy Wynn as the only Astros 23 or younger to steal 40 bases. HOWWWWW FAST IS HE?: One scout clocked Taveras from home to first -- from the right-handed side of the batter's box -- in 3.56 seconds on a bunt ("That," the scout said, "is off the chart"). It's ridiculous how many routine ground balls Taveras beats out. "Early in the season," said Houston GM Tim Purpura, "when we hadn't played some of these teams yet, sometimes those infielders who hadn't seen him didn't know how fast he was. So they'd take their time, and next thing they knew, he was a step ahead of them [on the throw]. You'd see them out there, just shaking their heads." QUICK REVIEWS: "The best way to get Taveras when he's stealing second," Donnelly quipped, "is to just throw it to third and wait for him." ... "His stride is much longer than these other guys," said one scout. "And he really drives through the bag because he runs hard all the way to first." ... "He gets to first quicker than anyone I have seen," said teammate Brad Ausmus. "Even any left-handed-hitting speedsters." ... "Willie Taveras is so fast," Donnelly said, "I think he could beat out an infield single if you made him run all the way to the foul pole. And if he couldn't, it would be bang-bang."
Jeff Francoeur of the Braves his putting up some huge numbers lately and if he keeps it up, he could win it.
Just imagine his speed to first if he was a switch hitter. Purpura says he still want Willy Taveras to be a switch hitter which I think is dumb. He kills right-handed pitching but struggles versus lefties so why make switch hit?
I still can't believe Gerry got Willy and Luke Scott for Jeriome Robertson. Man I wish Gerry still was here.
He is only come on of late. Willy has been putting up great numbers the whole season. Franceoeur has played a total of 31 games..i don't think he deserves it regardless of his play right no becuase of the number of games he has played. To keep it up through the whole season as Willy has would be deserving.
Exactly he does what's he is supposed to do. Get on base and create speed on the basepaths. We don't want him doing too much. As long as his defense keeps improving and we have people driving him in we are good to go.
All of the current "youngsters" on the Astros that came through the Astros scouting/minor league system came through a farm system that was headed by Purpura. Here is an old ESPN interview before Purpura became a GM: http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/neyer_rob/1483345.html
