Of all the images burned into my corneas (pleasantly, I might add) from the Rangers' magical 2010 postseason run, there are a couple that stand out.
The Nellie Cruz home run in Game 6 against the Yankees, Neftali Feliz freezing A-Rod dead in his stance with a slider to clinch the AL pennant, you get the picture.
But one particularly stands out.
Elvis Andrus vs. David Price. The Tampa ace, who's a lefty, going head to head with Andrus at first base in a vicious game of chicken. Andrus getting in his head. Eyes darting from catcher, to Price, back to catcher, back to Price. It was a beautiful scene. He went on to score a beautiful, manufactured run.
It was the start of a phenomenal run in the postseason for the 22-year-old, who will start the 2011 season five weeks from today as the Rangers leadoff hitter, after starting last year in the No. 9 spot.
Andrus is a throwback to the days of Omar Vizquel, Shawon Dunston and perhaps most comparatively, Ozzie Smith.
Smith stole 580 bags in his career and his 28 home runs in his 18-year career while hitting .262 and flashing the leather enough to earn the nickname "The Wizard of Oz."
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Andrus has two full seasons under his belt and is showing some similar tendencies. The guy didn't hit a single home run last year, but stole 32 bases and scored 88 runs, a total that will surely go up with a full season leading off. He's hit .267 and .265 in his two seasons, but is a run producer. He's brilliant defensively and, as he showed in that glorious game against Tampa, is crafty on the base paths.
It ought to be a big year for "Tiny E" in his third professional season. Buckle your seatbelts, opposing pitcher, it's going to be a fun ride.
