Elvis is in the building

Well that's one for the money and 2 for the show, 3 to get ready, and watch this cat go !

Down in Arlington Texas they get to watch Elvis perform 81 shows a year, and he even takes his show on the road. He performs at a high level, brings the fans right out their seats, and is a high light package all his own.



No sequin vests, no gold jackets, but gold gloves, he will certainly add many to his wardrobe, we speak not of the King of Rock N' Roll, but the starting shortstop of the 1st place Texas Rangers of the American League West.


Andrus has great range to his right, he also has great range to his left, and oh yes, he goes deep into foul territory, and makes the plays Derek Jeter only dreams of making. Now he has added hitting to his list of talents, and base stealing for good measure. He is quietly leading this team.



Many believe the team leader is Josh Hamilton, or long time Ranger Michael Young, or the presence of Vlad Guererro, or manager Ron Washington that fuels the Lone Star Rangers, but in truth, it the diminutive shortstop that is the glue that holds the team together.



He starts double plays that should be gap singles, or at worst infield hits, he turns them as a messiah into instant inning ending double dips, and shuts the other team down.



Now the Rangers starting pitchers already know this, and they all encourage the ground ball to position 6 on the field, because it means outs, and 3 times to Elvis, and we get to bat again.


He makes the routing play in his sleep, and makes the extrordinary play look routine, and the great play so many times, his teammates could call him the Closer instead of Neftali Feliz.


In the National League, Jose Reyes is the don of the great defensive gloves, but Elvis is fast approaching the status of " King of the oohs and aahhs ", and while chicks dig the long ball, managers dig the 6-3 put out, it saves games, ends threats and puts out fires faster than Ladder 49 can.



He is as graceful as Concepcion, acrobatic as Vizquel, and Aparacio, and has an arm as strong as Ripken, or Yount, or Trammell. He turns the double play with Kinsler despite his partner's less than sterling rep at 2nd base. He is the complete defensive package, his glove is where 9th inning comebacks or big time rallies go to die.


I watch him dive for balls I thought were Michael Young's, or Ian Kinsler's, and not only does he get to balls he has not right to try for, he throws out the runners by a step.


I would admit that Texas was wrong to move Michael Young at the beginning of 2009 season, I mean a raw rookie supplanting Young, who had moved years before from 2nd to make room for Alphonso Soriano. I was dead wrong, becasuse the kid has the royal jelly, he is the real deal, and like Lincecum, like many of the New Era players, he is leading the new wave of superstars, and he'll be doing this for a long time.