Red Sox fans tend to think speed is overrated because we have never really had it. But just look at this season-the biggest difference between last season and this season for the Sox is speed. Last season, we had the highest success rate for stolen bases in the majors and were among the league leaders in stolen bases (mostly due to Els), this season our success rate is an atrocious 50% and we are among the worst in the league in SB totals. Last season we jumped into first and never looked back, this season we are struggling to be a .500 team. Stolen base threats on the bases get batters better pitches to hit. Fewer off-speed and breaking balls get thrown when the guy on base might take off to swipe a bag. Being able to go first to third on a shallow single because you get a good jump and have speed creates more scoring opportunities, being able to score from second on a similar hit means fewer men LOB. Having to hold runners and move to cover a bag on a potential steal puts infielders out of position and creates holes in the infield where hits can sneak through. It also limits options for defenses to put shifts on. A speedy runner on second means you can't leave third open on a shift. Speed is a game changer even if the actual steals aren't there. Teams with speed win close games because they can manufacture runs and don't have to wait for the 3 run bomb to score. How many of Papi's clutch hits were because he saw better pitches with speed on the bases and a good hitter behind him? How many were because a speedy runner had put themselves in position to score before Papi got up to hit?

Speed in the outfield also creates better defense. Henderson may have had a spaghetti arm, but he got to balls other fielders were fielding on a hop. Speed and range in LF may be overated when you play half your games in front of the Monster though, so we Sox fans often have a skewed perspective on that, but look at how much Victorino's speed in RF has helped defensively in Fenway. It was a long long gap between Tommy Harper and Jacoby Ellsbury, and I really hope the Sox get some speed back in that line up sooner rather than later. 

Speed isn't over rated, it is undervalued by Red Sox nation. 
-M

There's always the 80s cardinals.. Vince Coleman, Willie McGee, Ozzie Smith, and Tommy Herr.  IIRC, their '97 line up had Ozzie as the 3 hole hitter.

As far as speed goes, it IS important for defense, but I don't think stealing bases is that important.... and base running can be just as much proper funadmentals, timing, and judgement as much as speed.  I agree outfield defense is huge... If you're talking this year's Red Sox, their offense is generally down.. less power, more left of base, less everything.   I think Bradley, Sizemore and Victorino are all pretty good (Bradley and Victorino border on great).  It's Short and Third where the defense has been lacking.

Rice was a better defender and all around ball player than Manny, and never shoved a 70 year old man to the ground like Manny did, despite all of Rice's grumbling he was the better citizen. And I like that the veteran is not willing to roll over for the new guy. He should want to play not sit back and collect a paycheck. Make the rookie earn it through his play and force the manager to insert the rookie not hand it to him. No one knocks Yaz but he bitched about being moved to first base when Rice forced his way into the line up through his play. Rice has gotten a bad rap, was he prickly sure, but no more than a lot of guys during his era. Plus well Manny did test positive twice for PED's. Manny stayed too long and I was glad he didn't let the door hit him in the ass on the way out. He's a player I have lost all respect for despite the numbers he put up. He was a great hitter, but not a great ballplayer, and than he Manny being Mannied himself into a cesspool of questionable activity.

-M

Except know what the hitter's tendencies are by studying film, know how the battery plans to pitch him, pay attention to the pitch sequence and count so you are in the best position possible and can get a jump on the ball. Knowing your first step should always be back not in on 99% of fly balls, knowing where the other outfielders are positioned so the most ground is covered and maximizing the range and speed you have, knowing the ballpark (i.e. are you playing in left field in Fenway vs. left field in Citi Field, where the walls are, the nooks and crannies, etc. All the things they start teaching outfielders in little league on up, i.e. fundamentals. Range is as much a function of positioning and getting a good jump as it is raw speed. Speed does not make a good outfielder, just ask former 30/30 guy Alfonso Soriano, and if you are positioned wrong or can't read balls, all the speed int he world isn't going to give you any range. Speed can enhance a good outfielder who has fundamentals but it can't make up for a lack of fundamentals. There are very few times where an outfielder can be mispositioned and get a bad jump and still outrun a ball to catch it. What speed does help with is chasing down the balls that get behind you to keep those misplays as doubles and not triples and inside the park homers. But that's not a hell of a lot of consolation for a bad outfielder. 

-M

Like a lot of people, I didn't follow Dallas until the next season for the resolution of "Who Shot JR?"

Professional athletes I've met outside a sporting venue or sporting related event...

Randy Johnson-stood in line behind him at Newbury Comics one day when he was pitching for the Mariners and Seattle was in town for a series. I got in line with my nose in a comic, noticed the guy in front of me was kind of tall, started looking up and kept looking up, up up until I realized who he was. He was buying a handful of CDs and we talked music for the 5 minutes we were in line. 

Mike Eruzione-my wife won a trip to Florida for a weekend as an incentive from her employer, and Mike was one of the speakers/guests at the resort for the getaway weekend. 

Lee Smith and Robert Parish-waited on both of them at the theatre I worked at while living in Boston. 

Gordie Howe-he owned a restaurant in CT after he retired and he came and sat at out table to ask how things were one night while we were there. 

Doug Flutie-I went to BC, he's appeared at several BC related events over the years. My roommate used to do radio play by play for the school too, so I knew several of the guys during my 4 years there before they went pro...Dana Barros, Billy Guerin, etc. not sure if that should count as they weren't pro athletes at the time. 

Marcus Camby-I taught briefly in the Hartford Public schools and he was a guest speaker visiting classrooms one year when I was teaching there as a thank you for some of the teachers who had helped him out through the years. I was teaching an alternate ed class, so I was one of the classrooms that got the visit. 

-M

Top 10 D&D Modules I've played

1. Temple of Elemental Evil
2. Keep on the Borderlands
3. Tomb of Horrors
4. Ghost Tower of the Inverness
5. White Plume Mountain
6. In Search of the Unknown
7. Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
8. Castle Amber
9. Isle of Dread
10. Against the Giants