By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rays bench coach Dave Martinez played with the speedy duo of Marquis Grissom and Delino DeShields when they wreaked havoc atop the Montreal Expos batting order in the early 1990s.
Martinez also got a close look at the Cardinals’ All-Star 1-2 punch of Vince Coleman and Willie McGee as an opponent.
But when Martinez tries to compare them to the dynamic duo of B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford, the coach said the Rays tandem offers more, with a blend of speed and power that has no peer in today’s game.
“B.J. and C.C. bring a lot more to the table because of their power,” Martinez said. “Not only can they steal, they can drive the ball, drive in runs. I was trying to think the other day of two guys atop the order like that right now, and you can’t find any.
“At the end of the year, both could end up with 20 homers and steal 60-70 bases.”
With Upton heating up in the leadoff spot after a slow start due to offseason shoulder surgery and Crawford arguably playing better than he ever has in a Rays uniform, the two are turning into the catalysts manager Joe Maddon envisioned when he paired them to start this season.
“They bring that unique ability to the top of the order,” ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan said. “And no other team has that.” More – TampaBay.com
