When you hit as well as Texas Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre has over the last two weeks, people are going to start paying attention. And not just the fine folks at SB Nation Dallas either.
↵Beltre got the feature treatment from the New York Times today, as Tyler Kepner talked to players and managers around the league about what makes him such a unique player at the hot corner.
↵Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria has won a Gold Glove for his defense, but even he has in left in awe by Beltre:
↵↵↵Longoria has two Gold Gloves - he beat out Beltre in 2009 and 2010 - but said he simply does not understand how a third baseman can stop his feet and throw with such accuracy and power. He has asked Beltre about it and come away dumbfounded.
↵"Nobody else can do that," Longoria said. "Would I like to? Yeah, it makes it a little bit easier if you're just throwing like you're playing catch. He has such a good arm that he can throw it flat-footed from anywhere. You can't teach that."
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There's more gold in the article from Ron Washington, who made his career in baseball as a fielding instructor, took one look at how Beltre played and threw up his hands.
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