In 2011, these two speed demons will team up in Boston for arguably the fastest one-two punch in sports. Catchers: beware.
Crawford, who averages 54 steals in a full 162-game season, swiped an AL-most 55 bags in his second professional year during the summer of 2003. In the following campaign, he led the league with 59 swipes before Chone Figgins took the AL crown in 2005 with 62 steals. Crawford took back the title in 2006 with 58 steals and shared the lead in 2007 with Brian Roberts, when they each stole 50 bases.
But then Ellsbury came along, and since the outfielder's rookie season, he's averaging more than one steal every three games.
In his first full season, the Red Sox' leadoff hitter stole an AL-most 50 bags — partly because Crawford was limited to just 109 games. In 2009, both Ellsbury and Crawford were neck-and-neck for the steals lead, but Ellsbury sprinted away and took the title for the second straight season with a franchise-record 70 steals.
In 2010, White Sox outfielder Juan Pierre took the title away from the injury-plagued Ellsbury with 68 swipes. With Crawford and Ellsbury embedded into the Sox' lineup together, one can only imagine the nightmares they'll cause for opposing catchers heading to Fenway Park for a series.
But what happens if and when the two square off for a race this spring?
"I don't know," Ellsbury said upon arriving to Fort Myers, Fla. "I wouldn't bet against myself."
Who will lead the Red Sox in stolen bases in 2011?online survey
