foot soldier

Jarrod Dyson started in center field and in the leadoff spot for Kansas City tonight, but that has not been his usual role. The McComb native and former Southwest Mississippi Community College star has been used as a pinch runner in 10 of the 15 games he has played this season. Going into today's game, the speedy Dyson was 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts and had scored six runs. The Royals like what Dyson's feet can provide. "It's like having a solid closer that you can count on in the bullpen," KC manager Ned Yost, the former Jackson Mets catcher, told the Kansas City Star. "You've got a weapon on the bench that's gonna help you win a game late." Dyson made his big-league debut late last season and stole nine bases in just 18 games. His 2011 role brings to mind that of another Mississippi native, Herb Washington. The onetime sprint champion, who was born in Belzoni, was used exclusively as a pinch runner by the 1974-75 Oakland A's in another of Charlie Finley's quirky innovations. Washington played in 105 games but never batted once. He was 31-for-48 on steal attempts, not really a great percentage, and scored 33 times. Washington was famously, or infamously, picked off first base in the 1974 World Series, which may have hastened the end of his career. He was released early on in 1975.
P.S. Former Mississippi State standout Mitch Moreland hit his first career grand slam today. But it won't count. Rain forced the postponement of the Texas Rangers' game and erased Moreland's homer from the books. Also lost was a hit by Starkville native Julio Borbon that extended his hit streak to 11 games. Borbon's streak goes back to 10.