Richmond Flying Squirrels second baseman Nick Noonan pumped his fist after a two-out, ninth-inning defensive gem saved a win last week.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford's highlight play the next night pumped up the crowd.
Fans should expect those plays -- and the routine ones -- Squirrels manager Andy Skeels says, from a defense he calls the best in the minor leagues.
"I'll put my guys up against anybody," he said.
Richmond has committed just six errors in 14 games. Up-the-middle defense generally characterizes good teams, and the Double-A Squirrels' regulars in those spots -- Crawford at short, Noonan at second, Jackson Williams at catcher and Darren Ford in center field -- seem especially adept.
Skeels also has left fielder Thomas Neal, who had 15 assists and just two errors in Class A last season, and right fielder Roger Kieschnick, who had 11 assists and had just two errors.
A look at the Squirrels' middle men:
•Jackson Williams, catcher, 23: In his fourth pro season in the San Francisco organization, Williams has thrown out base-stealers at a 43.1 percent (103 of 239) clip. Has gunned down 54.5 percent (6 of 11) with Richmond.
Skeels: "In my 25 years in professional baseball, and being a former catcher, he is in a different class defensively. He's just a special kind of catcher, from his hands to his footwork to his athletic ability to the way he gets rid of the ball, to how true his ball is at release."The second half of that, and the most important thing, is being a leader and controlling the game. . . . He's gotten much better at understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the staff, the strengths and weaknesses of the hitters, and understanding what we're trying to get him to implement."
•Brandon Crawford, shortstop, 23: Baseball America rates Crawford as the best defensive infielder in San Francisco's system. Last season, Crawford had a .976 fielding percentage (three errors) at Class A San Jose and a .972 fielding percentage (14 errors) at Double-A Connecticut.
Skeels: "When you watch Brandon Crawford every day, you realize how special a defender he is. He makes a lot of plays look real easy. He's got soft hands, a strong arm, good instincts, a good first step and is very athletic. He makes bad hops look easy."•Nick Noonan, second base, 20: Noonan had a .972 fielding percentage (16 errors) last year at San Jose. In three minor-league seasons, he's earned a reputation for making clutch plays at the plate and in the field.
Skeels: "Defensively, he has continued to get much better. His backhand has gotten better, his positioning has gotten better, his instincts have gotten better, turning the double play [is better]."One of the main attributes for me, especially when we're trying to evaluate whether guys are going to be an important part of a World Series team in the big leagues, is how do they perform under pressure? . . . When the ball's hit to him, I have total faith in his ability to make the big play when we need it."
•Darren Ford, center fielder, 24: Considered one of the fastest players in baseball. Ford had a .978 fielding percentage (five errors) and seven assists last year at San Jose.
Skeels: "I'll put Darren Ford up against anybody. He's got world-class speed, and he's got it in every direction, which is kind of unusual for a lot of outfielders. Some are real good at going to the gaps. Some are real good at going back on the ball. Some are real good coming in on the ball. He does it every which way. The thing I like about Darren is he's beginning to understand . . . he has the ability to beat people defensively."
Contact Tim Pearrell at (804) 649-6965 or tpearrell@timesdispatch.com.
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