Cruz and Almedo: Ballet Without Music

Ballet without music. Drama without words. A carnival without kewpie dolls.

That's how some have described baseball.

And in Nashville, music city USA, that sounds right. It rings true- especially up the box, where shortstop Luis Cruz and second baseman Ray Olmedo orchestrate the middle of the Sounds' defense.

Their defense is almost an art form- gracefully taking shape amidst the hard-nosed reality of baseball at the highest levels. In a recent series against Oklahoma City, 26 of the 48 players on the two rosters spent time in the major leagues last season. This is not your everyday baseball game- these are the top players in the world.

Cruz, from Mexico, and Olmedo, from Venezuela, have both spent considerable time in the majors.

Olmedo has spent five years in the bigs, four with Cincy and one with Toronto.

Cruz has spent parts of two seasons in the show with the Pirates.

Both are high character guys who are well-spoken and courteous. They make a tough, fast-paced sport look easy. Running to balls all over the field, jumping high during double plays, turning double plays faster than a salsa move on the dance floor, these guys are the real deal.

Some of the Best Baseball in the World....

So, you might think that the Nashville Sounds club is just another minor league ball team. Re-think that.

In a recent home series against Okla. City, 26 of the 48 players on the two rosters spent time in the major leagues last year, with a total of 12 big league teams.

Both teams rosters in this series were filled with some of the best players in the world- from all over the world (six countries and one territory, Puerto Rico).

In addition, seven players who began the season with the Sounds have been called up and are currently with the Brewers. From last years Sounds team, shortstop Alcides Escobar, only 24 years old, now starts for the Brewers and is considered one of the rising superstars of the majors. Not to mention Brewers superstars Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun.

For any baseball fan, the names of major leaguers in this Nashville-Okla. City series were evident: Garko, Nelson Cruz (former Sound and AL All-Star last season), Chris Davis (21 HRs last year for the Rangers), and Jarrod Saltalamacchia- yes, he has the longest name in the history of the major leagues, unofficially.

Two coaches in the series are former major leaguers as well- Sounds manager Don Money and pitching coach Rich Gale.

Essentially, Sounds baseball is some of the best baseball in the world. Period.