JUST RUNNING:

Cycle thefts rare feat (Bill Chastain, 7/06/06, MLB.com)

Carl Crawford stole for the cycle Wednesday night, swiping second, third and home. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rays outfielder is the first player to turn the trick in the same game since Tom Goodwin of the Rockies did it in 2000.

Crawford also became just the seventh American League player to go for the base stealer's cycle since World War II and the first since Gerald Williams of the Yankees in 1996.

But it was Crawford's steal of home -- the first of his career at any level -- that everybody wanted to talk about. [...]

Crawford offered this analysis: "Ah, man, I was just running."

Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell marveled at Crawford.

"He's so fast, it's unbelievable," Lowell said. "[Tuesday] he stole third from a standstill with both hands on his knees. Most guys, they try to get momentum. He's going from a standstill. Everyone talked about Deion [Sanders] and how fast he is, but I've never seen anyone faster than [Crawford]. He just goes from a standstill [position] to full speed so quickly. Even [Tuesday], his triple, he's waltzing into third and most guys are only getting to second on that. It's impressive. God, I wish I ran like that."