TR and BBScout are right on - no matter which of the "5 tools" a kid has - HE STILL HAS TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME. What good is speed if a kid doesn't know what to do with it? A 6.8 60 is worthless if he takes a huge turn around 2nd on his way to third and gets thrown out b/c he didn't read the ball or the outfielder [RH or LH?? moving to his backhand or throwing side??...] and it takes him a week to get there b/c he ran 200 feet instead of 180, and he made a slide into the throw, instead of away from it b/c he didn't read the 3B eyes?? Because he doesn't know HOW to run the bases. We had a couple fast guys on our bench last year [faster than all but 1 or 2 of the starters] - everytime they pinch ran, THEY GOT PICKED OFF or CS, WHY - because they didn't know the game, they had no instinct, couldn't read the pitcher's move, get a good jump, etc. They were on the bench b/c they weren't very good BASEBALL PLAYERS. Head coach finally stuck with leaving the slow guys on base that had a clue. Might only be one base at a time for some of them, but that is WAY better than giving away outs. Instinct can make up for a lack of speed on the bases and in the field. Fielder cheats a little to a side b/c he sees the pitch that is called, knows the count, etc. That's instinct, and that's baseball. While it's true you can't teach speed, you also can't teach instinct. Over the course of a season, a slower, instinctive BALLPLAYER will make more plays than a speedster trying to figure out the game. Instinct is a great equalizer - having it speeds you up, b/c you don't have to think about what to do; lacking it slows you down to the level of the mortals, then you still don't know what to do.
BTW, once they reach HS, the best player isn't always the fastest, the best hitter, best pitcher, and plays shortstop when he isn't pitching and batting leadoff/cleanup. That usually only happens on Fantasy Island. Coach May is talking about a guy who's primary job is pinch running, "real men" or not, don't know too many league using a DR, but I guess that's just instinct on my part.