Pete Crow-Armstrong's Sizzle Quotient Continues to Soar

[RavenCub30]

Though he hasn't quite pulled into the station, Pete Crow-Armstrong is arriving on schedule. Find yourself at Wrigley for just about any game in 2024 and you're likely to witness fans walking out of shops like Sports World, Wrigleyville Sports, and others, donning the number 52 on the back of their brand new blue-pinstriped jersey. Good for them, because with the upward trajectory of the Cubs' young centerfielder, he figures to be cemented in Craig Counsell's everyday lineup for years to come. 

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Not far removed from being an offensive liability for his club, Pete Crow-Armstrong now provides this squad confidence, versatility, and an indelible, super-charged positive attitude, which emanates from both his offensive and defensive roles on the field. There will come a time in the near future when Crow-Armstrong will be considered the Cubs' most dangerous player, and not just for the obvious reasons.

For the first few months of the season, it was difficult--if not impossible--to tell what Crow-Armstrong's value was, outside of his impressive speed and flashy glove. Now, that almost seems like an "Inception"-style illusion, compared to what the Cub's outfielder is transforming into since the All-Star break. At the time of this writing, he has 26 stolen bases, and he takes off almost automatically if and when he reaches base. He's often able to reach base, too. With his swift stride, Crow-Armstrong has restored some of the magic lost from the days of Javier Báez, on the bases and in the way a ball in play off his bat seems to promise chaos.

He's a wonder to watch. I don't know the reason for Crow-Armstrong's emergence boiled down to one metric, just as I don't know why Three Floyd's Gumball Head beer tastes better at Murphy's than anywhere else. But what I do know is that, with a rapid growth in confidence, the Crow-Armstrong this organization has been waiting for is showing up. 

At the last game I attended, with the sun glistening off the outfield ivy, I must have exclaimed "Let's go Pete!" upwards of a dozen times. This is for many reasons, not the least of which being that I want him to help my favorite team win, but it's also because he's the most exciting player on the field. Watching him play is the opportunity to witness one of the best spectacles in baseball. What bodes well for the 22-year-old is his ability to hit the cut fastball, which he wallops at a .387 rate; his proficiency with this particular pitch is yielding more success across the board. If you don't believe me, check out his stat line from his last visit to PNC Park. 

Just hours before I wrote this, the Cubs inducted Kerry Wood into the franchise's Hall of Fame. For reasons well beyond just his 20-strikeout game, Wood earned this prestigious honor. I'm not in any way saying that Crow-Armstrong will enjoy a similar accolade one day--though perhaps he will. What I am saying is that he is a remarkably special player. More importantly, he's a Cub. 

View full article

[painhertz]

I'm fine with him in CF for the foreseeable future.