Pete Crow-Armstrong Appreciation Thread

[Bull]

1 hour ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

He's horsefeathers insane. I'm not gonna worry much about a 4% walk rate if it comes with a 400 ISO. He's just an XBH machine. 

Except that at some point it will cool down and he will have to take walks to use his base stealing as a threat. See Dansby early. Couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag, but kept taking his walks.

 

Fortunately with PCA (as with Dansby) his defense will carry him through slumps. He just has So. Many. Weapons.

 

[Wilson A2000]

3 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

He's horsefeathers insane. I'm not gonna worry much about a 4% walk rate if it comes with a 400 ISO. He's just an XBH machine. 

Why would anyone throw him a strike? I know he hits bad balls, but spike sliders until he proves he can lay off of them. 

[JHBulls]

22 hours ago, Stratos said:

PCA had 2.7 fWAR last season.  He's already surpassed that this season and its mid-May (and that was before today's game).  On pace for 9.5 WAR.

There's basically nothing he can't do on a diamond besides take a walk.

I noticed in the second Dodgers series that Shohei Ohtani was in awe of PCA. That’s an MVP in itself.

The man, the myth, the legend, the greatest person in the history of the world to be named Pete. 

[Rob]

PCA is the second player in baseball to reach 3.0 fWAR this season, behind only Aaron Judge (who is somehow already at 4.1).

[Ding Dong Johnson]

5 minutes ago, Rob said:

somehow

Have you seen his numbers?

[We Got The Whole 9]

He's also 6th in MLB since 8/13/24, a span of 357 PA in which he's hit 284/330/522. 50% FB rate, he's exceptionally gifted at lifting the ball, he's actually tied with Tucker for 8th in the league since then. His barrel% would rank 7th, tied with Olson and Suarez. 

[17 Seconds]

I was open to trading him when they re-signed bellinger

 

[CubinNY]

2 minutes ago, 17 Seconds said:

I was open to trading him when they re-signed bellinger

 

Admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving the problem. 

[Brian707]

PCA is 13-1 to win MVP. Time to make an investment at that price.

 

[Stratos]

PCA and Tucker are tied in HR, runs, SB, and have a difference of .001 in AVG and SLG.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Most shocking player development since Sosa 98 or Lee 05. This dude just refuses to let the wave die. I'm convinced he's gonna hit 10 fwar if he stays healthy. I cannot imagine this team without PCA. He's the perfect balance for the patient offense, IMO. 

[Banedon]

Craig Counsell always plays things so cool, and even, and non-chalant, but he's starting to lose that facade when he talks about PCA.  Both the broadcast, and Hoerner mentioned Counsell's excitement at the grand slam, but he was barely containing his excitement in the postgame talking about him too...just effuisve praise and the faintest hint of a smile.

[Stratos]

17 hours ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Most shocking player development since Sosa 98 or Lee 05. This dude just refuses to let the wave die. I'm convinced he's gonna hit 10 fwar if he stays healthy. 

I was thinking about this too.  For a guy with projected 50 hit & 50 power graded tools and poor plate discipline, what he's been doing offensively since about the All-star break last year is incredible.

If this is who he really is I don't think anyone could have predicted it.  He has a chance to turn into the best Cubs player since Sosa and a top 5-10 player in the MLB if he keeps it up, His talent level is unbelievable.

The question is how much his chase issues will cause him problems as pitchers adjust.  They held back Javy.

[imb]

On 5/24/2025 at 3:54 PM, Stratos said:

I was thinking about this too.  For a guy with projected 50 hit & 50 power graded tools and poor plate discipline, what he's been doing offensively since about the All-star break last year is incredible.

If this is who he really is I don't think anyone could have predicted it.  He has a chance to turn into the best Cubs player since Sosa and a top 5-10 player in the MLB if he keeps it up, His talent level is unbelievable.

The question is how much his chase issues will cause him problems as pitchers adjust.  They held back Javy.

i havent watched every ab but he seems like he doesn't chase in the same way Javy did where you know his brain was making him swing regardless of what or where the pitch was. If anything I expect the adjustment to be pitchers pitching around him instead of challenging him. 

[Stratos]

17 minutes ago, imb said:

i havent watched every ab but he seems like he doesn't chase in the same way Javy did where you know his brain was making him swing regardless of what or where the pitch was. If anything I expect the adjustment to be pitchers pitching around him instead of challenging him. 

It should help PCA that he's a LHB and won't be chasing so many tough breaking calls low and away.

I do notice that PCA seems to lay off more balls that are up or outside.  He chases a lot of pitches low or inside since those are the pitches he likes to hit (can't argue with the results).  Of course we've also seen him swing at a couple of sliders that end up hitting him on the leg LOL.

[cl smooth]

1 hour ago, imb said:

i havent watched every ab but he seems like he doesn't chase in the same way Javy did where you know his brain was making him swing regardless of what or where the pitch was. If anything I expect the adjustment to be pitchers pitching around him instead of challenging him. 

pitching around PCA = a walk that turns into a triple. i'll take it!

[Hunter]

1 hour ago, Stratos said:

I do notice that PCA seems to lay off more balls that are up or outside.  He chases a lot of pitches low or inside since those are the pitches he likes to hit (can't argue with the results).  Of course we've also seen him swing at a couple of sliders that end up hitting him on the leg LOL.

Heat map doesn't agree. He is pretty cool on up and in as well. He chased 3 straight pitches up there in one at-bat this week.  Pitches below the zone but over the plate he isn't that bad. He is definitely bad on anything inside and off the plate.
 

Edited May 26, 2025 by Hunter

[Hunter]

Won't let me paste the map image so here is a link.
 

PCA Heat Map

Edited May 26, 2025 by Hunter
added link

[Stratos]

If they extended PCA to what age would we want him?

Only hesitancy is that a lot of his value is tied up in his speed, which doesn't usually age well.  A guy like Tucker might age better.

[jersey cubs fan]

6 hours ago, Stratos said:

If they extended PCA to what age would we want him?

Only hesitancy is that a lot of his value is tied up in his speed, which doesn't usually age well.  A guy like Tucker might age better.

I’m not sure age is the issue as much as just whatever his first year of free agency would be. The guy is tremendously fun and good right now, but gives off Javy Baez vibes as a non walking strikeout guy who won’t last.

PCA is probably (hopefully?) not going to fall off as precipitously as Javy but if they can avoid the second contract via free agency that would be good 

[We Got The Whole 9]

111.5 on that bomb tonight. Set a new career high by 3 mph and be did it on a DONG 2 minutes after making a 5% catch at a critical point in the game. What a treasure. 

Edited June 18, 2025 by We Got The Whole 9

[musclemom]

This could be one of the best trades in Cubs lore.

[imb]

Pete is on pace for the second-best season by fWAR the cubs have had in 30 years. better than KB's MVP season, better than Sammy's MVP season. It would trail only Sammy's 2001 - 64 bombs and a .328/.437/.737 slash lol

[squally1313]

1 hour ago, imb said:

Pete is on pace for the second-best season by fWAR the cubs have had in 30 years. better than KB's MVP season, better than Sammy's MVP season. It would trail only Sammy's 2001 - 64 bombs and a .328/.437/.737 slash lol

He could not play a game the rest of the year and have the 37th best season over that time stretch. If he maintains this pace, at the ASB it'll be the 15th best season in the last 30 years. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

ESPN - Inside the rise of Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong