Crowe getting Back on Track
Posted April 28th, 2007 by Stephanie Storm
If the last two days are any indication, Trevor Crowe is getting back to his old self.
That is not only good news for the Aeros, but for the Indians as well. Their No. 1 pick (14th overall) in the 2005 draft has had the Indians brass so worried, they dispatched a handful of instructors to Akron to talk/work/coach/cajole Crowe from the funk that had him hitting .154 through the team’s first 14 games of the season.
I said a few days into the season something was wrong with Crowe, and a handful of bloggers on this site suggested I was jumping to conclusions. Turns out I wasn’t the only one concerned with Crowe’s lack of hitting, stolen bases and all-around energy.
Instructors have been working with Crowe on subjects ranging from his hitting (he’s being overaggressive at the plate and not taking his usual laid-back approach that produces walks - which is crucial for a leadoff hitter), to his fielding, his base running and yes, even his mental state.
In fact, it is the later that many feel is the crux of Crowe’s problems so far this season. For more on this, please read my story on Crowe in Sunday’s Beacon Journal.
Basically, Crowe’s been so wrapped up in looking to get to Cleveland, he’s forgotten he needs to get a passing grade at Double-A and Triple-A first. Then once he started slow, he began pressing and that took him out of his comfort zone and only compounded the issue.
The good news is that deep down, Crowe’s a good kid. He’s taken the constructive criticism and made changes that have shown at the plate and on the base paths in the last two games. He’s not the type to brood and get down, but instead dig deep and work harder.
As one Indians official suggested Saturday, Crowe’s going to face adversity some time in his career, he might as well get it out of the way now.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:47 am
If Crowe gets things turned around and has the kind of year that is expected from him, do you see him getting a September call-up? Also, can you compare his game to Sizemore’s when Grady was in AA.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:48 am
If Crowe gets his game turned around and has the kind of yr that he is expected to have do you see him getting a Sept. call-up to Cleveland?
May 1st, 2007 at 9:55 am
That’s a good question, Mike.
Unlike last season when the Indians tried to rush Crowe into a second base gig at the end of the season that just didn’t work out after trading veteran Ronnie Beliard, this year they’ve given Crowe time. If Crowe gets it together quick enough at Akron and earns a mid-season Triple-A promotion and does well in Buffalo, I can see the Indians brass rewarding Crowe with a Septemeber call up.
Comparing Crowe to Grady is a little difficult because they are very different players. Grady wasn’t even the centerpiece of the trade that brought him to Cleveland, whereas Crowe is the team’s No. 1 pick in 2005.
That alone carries two very different mindsets into a career as well as different expectations. Keep in mind that with expectations, come pressure.
When Grady played in Akron in 2003, I think a lot of us realized he could be a good major leaguer, but at that point, few of us could have honestly imagined he’d blossom into the superstar player he is today. I always liked Grady, but didn’t dream he’d become as good as he is today in such a short time frame.
Although Grady was just starting to come into his own, he didn’t even win the Eastern League Player of the Year award (although some of us felt he was just as good as winner Alex Rios).
Yet, when I look back, there were a lot of little clues that would seem indicate the Tribe had something special in the “throw in” player. First of all, Grady was quiet, rather shy and typically avoided any media spot light. he didn’t mind talking to me, he just didn’t have much to say.
He just kind of went about his business every day with little fanfare - and in a very professional manner. He practiced hard, played focused and was always even keel. Although it was obvious he didn’t have an above average arm in centerfield, Grady worked hard at getting better reads off the bat so he could get better jumps on balls - thus making up for his lack of arm strength.
I think that’s my favorite aspect of Grady - while he’s a very good athlete, he really wasn’t the most gifted. But what he lacks in natural athleticism he makes up for with dedicated play (that’s why he always runs everything out) and even better, possesses a joy for the game that I believe is unmmatched these days.
Crowe is quite the opposite, but not necessarily in a bad way. He’s a got a very engaging personality and wears his desire to succeed on his sleeve. He’s got a buzz of energy at all times, and when he uses it to his advanatge, can litterally lift the spirits of an entire clubhouse. That’s what he did late last season when he joined the Aeros from Kinston. Almost instantly there was a change of attitude - for the better - and it carried into the postseason.
The flip side is what we’re seeing now - when Crowe presses, his energy goes down, he feels deflated and becomes a wreck on the plate.