Pitcher Record Conversations are transcripts of interviews with skilled baseball gamers — and typically, gamers talk about subjects aside from baseball. This has been calmly edited for readability.
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It’s been a outstanding season for Chicago Cubs heart fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Final 12 months, the rookie performed 13 video games with the Cubs; in 2024, he spent solely 26 video games in Triple-A earlier than being promoted. Since then, he’s slashed .239/.289/.396 with 10 dwelling runs and 27 stolen bases.
Extra notable has been his protection. Crow-Armstrong has 12 DRS in 929.2 innings. His Fielding Vary Worth is a formidable 15 whereas he has 14 Outs Above Common. In brief, he’s placing collectively a Gold Glove season in his rookie marketing campaign.
When the Cubs visited Coors Subject on September 13-15, it marked Crow-Armstrong’s return to his MLB debut park — and he had a strong sport, together with an impressive catch in addition to his first dwelling run.
Throughout his time in Denver, I requested Crow-Armstrong about being again at Coors, his coaching technique, and the small print of his glove.
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Renee Dechert: You’re again at Coors Subject the place you made your debut final 12 months. What’s it wish to be again?
Pete Crow-Armstrong: It’s cool. It’s a enjoyable outfield to play in. I’m fortunate to be taking part in baseball a 12 months later and with the comparatively related group of fellows that I actually like.
RD: What recommendation would the PCA that’s standing right here now give to the PCA from a 12 months in the past?
PCA: Loosen up. For probably the most half, it’s the identical sport. The stuff that you simply wanted to get higher at was going occur over time. Simply be a bit of affected person.
RD: You’re recognized for being an aggressive outfielder. What does that imply?
PCA: I don’t know. I don’t know if I view myself as an aggressive outfielder. I simply try to make the play. I believe as a middle fielder, your job is to go catch each ball.
RD: What do you do within the outfield between performs to remain engaged?
PCA: I normally try to maintain the pondering a part of all of it earlier than every batter.
I imply, you sort of know the state of affairs simply by wanting on the discipline and realizing the outs and the whole lot. In order that sort of takes care of itself.
However clearly, if the state of affairs adjustments, I’m desirous about find out how to — I suppose I’m pondering forward a bit of bit. However in any other case, in between pitches, I try to tune out a bit of bit and take a look at since you’ve acquired to lock in a couple of seconds later. So simply taking my little little bit of time to sort of try. Being quiet is sort of how I keep locked in.
RD: That’s what Charlie Blackmon informed me. Blackmon says when he’s actually good, he’s simply within the zone, and he’s not likely listening to something.
Do you work together with followers?
PCA: Completely, yeah. I sort of love that. I believe video games can begin to really feel lengthy typically — you will not be getting all that a lot motion within the outfield. And I believe followers are a great a part of the sport. And I just like the depth they carry in their very own proper.
And I like giving it again to them.
I really feel prefer it’s all honest sport, and it’s all enjoyable and video games, too, except it will get nasty, after which if it will get nasty, I believe it’s my job to be the baseball participant and simply play the sport.
RD: How do you the way do you put together defensively?
PCA: Ensuring I get my reads, if essential. At this level in 12 months, there’s days I received’t exit for BP or something like that. It’s Sport 100 and no matter. You’ve already seen sufficient to be prepared. However in an outfield like this, I sort of know find out how to play balls simply based mostly on the way it flies, and I’ve all my little prior data able to go, and I simply maintain my physique in any other case.
RD: You’re within the Gold Glove dialog. What does that really feel like?
PCA: Feels good. You recognize, that’s a part of the explanation I’m right here, and it’s one of many issues that I’m undoubtedly capturing for yearly, however I believe there’s a methods to go together with all that. If it occurs, it occurs. If not, I’ll have a Gold Glover subsequent to me, and hopefully two up the center.
RD: What’s your favourite catch you’ve made this 12 months?
PCA: This 12 months, it’s acquired to be the game-winner.
RD: Are you able to describe it?
PCA: I believe it was a comparatively simple ball to comply with. It had a number of hold time, so I simply had sufficient time to get again to the wall, and it fell in the proper spot, actually.
RD: You struggled a bit of bit on the plate within the first half. That appears to have evened out for you within the second half. What sorts of changes did you make?
PCA: Loads. I imply, I don’t assume there was only one that actually sort of turned the tables for me or turned the tide, however simply sort of digging in and taking the whole lot on the chin.
Willie Harris [the Cubs third base coach] at all times likes to remind us that you simply’re gonna strike out, you’re gonna come out. Shit occurs. So what are you afraid of, actually?
That’s sort of the mindset I’m taking. If I’m chasing the back-foot sliders a bunch within the first half, then don’t be afraid to swing and miss at that one. And I believe on the identical time, don’t be afraid to go down wanting, and, in flip, that sort of provides you a greater really feel of how that pitch doesn’t be just right for you, and why that’s a pitcher’s pitch and why that pitch will get you out.
Simply taking data as you go. I believe I’ve accomplished a great job of being attentive to my at-bats this 12 months and utilizing them to my benefit.
RD: Final one. I puzzled in case you might present me your glove and speak a bit about your glove and your relationship to it.
PCA: It’s only a glove [laughs]. I don’t know.
RD: How’d you get it? What do you want about it?
PCA: It’s the identical glove I’ve used for the final three years — the identical mannequin, I’ve used for the final three years. Yeah, I simply really feel snug with it.
