Skip to main content

Crawford's Chronicles: J.P. Talks Game Action, Teammates, Utley, Greene

J.P. Crawford, image- Jay Floyd
Throughout spring training, Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford will be checking in to offer his thoughts straight from Clearwater, FL.

Crawford, 20, is widely considered the Phils' top prospect after the team's first round draft pick in 2013 posted a .285/.375/.406 slash line in 123 combined games at Class A Lakewood and Class A Advanced Clearwater last year in his first full pro season.

This week the lefty batting shortstop spoke about the start of game action, his double play combo partners, Larry Greene Jr.'s surprise absence from camp, Chase Utley once again plus plenty more.

Read ahead for all the exclusive quotes straight from the one and only J.P..

-With games getting underway, Crawford talked about how he and his group that's being coached by the Clearwater staff did in the opening two days...

"We played the Blue Jays (on Tuesday) and the Pirates (on Wednesday) and we beat both of them. We started off real well, playing real good team baseball. I went 2-for-3 on Wednesday, so, I'm finally starting to get a feel for live pitching again and everything's starting to come around.

"I think I went 0-for-3 on Tuesday and played all nine innings. I played seven innings (on Wednesday)."

-On the topic of the intrasquad games in which the Phillies' minor leaguers play against one another and if the players take those games seriously...

"We always take it serious. Whenever we're on the field playing a game, we're out there trying to win. And especially when we're out there playing against the older squad, it's a lot of fun. It's really competitive for us. We're trying- we're going out there to beat them.

"The first intrasquad game, I went 2-for-4. I faced Zach Eflin the first game. I got a base hit off of him."


-Sharing thoughts on the Phillies' off-season Prospect Development Seminar in Philadelphia and getting to meet guys like Eflin, Joely Rodriguez and Ben Lively for the first time...

"It was a great experience. I mean, meeting new people, the new prospects on our team to make us better, it's not just about the baseball. Their character and all that, they're nice people. They have good personalities, they're great to be around, so I can't wait to see what this season holds with them."

-Offering some insight on what exposure the prospects have gotten to big league Phils players thus far this spring...

"Chase Utley came to talk to us the other day about hitting, like, what his approaches are, what he thinks in the box in certain situations and stuff. It was good to hear from a lefty's point of view, too, especially a hitter like him, who can flat out hit. So, it was good to pick up some knowledge from him.

"There are, surprisingly, a lot of questions (from the minor leaguers). (Utley) answered them great. They're always good questions about stuff people need to know, so he helped us out on that."

-Sharing thoughts on what mistakes players can make during their first spring training...

"I think, some people, I'm not going to name anybody, but there are people who, in their first couple games, they don't get a hit and they're all mad. I tell them, 'You gotta chill! You have to relax. You've got five months ahead of you. It's gonna click some time, so you've gotta stay positive and do you.'"

-Opening up about missing his dogs during the long baseball season...

"Aw, man, it's tough! You can't see them growing up, especially my new puppy I just got. She's still growing and one of them, she might be pregnant coming up soon. It's like having little kids. They'll stay home with my parents the whole season."

-Speaking in regards to what type of assistance sports agents can offer their players aside from contract and endorsement related matters...

"They take real good care of us. I mean, they're there for whatever reason may be. They'll always be there. My agent, he comes and throws batting practice for me whenever I ask him to. That's really clutch in the off-season. And they just take real good care of all of us."

-Commenting on his feelings on his recent double play partners, Angelo Mora and Jesmuel Valentin...

"I like Mora and Valentin. They're both good fielders. I feel comfortable with both of them out there. All of us have good camaraderie out there on the field. They're both good. They both play hard. They both bust their butts.

"Valentin, he's one of those players that's going to play hard and play the Phillie way. "

-Offering a quick remark about the reported retirement of the Phils' top draft choice from 2011, Larry Greene Jr....

"It caught everybody by surprise. We were just wondering where he was and he didn't show up.

"It's his decision and I love Larry to death."

~Check out J.P.'s previous spring comments by clicking here.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...