The voters have spoken
We asked, you answered: how should the Phillies being viewing Justin Crawford for the rest of the season?
I find this poll to be interesting. 65% of responders feel like the team should be putting Crawford in the major league outfield right now and I’m not sure I disagree. The scouts have never really liked what Crawford’s swing looks like, not believing it will translate into major league success. However, the production that he has put up in the minor leagues cannot simply be discounted. It has to be seen as a developmental success that he has been able to do so well with a swing that is currently geared to hitting the ball on the ground and running like hell.
But those scouts must see something.
It seems like across the board, they agree that a swing change is in order for Crawford, that he has to have one if he wants to succeed in the major leagues. If so many people are saying the same thing, maybe there is some truth to it. There can only be one way to find out and that would be to put him into the lineup for an extended time and give him runway to sink or swim.
Yet for a team that is supposed to be competing for a World Series, simply giving up a lineup spot for a rookie at this juncture in the season probably isn’t a consideration. They’re already giving up offense in two other positions, or at least searching for more through platoons, that sacrificing a third puts the burden on the other two thirds of the lineup to do well. That may not be something they are interested in doing.
Using Crawford as a trade piece should be under consideration as well. Maybe some team will believe that their hitting development system can create a swing that helps Crawford take that next step. Maybe his value might be higher among other teams, allowing the Phillies to deal him for something that will help them this season.
Whatever the team decides to do with Crawford, the path should be clearer once the deadline is over. If he is still in the organization, there are likely long term plans for him. If he’s somewhere else, well, then we know.