Terry Crowley and Felix Pie: BFF
by Scott Christ on Mar 18, 2009 3:08 AM EDT
in News & Rumors
Email
Print
Camden Chatters of a certain vintage know that Terry Crowley is hardly a fan favorite 'round these parts. I think he's a nice guy, just not much of a hitting coach. He has his defenders, both in fan circles and among players.
In order to convince Felix Pie to listen to him, Terry Crowley dropped some names on the former Cub:
Crowley gave Pie the phone numbers of David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Daniel Cabrera, and suggested that the 24-year-old outfielder call his fellow Dominican countrymen, who all know the Orioles' longtime hitting coach well.
"It wasn't so much, 'Ask about Crow as a hitting coach.' It was, 'Ask about Crow as a person. Is he going to stand by you during tough times or is he going to turn his back on you and walk away?'. " Crowley said. "I encouraged him to call those people that know me from different walks of life. I know he's talked to them and now he knows a little bit about Terry Crowley the person."
When Ortiz, Tejada and Cabrera gave Crowley glowing praise, the ol' Crow turned to the young Pie and said, "Whadahtellya, kid? I'm awesome. Now here's the secret to batting success..."
Still, I'm not nit-picking. It's a cute spring training article.
Pie's work ethic has impressed team officials. One day last week, he was in the batting cage by 8:30 a.m. He later took regular batting practice on the back field as Crowley stood behind him and offered encouragement and advice. When he was done, Crowley put his arm around the new Oriole, praised his batting-practice round and reminded him to "have fun" as Pie trotted out to the outfield to shag fly balls.
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Terry Crowley IS Jack Bauer...
PRES. TAYLOR: “Mr Bauer, how do I know what side you are on and that you can be trusted”?
JACK BAUER: “With all due respect, Madame President, ask around.”
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
if felix pie just needs to have fun...
crow should have given him brett favre’s number. he hasn’t been much of a quarterback for years, but he HAS led the league in having fun.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
“I beg to differ.”
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Mar 18, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Danny?
Why would Crowley even bring Daniel Cabrera’s name up?
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Mar 18, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions
Maybe DC
Maybe DC talked about how well the guys Crowley coached hit him. I haven’t researched this, but I think I’m safe in assuming that guys taught by Crowley (as well as everyone else) hit DC pretty well.
by uneasy rider on Mar 18, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
what's that got to do with it?
And for the record, no. Pie is hitting .259/.300/.370 with one XBH (a homer) in 27 at-bats this spring. Spring numbers mean F-all and 27 at-bats of spring training mean F-all more, but if the question is, “Is he hitting?” the answer is definitely “No.”
Hitting: Justin Turner, Scott Moore, Lou Montanez, Jolbert Cabrera (who was once shot in the ass, btw), Aubrey, ZAUN, Wieters (duh).
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Mar 18, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Does anyone know
if Justin Turner has any experience/chance of playing SS? I have stated on the CC record that I fully support the signing of Cesar Izturis, but Turner (with continued performance of course) could force an issue.
While we are talking about players that could force the issue, what about this LF situation? You have 3 people competing for 1 spot…namely Felix (the favorite), Lou (the failure), and Nolan (the future). I am one of the few on here that has supported Montanez during his tenure with the club, and believe still that he can now and will always out-hit Felix Pie by leaps and bounds. With that said, is the defense of Pie enough to make THAT much of a difference that he should just be given the starting job? Why should Lou just automatically be delegated to the minors because of his past failures?
That brings me to Nolan Reimold. The guy has clearly matured into a professional hitter. Another example of ‘Is Pie’s defense enough to outwiegh the offensive difference?‘. Nolan would CLEARLY provide more offense, and I don’t think his D will cost us a shitload of games or anything. What about Nolan at first? Maybe send him to Norfolk and let him platoon there with 1B/OF Oscar Salazar…just some thoughts.
Facial hair adds character...support Birds for Beards!
by sickuvitall on Mar 18, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Reimold's a decent athlete
he should be able to learn first. If Pie learns to hit, Reimold won’t see the outfield for a very long time. Pie’s projected value.
If Pie doesn’t hit enough to be valuable, I think Luke will be moved into the outfield, and Lou & Nolan will get some real playing time.
by uneasy rider on Mar 18, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Everything. Crowley could be giving the kid hand jobs for all we know.
If it makes him a better hitter, I’m fine with it. If it’s just to make the kid like him, I’m sort of grossed out.
btw – I looked up the numbers after asking the question, out of curiousity.
And I realize that spring training numbers don’t mean a whole lot.
But then again, I can’t say 2 walks and 10 K’s is exactly encouraging.
hakkaa päälle !
Well I know it matters, my question wasn’t serious.
Pie just has to hit enough for his defense to carry his value. But I still think that could be an issue. I worry about it.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Mar 18, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't being serious myself.
And I agree with your assessment of what Pie has to do.
Hell, if he can hit .250 or above, I’m probably ok with it, assuming his defense is really that good. For years I’ve been arguing that defense is the most under appreciated aspect of baseball. I’m convinced that a good defensive team can make an average pitching staff look good and a good one look great.
If I trust my defense, I’m telling my pitchers to throw strikes and let the opposing hitters make contact. All they have to do is not allow the batter to tee up on them.
hakkaa päälle !
I'd agree if he was a CF'er
But if he’s playing LF, I don’t think hitting 250 is really going to cut it, even his defense is great.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Mar 19, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Plus he doesn’t get on otherwise. We need .280-.290 out of him. That way he’s (as has been said a hundred times) perhaps a Crawford Lite with less speed and maybe better D.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Mar 19, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Where is this "average pitching staff" you speak of?
What does it look like?
The FO has to think about fielding a team that is fun to watch and brings people to the games, not about how many Ws it ends up with—wont be enough anyway. That said, they should field the OF with most pop they can get.
by fishoutawata on Mar 22, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Pie
He better hit because Reimold is ready.He should have been the L.F.
Reimold ready?
maybe he can D-H on your slow pitch team..the collective lack of patience in Baltimore…makes Baltimore a small market team…
support MacPhail he has the experience and respect around MLB…something Baltimore lost a long time ago dating back to Angelos and his stupid activism of the 90’s..as if being an owner and a lawyer earned him good ol’ boy status..we’ve been a joke ever since
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Official Sponsor of Camden Chat GameThreads
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
