Rapid ascent: no longer just a guy who runs fast, the Devil Rays' Carl Crawford is zooming toward the upper level of big-league outfielders

Sporting News, The, August 2, 2004 by Dennis Tuttle

Carl Crawford would have been the perfect subject for the old game show What's My Line? He's baseball's best basestealer. He's the game's best defensive left fielder. He's an All-Star. He's only 22 years old.

Do you know him?

Of all the reasons for the Devil Rays' remarkable turnaround--stingy bullpen, fleet defense, the run production of Julio Lugo and Aubrey Huff--none has been more impressive than the play of Crawford, their lightning-quick, lightning-rod leadoff hitter.

Crawford has come on so strong, so fast, over the past two seasons that notoriety hasn't had a chance to catch up with him. From July 1, 2003, until the beginning of this week, Crawford batted .308 in 173 games and was one of the American League's most destructive players. Last year, he became the fourth-youngest player to win a stolen base title. Only Ty Cobb, Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines were younger.

"I don't know how many years I can steal this many bags, so I figure I've got to get 'em now" he says with a grin.

Crawford is no Willie Wilson or Otis Nixon slap-and-run hitter; instead, he's a hybrid of 1970s defense, 1980s speed and 1990s power. He made a sprinting catch in Yankee Stadium last year--coming from nowhere to snare a pop fly that center fielder Rocco Baldelli had conceded as a hit--that is still shown on highlight videos. If Crawford hits a three-hopper to the infield, fielders can "put it in your pocket;" it's a base hit, Baldelli says. His first three hits after the All-Star break were triples, and he now has a major league best 15.

Crawford still is developing his power, but on July 4 he blasted a 422-foot home run against the Marlins that still has the clubhouse abuzz. "And there's still so much to come out of him yet," Rays bench coach John McLaren says.

The fact Crawford can be so obscure parallels his quiet, confident demeanor. Growing up in a rough neighborhood of Houston, "you either played sports or stayed there," he says, "and it's not exactly like that's the land of opportunity. Sports were the one way out."

From the time he was about 10, Crawford says, he focused on sports--football, baseball and basketball. That determination continues during a daily pre-batting practice hitting program with coach Lee Elia and in outfield drills with coach Billy Hatcher. Elias mission: Make sure Crawford's strength doesn't make his top hand overly dominant.

Crawford was no sure thing coming out of the talent-laden 1999 draft (12 first-rounders, including No. 2 pick Josh Beckett and No. 9 choice Barry Zito, have reached the majors). Crawford scared off many clubs because of scholarship offers to play quarterback at Nebraska and point guard at UCLA. But Devil Rays assistant general manager Bart Braun and veteran scout Doug Gassaway saw a diamond in the rough, and the club took him with the 52nd overall pick.

Crawford ripped through the Rays' farm system. He arrived in the big leagues in 2002 and played 63 games, then struggled through the first half of 2003. The coaches debated sending him back to the minors. Manager Lou Piniella, who had seen Crawford's work ethic and raw tools at a Mariners predraft tryout while Piniella was with Seattle, was against the idea.

"We changed his stance, opened him up a little to see the ball better and get him more comfortable," says Piniella, who believes Crawford will develop into a No. 3 hitter. "The thing to surface is the added power."

Last year, it often appeared Crawford was just trying to survive at the plate. This season, he is more confident and is driving the ball more consistently. He already has exceeded his 2003 extra-base total.

"I was swinging at bad pitches all the time," Crawford says. "I hit the panic button real quick. Things were running through my mind; the game was going too fast. I just couldn't get comfortable."

A year later, many are beginning to compare Crawford to another powerful speedster, former Astros star Cesar Cedeno. Comparisons also have been made to Ralph Garr, Amos Otis, Bake McBride, Eric Davis--and Barry Bonds.

"The difference," says a National League West scout who watches American League East teams, "is Bonds never had Crawford's arm. The kid has a laser, and I think he might be better than Bonds going from left center to the line."

And Bonds has eight Gold Gloves.

Crawford shrugs off the comparisons and admits he's a long way from being polished. "Years away," he says. "I still don't know what's really going on. I probably won't get to where I need to be until I'm 25 or 26. Maybe 27."

He draws a disbelieving raise of the eyebrow.

"Seriously, man."