Under Maintenance

We deeply apologize for interrupting your reading but Vendetta is currently undergoing some important maintenance! You may experience some layout shifts, slow loading times and dififculties in navigating.

Sports Media

Kutter Crawford: The Next Star Bullpen Arm In Boston?

Kutter Crawford
Garrett Whitlock has been a star for Boston but have the Red Sox unearthed another dangerous bullpen piece? Kutter Crawford has officially entered the chat. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP

Kutter Crawford: The Next Star Bullpen Arm In Boston?

It seems like the Rays always churn out these odd bullpen arms that seem to always work, right? Chaim Bloom has seemed to carry that over in Boston. They found Garrett Whitlock from the depths of hell that is the Yankees farm system and was recently rewarded with an early contract extension. This time, there is another bullpen arm emerging in the early season and Bloom really can’t take credit for this one. Kutter Crawford might be a name everyone wants to start getting familiar with.

Crawford, 26, was a 16th round pick in the 2017 Rule 4 Draft out of Florida Gulf Coast. That may seem like a small school but oddly enough, it’s the same place Chris Sale went and he got taken in the first round. Crawford is a Dave Dombrowski led regime draft pick. A rarity because Boston has sort of quietly failed to develop their own pitching under his leadership.

In Crawford’s debut in 2022, pitched two scoreless innings striking out three in a win over the Yankees in the series finale. Crawford’s performance was breath taking. His stuff is pure filth.

Mike Petriello of MLB.com had the following:

“Or maybe you do now, because he struck out three Yankees to help Boston win on Sunday Night Baseball. But don’t overthink a 0.00 ERA, in the same way that Blue Jays fans shouldn’t worry that José Berríos has a 108.00 ERA. (Yes, really.) What’s more impressive than the whiffs is what the data says about how his pitches move, and how he got there.

So, consider this. Crawford’s four-seamer this season has shown rise nearly four inches more than average; that would have been top-five in 2021. His curveball has nearly six inches more drop than average; that would have been top-20 last year. And his kutter — er, cutter — has three inches more break than average, which would have been top-five last year.

Everything moves, is the point, and the 95.4 mph fastball velo (now that he’s a reliever) is better than the 93.8 mph he showed in a lone start last season. Everything is pointing in the right direction here.”

This is hard to ignore. It just feels so similar to the Garrett Whitlock experience (it’s VERY unlikely Crawford is as good). You just knew this guy was unhittable and was going to be a real problem. Crawford isn’t perfect and who knows what the rest of the season holds for him. This stuff? Are you watching the same thing I am? I’m buying ALL of the Kutter Crawford stock. Feed me all of it.

Fun fact. I used to be blocked by Red Sox stats. I am no longer blocked. I hope we can be friends again and forget about the part where he/she blocked me because I called he/she out for the fear-mongering tactics of Stephen Nogosek. I just want to be friends again.

This dude is funky. That’s all I know. Hides the baseball well prior to releasing the ball. Has plenty of fastball velocity. The offspeed stuff is gross in a good way. The Red Sox may have more pitching than you just may think. A unit everyone seems to be doubting coming into the 2022 MLB season.

<!-- Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->
<div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-154"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Popular Past Stories

<!-- Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->
<div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-136"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->
<!-- Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->
<div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-135"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->

recommended stories

Dan Monson

Dan Monson Making The NCAA Tournament Is A Big F-You To Long Beach State

Dan Monson Making The NCAA Tournament Is A Big F-You To Long Beach State March 11th, 2024: Dan Monson and…

Read More
Tony Bennett

Should Tony Bennett Be Fired?

Should Tony Bennett Be Fired? Does anyone believe in Virginia anymore? Does anyone actually believe in the ACC anymore? Virginia…

Read More
2024 March Madness

2024 March Madness East Region: Cinderella Predictions

2024 March Madness East Region: Cinderella Predictions March Madness is finally here which means it’s bracket time. The round of…

Read More
2024 March Madness

2024 March Madness Midwest Region: Cinderella Predictions

2024 March Madness Midwest Region: Cinderella Predictions The Midwest region is probably one of the easier regions in the 2024…

Read More
<!-- Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->
<div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-134"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - Single Blog Page - Middle - mid_content -->