Michael Crotta Posting Good Results Early In Spring Training

by Charlie Wilmoth on Mar 3, 2011 1:22 AM EST

BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 02: Pitcher Mike Crotta #60 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Minnesota Twins during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at McKechnie Field on March 2, 2011 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Jenifer Langosch's piece today marks the second occasion of which I'm aware of a reporter praising Michael Crotta's performance so far this spring. Here's Langosch:

He lives on his heavy sinker, a pitch that was especially sharp in his first inning of work. He battled through the second inning without as an effective a sinker, but Crotta got out of the inning unscathed nonetheless.

"He's definitely got the attention of some people," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's pitching with purpose."

And Colin Dunlap:

No idea where Mike Crotta will end up, but he has pitched very well every time he has been handed the ball this spring.

Well, he has only been handed the ball twice during games, but maybe Dunlap means in drills, too. I don't think both Langosch and Dunlap noticing something is terribly significant. But it will be interesting to see what the Pirates do with him this year. He spent most of last season at Class AAA not pitching particularly well, and he's 26. The Pirates have him on the 40-man roster, though, so they obviously don't consider him an organizational player.

The key for Crotta's season could be the influx of starters to Indianapolis (and actually, I don't envy the group of people who are going to have to decide what to do with all the pitchers there). Rudy Owens, Bryan Morris, Jeff Locke and Justin Wilson will all likely be in the rotation, and they'll probably also send Brad Lincoln there. On top of that, there's also Brian Burres, Fernando Nieve, Tony Watson, Daniel McCutchen and Cesar Valdez, who can all start.

Some of those guys will be relievers, and it's possible the Bucs will send Locke back to Altoona, but it will still be tough for Crotta to stick as a starter. This seems like an ideal time to try him as a reliever, and he might do well in that role since, at least at points, he has tended to pitch well for an inning or two and then struggle after that. If the Bucs move him to the bullpen, he could find himself in the majors fairly quickly, keeping the ball low in the zone and racking up ground balls.

Mark In Dallas compiled video of one of Crotta's games last year. Here are his first few innings:

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Comments

I kinda like him. I kinda liked him when Mark posted those videos last year.

He’s had a crazy low LOB% at every significant stop, which has to have some component of bad luck to it. (Granted, not as much as you’d assume if it were MLB.) As a pretty extreme groundball pitcher (67%/57% at AA/AAA last year) with minor league infield defenses behind him his BABIPs have always sucked, as is often the case with GB guys, particularly in the low minors. Ordinarily you’d figure an MLB defense could do wonders for him, but with the Pirates currently less than stellar infield defense I’m guessing the few runs saved given whatever modest help his GB BABIP might get would be offset by the expected drop in his GB%/increase in XBH when pitching to major league bats. If he were posting these numbers in another farm system with a better infield defense awaiting him in the majors I’d bet he could be effective. With Alvarez and Walker, I’m less confident. Still, there’s nothing really to hate on.

by tobynotjason on Mar 3, 2011 3:28 AM EST reply actions

When I’ve seen Crotta he’s been very strong for a couple innings and then he starts to struggle. Not sure why, but whatever he gives up tends to come in bunches, which I suppose could account for the low LOB%. Before I actually saw him, looking at the stats, I thought he was the standard Creech junkballer, but his stuff is actually quite good. As long as they focus on him as a reliever, I think he could be an upgrade over Karstens.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Mar 3, 2011 7:14 AM EST up reply actions

"starts to struggle"

My first thoughts were “did he hit a wall after x number of pitches?” or “did he start to struggle the 2nd time through the order?” — is this a stamina issue, or a stuff issue.

Regardless which it is, it sounds like he may be destined for the bullpen (and I’m not saying it is a bad thing). Not having to worry about the 2nd time through the order, or pacing himself to throw 100 pitches, if his stuff is pretty good he could excel in a middle-relief (whether short or long).

by insane_sanity on Mar 3, 2011 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

WTM

“As long as they focus on him as a reliever, I think he could be an upgrade over Karstens.”

He actually looks about like Karstens in the pic.

Maybe the Pirates could get another Karstens or someone a bit better.

Or the sinker might just make him another Steven Jackson.

by patthatt on Mar 3, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

I agree, I think Crotta will make a decent reliever...

one think that our defense will improve within in the next six years. If that happens he could be quite the assett. I think his ceiling could be a high leverage reliever; you know the type to come in and throw a double play ball. Most likely outcome os a solid, not spectacular, middle reliver. That has some value given his low salary. Though I do think he has more upside than some of the crap that’s currently on the 40.

by Slick1 on Mar 3, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

So Eddie Gaedel bats leadoff for Toledo?

Frig off, Rick!

by doolittle on Mar 3, 2011 4:21 AM EST reply actions

Gaedel was a RHB.

;-)

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Mar 3, 2011 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

We're an unfortunate team for him to be on right now

For a good team, he’d be a kind of ideal long reliever. He reminds me a little bit of David Herndon, who was an extreme GB pitcher that the Phillies grabbed in the Rule V draft and used in long relief last year. Crotta is probably actually better, but Herndon stayed on the team all year as the last reliever and got decent experience.

The Pirates have a huge roster crunch with 5th starter/long reliever types and AAA SP, as mentioned in the post. My point, I guess, is that if he’s similar (though probably better) than a guy like Herndon, he’s valuable in major league baseball. We should make sure he gets innings somewhere to determine whether he’s worth a bullpen spot for us in the future, or give him a little extra value as a minor trade chip.

by OctaShields on Mar 3, 2011 9:48 AM EST reply actions

from what has been said about him

it seems like he could be a MR-type, and I dont see why not on the Pirates either. It sure seems like DCutch is replaceable, and same goes for Burres/Nieve/Valdez. The Bucs need to decide which of them has the best chance of being successful, and give him a shot. If Crotta is not behind these guys by much, I’d rather see him get the next shot ahead of the others I mentioned.

by BurgherKing on Mar 3, 2011 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

it seems like he could be a MR-type, and I dont see why not on the Pirates either.

Groundball relievers and the worst defense in baseball are a bad mix.

He’ll come in and give up three straight GB singles, and then people will start grumbling about him getting “hit hard” and he’ll be toast as far as the yinzers are concerned.

by Vlad on Mar 3, 2011 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

From my limited viewing of him last year.....

His fastball is Lincoln-flat, with very little movement. Also, when he gets hit, he gets hit very hard.

While I don’t doubt that he could be fine in a low-leverage role with the Pirates, those expecting much out of Crotta, in my eyes, are going to be disappointed. I just don’t see much there….

by CabreraKilledMyChildhood on Mar 3, 2011 10:22 AM EST reply actions

so hes basically a RH Duke?

ick

by white angus on Mar 3, 2011 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

I've never seen him, so I defer to you to some extent

But his enormous GB% would lead me to believe his fastball can’t be THAT flat. Unless you’re differentiating his FB from his sinker?

by OctaShields on Mar 3, 2011 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

video

In the video that’s posted, he has tremendous sink on the fastball.

by epoc on Mar 3, 2011 12:57 PM EST up reply actions

Bullpen

If he lives off of his sinker, then put him in the bullpen. Bring him in for one or two batters to get the DP ball. I do expect our defence to be better this year.

by bob-o1967 on Mar 3, 2011 10:45 AM EST reply actions

If Crotta can give us that kind of performance

in place of Karstens and his 2 million as a swingman I’d say do it!

by BadAndy on Mar 3, 2011 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Unfortunately

I think there’s too much uncertainty – both with Crotta and with Morton/Olsen/Lincoln – for the Bucs to make that jump in time to save much cash. They’d basically have to commit to Crotta now (iirc Karstens gets 25-40% of his salary just for reaching mid-March), and 2 nice showings (plus whatever he’s done in drills) isn’t much of a track record for a guy whose MiL numbers are middling at best.

It’s a situation, unfortunately, where if Crotta had done this last spring, maybe the Bucs don’t bother signing Karstens. But as it is, you risk Crotta completely failing (like a Bass or an Eveland) and needing to slot, say, Lincoln into that BP role, when he really should be starting in Indy.

If Crotta proves himself over the next 2-3 months, maybe you look into moving Karstens (if he’s pitching ok) or waiving him (if he’s not), but that won’t save you much cash for ’11.

Oh, on top of all that, Karstens is signed for $1.1M. Not sure where you got $2M (I think he may have incentives for games started, but obvs he only gets those if he’s much more than a swingman).

by JRoth95 on Mar 3, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

JRoth95: having read your post, I am going to assume that the thought is we should begin looking at Crotta as a Karstens-type pitcher (role-wise).

If so, I’d love to send him to AAA…primarily for the purpose of getting used to coming out of the bullpen…he hasn’t had a relief appearance since 2007 (and only 5 in his professional career). Also, he has no ML roster time yet…and we could keep it that way. If he excels coming out of the ’pen in AAA, that could be a good problem to have in giving the Pirates the ability to move Karstens (as you stated), or other relief pitchers.

by insane_sanity on Mar 3, 2011 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

There’s also uncertainty with Karstens, as hes one year removed from a 5.42 Era and matching peripherals. Only (relative) certainty on the staff is Maholm.

by Adam Reynolds on Mar 3, 2011 2:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Granted

But Karstens has arguably looked better at the MLB level than Crotta has in AA or AAA – there’s an order of magnitude greater concern.

One of the things that Karstens brings to the table is that he’s moderately effective in both of the swingman’s roles, even if he can’t be counted on for 6 innings. But Crotta – even if he proves to have ML stuff – can’t be counted on for even 5 innings, and really profiles as a shorter reliever – a guy who’s pretty effective for up to 2 innings, but whom you wouldn’t call on for more if you could help it.

Now, if Crotta makes an advance, he could more closely replicate what Karstens does – if his stuff gets a bit better, maybe he can be effective for 6 innings. But that’s a gamble on top of a gamble (that being whether he can get out ML hitters at all).

by JRoth95 on Mar 3, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

Crotta

I have not seen him.

But I looked at his Altoona numbers. I don’t see anything that says MLB pitcher.

I don’t even see a guy as a relief pitcher.

Now maybe a heavy sinker and pitching in relief could allow him to be effective out of the pen.

But I’m surprised he’s on the 40-man roster.

by Bernie6 on Mar 3, 2011 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

he can easily be taken off the 40 man too

by white angus on Mar 3, 2011 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

40-man roster

The Pirates still have plenty of trash on the 40-man roster.

I think next year is going to involve some tough choices, however.

by Bernie6 on Mar 3, 2011 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

67%, 3.2%, 17.2%.

Those were his groundball rate, walk rate and K rate at Altoona last year.

The rates weren’t as good but were still fine given the GBs at AAA, but you’re the one that said Altoona…

GB rate is EXACTLY the sort of thing that says “could be better in MLB than in the minors” since MLB defenses are typically so much better.

Unfortunately, that’s not so much the case with the Pirates, at least right now.

by tobynotjason on Mar 3, 2011 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'd like to see Crotta start the year in AAA again.

He really struggled towards the end of last year there. He likely is a reliever in MLB, but depending on who we have starting in AAA, maybe he can give it one more shot down there to start. He’s really the ground ball pitcher to come in when you need a DP ball in MLB probably.

by MarkInDallas on Mar 3, 2011 6:23 PM EST reply actions