PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Hoping to continue as a starter in his second year with the Pirates, RHP Wil Crowe went to see a former Bucco for help.
"I got the opportunity last week to work with Charlie Morton and pick his brain," Crowe said during his appearance on 93.7 The Fan's 'Bucco Talk'. "He lives down here. I asked him because he's a guy that throws his curveball a lot."
Crowe is looking for more consistency with that pitch after walking 57 and striking out 111 in 116.2 innings during 26 appearances (25 starts) his first year in Pittsburgh in 2021.
"I asked him how long it took him to get out of his old mindset to his new mindset," Crowe said. "He told me he had to be intentional about it for a couple of years. He took everything pitch-by-pitch."
"We got to have a really good conversation about that stuff. When you get into a game, you have to be more intentional about it."
Morton knows something about change. He was able to make several adjustments with the Pirates to go from a 7.57 ERA to a 3.83 ERA in one season. Later he became a huge part of the Astros World Championship team going 29-10 in two seasons in Houston with a 3.36 ERA. Morton's post season record is 7-4 in 16 starts with a 3.35 ERA. He's struck out 89 in 78 innings with a 1.08 WHIP.
Beginning in Atlanta, the now 38-year-old went from working to keep a job in the rotation to being one of the top hired guns the last few years. Morton's career earnings now top $120 million.
"He is one of the best dudes I think I've met," Crowe said. "Very nice, very intelligent. He knows so much. It was a blessing to meet him and have some conversation about pitching and really how he goes about his business."
Want to start
While Chad Kuhl and Steven Brault are gone for the 2022 season, the Pirates added free agent starter Jose Quintana, traded for the Marlins Zach Thompson, get JT Brubaker and Dillon Peters back healthy. Youngsters Max Kranick, Miguel Yajure and Roansy Conteras knocking on the door.
Does Crowe think he'll get the opportunity to be in the rotation?
"I don't know," Crowe said. "I trained to come in and compete to be a starter. I think with the work that I put in I made some strides in games. I'm learning different things about myself and now implementing them."
"I think for me, it's going to be a good year. I've put in the work and I'm excited about what is coming. Doing what they need me or what they want me to do. For now, I'm going to be competing for one of those (rotation) spots, putting what I learned about into action."
CBA
Crowe had to wait until Friday to get on a field at LECOM Park to start to show his progress. He said he and the other players knew as much as we all did about the progress of talks between the players and owners. He found out about the agreement around same time as it was leaked, but had already moved down to Florida to take advantage of the beaches. There was also the thought of being ready when the lockout ended.
"We worked our butt off to get what we got," Crowe said about the new CBA. "They came a long way. We came a long way. I think it was a good deal for the players. It took some time, it wasn't pretty at times. We made a good deal. Players wanted to get as much as we could."
"Guys are happy to be back and able to play."
Crowe is also happy they will go back to regular extra innings as part of this deal and while he thinks the universal DH is better for the game, he says he will miss hitting. Although concedes his is not the majority opinion among pitchers.
Crowe said he's excited about this year's Pirates team, saying they've grown closer together. More so he's just glad to be playing baseball.
"I'm looking forward to being back in Pittsburgh and hearing all the Yinzers go crazy," Crowe said. "I'm excited for it."
