Friday on the Farm: Blaine Crim keeps on hitting as Rangers’ best prospect at first base
(Frisco RoughRiders)
First base isn’t as simple as it appears to be, nor is being a prospect at the position.
For one, not everyone can play there. The Rangers have tried it over the years, including with 10-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder Andruw Jones. They let Kevin Mench try it in the spring of 2008, which prompted one coach to liken it to a monkey trying to mate with a football.
Of course, a left-handed thrower and batter is preferred. Throws to second and third are easier, the footwork is simpler, and he can cover more ground on more grounders between first and second.
While there are more right-handed first basemen these days who also hit right-handed, they are bogged down by the notion that they have to be more productive offensively than their lefty counterparts to provide the same value.
To that point, Albert Pujols was one of the best hitters in baseball history. Paul Goldschmidt just won the National League MVP. Jose Abreu won the American League MVP in 2020.
The Rangers don’t appear to have an MVP lurking in the minors. But they have Blaine Crim, and all he has done since being drafted is hit from the right side.
But can he hit enough in the majors and is there a spot for him?
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/menchke01.shtml
Kevin Mench last played with Texas in 2006, before being traded in the Nelson Cruz deal. He wasn’t even with Texas in the spring of 2008. Maybe, you are talking about another year?
Defense aside, I would love to see Crim put up some elite season in MLB with a .300/.400/.500 season. His college walk to strikeout ratios and his 2019 walk to strikeout ratio were elite. This last season, he walked 51 times and only struck out 95 times Texas could really use hitters with plate discipline. I would love to see a slugger in left field if they don’t trade for Kepler/Gurriel (again)/McCarthy 2/etc. Maybe CY can remind Chicago they aren’t contending this year and try to give them a top 100 guy like Acuna or White for Happ+ a reliever.
Crim needs to be advanced!
I would love to see him get a shot.
The Rangers need to put team players and winners on the field if winning matters. Unfortunately for Crim and Rangers fans, The Rangers organization is an investment group that puts more focus on hosting events at other venues than making the playoffs. Crim’s resume dating back to high school proves that he is an impact player that leads teams to win. Because he plays the game to win his stats are great. He’s a perfect teammate. He has the best resume as a winner and better stats than the 30 prospects listed higher than he is. Unlike Crim those 30 guys are listed at 6’2” or taller and higher draft picks. Therefore it’s no surprise that the Rangers continue to lose because he’s outperformed every player they’ve called up in the last 3-5 years. Crim is a guy that will never get in trouble. He can also play third base. He leads every team and league in hitting. Apparently being a good person that wins and hits better than all other prospects means nothing to the Rangers because they would rather promote a 6’2” player and lose.