How good is Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford on defense? Check out these 2 plays
Take a moment to appreciate the range of Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford. He has been all over the field this season.
Wherever he’s positioned on the infield dirt, whatever game situation Seattle happens to be in at that moment, the second-year shortstop always seems to be involved.
Saturday night’s eighth inning in Houston presented the latest example of how much of a difference-maker Crawford can be on defense.
Let’s break down the tape:
The Mariners were trailing by a run with one out in the eighth at Minute Maid Park, and the top of the Astros’ punishing lineup coming up.
George Springer slapped a changeup for what probably should have been a single to the gap between Crawford and third baseman Kyle Seager, but Crawford dove to his right, snared the ball on one hop.
He popped up on his left foot, quickly set his right, turned and threw a rocket to first that rookie Evan White dug out on one hop. Speedy as Springer is, he was out by more than a step.
It was the type of play Crawford has proved he’s capable more than once, and brings up memories of the now famous throw he made in a game against the Tigers last July.
“That’s a major league play when you go to your backhand side,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said during a postgame video call with reporters.
Crawford wasn’t done for the night, either.
Mariners reliever Taylor Guilbeau issued a two-out walk and then served up a double to Alex Bregman that gave the Astros runners on second and third.
Seattle moved into the shift when young lefty Yordan Alvarez — the reigning American League Rookie of the Year — stepped into the batter’s box. Crawford set up deep on the right side of the infield, near second base.
By the time the play was over, he was only a few feet away from first.
Alvarez sent a slow chopper several feet left of first base, and Crawford sprinted across the diamond, beat second baseman Shed Long Jr. to the spot, scooped the ball up while falling forward and flipped the ball out of his glove to White to end the threat.
With two outs and the Astros running on contact, the play likely saved two runs. Seattle still ultimately lost, 2-1, but the defensive strides Crawford has made in his two seasons with the Mariners can’t be overstated.
“That’s kind of what we’ve seen all year from him,” Servais said. “I’ve often said he wants the ball hit to him. He wants to get to it. He wants to make the play. I love it when it’s hit to him because you’re going to get a great effort. He’s in on every play. He’s in the right space mindset-wise, and he’s expecting it hit to him, and that’s why he’s making the plays he is.
“It’s great to see. He’s really taken a step forward for us.”
It really is more of the same exceptional defense the Mariners have seen out of Crawford this season.
Entering Sunday afternoon’s series finale in Houston, he was leading the majors among shortstops with four defensive runs saved.
His 60 assists were the second-most for a shortstop, and his 13 double plays turned were the third-most.
“I think it’s awesome to see how he goes about his work day in and day out, offensively and defensively,” White said. “Obviously there’s a lot of preparation that goes into it. It comes out when he’s on the field.”
Crawford has been a standout for the Mariners offensively, too, after carving out a role as their trusted leadoff hitter.
“I led off all of high school so I’m familiar with it,” Crawford said recently. “Wherever they put me in the lineup, as long as I’m playing every day, I don’t care if it’s first, last, seventh. I just want to be in the lineup every day. I get a chance to get things going first up, so I love it.”
Entering Sunday, Crawford had reached base safely in all 21 games he’d played in. That mark was tied with Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo and trailed only Mets outfielder and Redmond High School product Michael Conforto (22 games).
KIKUCHI ON MEND
Mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi was feeling better Sunday morning, Servais said, after he was scratched from his scheduled start Friday with neck spasms.
“He’s on some muscle relaxers and trying to get that area to calm down and getting treatment nonstop trying to get it to feel better, so he is moving in the right direction today, which is a good sign,” Servais said. “He’s much better today than he was yesterday.”
Servais was initially hopeful Kikuchi might be able to slide into the rotation ahead of his next scheduled start, but now says that is unlikely and Kikuchi will probably stay on his normal turn.
His next planned start is Thursday afternoon against the Dodgers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
