Let's Geaux: Dylan Crews

[varoadking]

What's interesting to me is that Young has played this season like more than a 4th OF / short side of a platoon / defensive replacement. He actually looks like regular. Factoring in his base running, he's not a drag on the offense. He's playing like he deserves to be the regular CF.

Young is 14 for 38 and .368/.444/.553/.997 in August...

[varoadking]

I'll spare everyone the details, but it didn't get any better today...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.federalbaseball.com/washington-nationals-analysis/93557/what-should-washington-nationals-do-about-dylan-crews-problem

Sallick points out that, after the trade deadline, the Nats were counting on several guys to step up when challenged, such as Abi, House, and Crews. All but the latter has had success to some degree. However, after a strong July, Crews has taken a step back, going 8 for 57 after a July where he OPS'd .801.

Coming into the season, one of the biggest issues Crews had was his ground ball heavy profile. This season, he has actually gotten a lot better at elevating the ball, cutting his GB% from 50.2% to 38.5%. Unfortunately, a lot of these flyballs are to straightaway centerfield, making it harder to clear the fences. With all the athletic center fielders in the game, getting hits up the middle is now harder than ever.

He still has some issues with his batted ball profile, but I think the biggest problem is his swing decisions. Crews just throws away too many at bats, especially in big moments where he knows he has to do something. Against the Mets there was an at bat where he struck out on 7 pitches and not a single one of them was in the strike zone.

Sallick calls him the 4th best OF on the team right now (as we've been saying) but says he's  closer  to Pinckney and Petersen than Young, Lile, and Wood. I/m/o that's wrong, but the fact that it's even brought up  by someone who follows the org and is generally good on his observations says something. Mentions the Jordan Walker break out and how Crews is athletic and hits hard with good D, so there's still a case for him being more than  a short-side of a platoon 4th OF.

Things can change quickly, but right now it just feels like things are over for Crews in DC. If you can get something worthwhile or even package him with other pieces to get a pitcher, it is something I would absolutely do. I have some hope for Dylan Crews, but I no longer have any real belief in him.

[Slateman]

No reason to send him down at this point. Its a lost season. Let him finish out the regular season, give him an offseason plan, get him to a third party coaching staff (Driveline or whatever Boras has an in with) and see what happens next season. Ain't like this team is competing anyway

[varoadking]

Things can change quickly, but right now it just feels like things are over for Crews in DC. If you can get something worthwhile or even package him with other pieces to get a pitcher, it is something I would absolutely do. I have some hope for Dylan Crews, but I no longer have any real belief in him.

This about sums it up for me, except that I can't even pretend to have some hope for him.  He's a JaMarcus Russell level bust (another LSU product BTW)...

[varoadking]

August:  .143/.182/.238/.420...9 for 63 with 19 K's

Poor kid...he's just been really unlucky...

[Slateman]

xBA of .226, xWOBA .288, xSLG of .404

Definitely unlucky

[varoadking]

xBA of .226, xWOBA .288, xSLG of .404

Definitely unlucky

Is that for August or the 2026 season?

[Slateman]

Is that for August or the 2026 season?

August. I mean those numbers are not great, but they do indicate some poor luck.

The trends are more promising when compared with last year. Against fastballs, his xwOBA remains the same (.322) and against breaking balls, (sliders, sweepers, curves) his xwOBA has increased from .284 in 2025 to .335 in 2026 (BTW, it was .192 in 2024). Now, I will admit that month to month, those numbers have declined this season, and that should alarm the coaching staff. But between his expected stats and the decrease in ground balls, we've seen improvement this year that at least gives some credence to an improved process.

Given that we aren't competing for anything this year, I don't see any reason not to play him through the season. Is he what we hoped he would be? No. Could he turn things around, like Jordan Walker and Mickey Moniak? Yes, he could. Do I think he will? No, but I'm a h8tr and have never been a true believer in Dylan Crews. MLB freaked us and we should have been able to draft Paul Skenes.

[Lintyfresh85]

How much is Dylan Crews' smile worth in WAR? Someone get Jim Bowden on the phone

[varoadking]

His most recent highlight reel on MLB.com was when he challenged a strike 3 call and drew a walk on Wednesday.  I crap you not!

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/video/dylan-crews-challenged-pitch-result-call-on-the-field-was-overturned-dylan-crews

Last 15 games:  .143/.172   /.232/.404

I think he may have finally reached the bottom...

[Lintyfresh85]

To be fair MLB at-bat app shows all challenged pitches as highlights... So it was just the most recent play of his that got a video

[varoadking]

To be fair MLB at-bat app shows all challenged pitches as highlights... So it was just the most recent play of his that got a video

Didn't know that...thanks...seems Stoopid...

[varoadking]

Dylan K went 1 for 4 tonight and raised his average to .210...

.100/.143/.100/.243 in his last 7...2 for 20 with 6 K's...

[Slateman]

Also hit one 101.4 with an xBA .640 that was a forceout

[Slateman]

His most recent highlight reel on MLB.com was when he challenged a strike 3 call and drew a walk on Wednesday.  I crap you not!

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/video/dylan-crews-challenged-pitch-result-call-on-the-field-was-overturned-dylan-crews

Last 15 games:  .143/.172   /.232/.404

I think he may have finally reached the bottom...

Since this game, he's hitting .286/.412/.429

[varoadking]

Since this game, he's hitting .286/.412/.429

He must be fixed!   

[Slateman]

xBA of .226, xWOBA .288, xSLG of .404

Definitely unlucky

Is that for August or the 2026 season?

So update for August: xBA of .256, xWOBA of .322, and xSLG of .434.

[varoadking]

So update for August: xBA of .256, xWOBA of .322, and xSLG of .434.

That settles it...he's fixed!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He must be fixed!   

just in time for Caturday!

Oh, that's not the fixed you meant

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I have a feeling that they view him eventually as a middle of the order bat and are hoping he steps forward down the stretch with more elevated contact and less chase. Barring trades or signings, they may have in mind something like:

1. Wood RF /dh
2. Abi/Chappy 1B
3. Crews RF/LF
4. CJ 2B
5. Lile LF/DH
6. House 3B
7. Ruiz/ Ford  C
8. King? Nunez? 2B [edit -SS]
9. Young CF

Remember, both Butera and Toboni are development guys. They are treating the rest of the season as AAA+

[bluestreak]

I have a feeling that they view him eventually as a middle of the order bat and are hoping he steps forward down the stretch with more elevated contact and less chase. Barring trades or signings, they may have in mind something like:

1. Wood RF /dh
2. Abi/Chappy 1B
3. Crews RF/LF
4. CJ 2B
5. Lile LF/DH
6. House 3B
7. Ruiz/ Ford  C
8. King? Nunez? 2B
9. Young CF

Remember, both Butera and Toboni are development guys. They are treating the rest of the season as AAA+

That’s basically the ‘27 Yankees…

[aspenbubba]

I have a feeling that they view him eventually as a middle of the order bat and are hoping he steps forward down the stretch with more elevated contact and less chase. Barring trades or signings, they may have in mind something like:

1. Wood RF /dh
2. Abi/Chappy 1B
3. Crews RF/LF
4. CJ 2B
5. Lile LF/DH
6. House 3B
7. Ruiz/ Ford  C
8. King? Nunez? 2B
9. Young CF

Remember, both Butera and Toboni are development guys. They are treating the rest of the season as AAA+

No SS

[JCA-CrystalCity]

No SS

thanks - I think one of King, Nunez, or Lipscomb would likely be SS.

I think that's the lineup they want, but it's kind of contingent on Crews hitting. The rest of the spots I think require less improvement over what the players are currently showing. I think they believe they have something in Crews. honestly think they think he has a few problems (chase, primarily) that, if fixed, would let him blossom into what he was supposed to be. They think he hits the ball hard and that he's hitting more balls in the air. 2d half FB rate is now up to 51%, and GB rate is down to 35%. Low LDs, but not a ton of pop ups. This compares to 2024 (57.4 GB%) & 2025 (50.7 GB%).

[Slateman]

No SS

New strategy: Play two second basemen. Throw everything away to righties and down and in to lefties. Boom.