Meet Casey Crosby
A few days ago breaking news announced that the Dodgers had signed left-hander Casey Crosby to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. It might not be seen as breaking news for the Dodger faithful who have suffered through a long World Series Championship drought but I expect it is to the 31-year-old Crosby who was born one month before the Dodgers clinched the 1988 World Series
A few days ago breaking news announced that the Dodgers had signed left-hander Casey Crosby to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. It might not be seen as breaking news for the Dodger faithful who have suffered through a long World Series Championship drought but I expect it is to the 31-year-old Crosby who was born one month before the Dodgers clinched the 1988 World Series on October 20, 1988. His is a classic story, one of many among young men who have chosen to follow the nearly impossible road to MLB that is littered with a variety of potholes waiting to derail careers.
His career aspiration to become an MLB player started during his high school years and continued along a very difficult road to his invitation to 2020 Spring training with the Dodgers. Crosby was born in Maple Park, Illinois, a small town in Kane County which is about an hour’s drive west of Chicago. He graduated from Kaneland High School in his home town.
His row of potholes began in his sophomore year in high school when he suffered a torn meniscus in his throwing arm. Bounce back number one then came in his junior high school year when he returned throwing almost 90 mph up from 80 mph before his injury. The increase in velocity was attributed to a growth spurt at age 17 as he began to fill out his now 6’5”/225-lb frame. All of a sudden scouts showed up from all corners to watch him pitch as he garnered numerous awards including the Gatorade Player of the Year in the State of Illinois. Additionally, scholarship offers came in from universities far and wide but he committed to close to home… The University of Illinois in Chicago.
A signing bonus of $748,500 lured him away from the University of Illinois and he was signed by the Detroit Tigers in the 5th round in 2007. It was expected that he the might go higher in the draft
Then came pothole number two. Shortly after reporting to the Instructional League, the then 18-year old hurt his elbow and as a result, he underwent the now commonplace Tommy John surgery. He sat out the entire 2008 season with the exception of 4.2 innings at the end of August. Lightning does strike twice in the same place. When he reported to Spring Training in 2009 his velocity had again elevated, this time to 98 mph.
“It’s absolutely bizarre. I can’t explain it,” said Crosby referring to being able to throw 98 mph. “You see growing up guys throwing 98 mph and you’re just like wow. How can somebody do that? The ball just looks like it’s jumping off their hands and now I’m throwing 98 mph, it’s very bizarre.”
He bounced right back in 2009 with the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Class-A Midwest League, going 10-4 with a 2.41 ERA and nearly a strikeout per inning. His ERA would have been league-leading but he was short a few innings of qualifying. His WHIP was 1.13.
Pothole number three limited him to 12.1 innings in 2010 at the start of the season. This time it was a “tired arm”, a baseball term that means the pitcher has tweaked something but doesn’t quite need surgery. It is never good and Crosby was then shut down for the year with the Tigers trying to protect his 21-year old arm.
He did bounce back in 2011 pitching, but not as convincingly as before, the most innings he has pitched in any season tossing 131.2 innings for the Erie Seawolves of the Class-AA Eastern League. He next played two seasons with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens of the International League with mixed results. That is, with good strikeout numbers but high ERA’s and too many walks. He did have a brief MLB experience in 2012 starting three games with the Tigers while pitching 12.1 innings and allowing 15 earned runs.
Pothole number four came in 2014 when he pitched only 17.1 innings before he was released by the Tigers. Briefly signed by the Red Sox he was released by Boston in April of 2015.
Enough is enough so Casey Crosby left the game he loved and did not play any ball in 2015 and 2016. In his words, “I was mad at the game,” said Crosby, “I didn’t watch baseball in 2015 or the regular season in 2016,”
“It was really hard,” Haley Crosby said. “I could see he felt like he lost his identity. We didn’t watch baseball or talk about it. It was like he didn’t know what the next step was. He stopped working out, wasn’t talking much and finally told me he was done.”
During his two years away from the game, he spent time with his family, worked in a bank and finished a college degree in accounting at Northern Illinois. Although he didn’t watch any regular season baseball, he did tune in to the 2016 World Series as he and his wife Haley had grown up Cub fans. “I watched those games and couldn’t take my eyes off it,” he said. Although he remembered all too well the pain the game had inflicted on his arm, Casey Crosby again had an itch that needed to be scratched. He opted to try to catch on with an independent team so he could be close to home to finish his degree.
He took a new approach to the game in preparation for another try at mission impossible. His wife took the next step, researching a diet that was designed to naturally help reduce inflammation.
“Gluten-free, no more dairy, red meat, and a lot less processed sugars,” he said. “No cheese and cheese comes with everything. Now, it’s mainly chicken and pork. Fish is OK, too, but a lot of it is too light for me.”
He studied video of pitchers who were able to remain healthy and worked on his mechanics, changing his arm slot and trying to shorten his delivery.
In a July 2017 tryout arranged by his agent for a dozen major league scouts, his fastball was clocked in the mid-90s but he needed to show more. He signed with the Lincoln, Nebraska, Saltdogs of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball in early August and pitched in relief for six weeks. Over 16.2 innings he posted a 2.16 ERA. The stats were not the most important achievement for Crosby.
“The main thing was I was pain-free,” he said of his 16 appearances. “That was my goal.”
His bounce-back was a signing by the Minnesota Twins for the 2018 season and posting a 2.95 ERA at three levels over 17 relief appearances and 21.1 innings pitched. Crosby chose free agency at the end of the season but did not get an MLB bite going into the 2019 season
Continuing in relief in 2019 and in independent ball he pitched 46.2 innings over 42 games posting a 1.74 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 34 walks. .
In an August interview, Crosby indicated that he was ready to go on with his baseball career.
“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time,” Crosby said. “Ever since the surgery, it’s been great, knock on wood.
“I’m feeling great, so great in fact that I’m even considering playing after the season is done, somewhere in winter ball. It’s the first time I’ve known that I can take it on and I’m available to do it.”
One expects that being signed by the Dodgers removes his possibility of winter ball with the encouragement to continue working out in a different manner. Perhaps with Driveline.
What does Casey Crosby have to offer an MLB team at age 31? According to his independent league coach, Chicago Dogs manager Butch Hobson, he is definitely worth taking a second look at.
“I don’t know why, with that arm, somebody hasn’t picked him up already,” Hobson said. “It’s definitely a possibility. It’s one of those things where it’s a matter of them coming to see him pitch,”
“He’s done very well for us,” Hobson said. “He’s a big part of the back end of our bullpen. I like the way he goes about his business. He’s a good guy.
“I like him a lot — great athlete, great arm.”
Crosby is a gamer who has changed his approach to become more efficient and effective at the game while protecting his arm. He is a huge believer in analytics and they have certainly revitalized his career. His spin rate of 2600+ has become more efficient while the vertical movement on his fastball with a significant rise, registers up to 20.8 inches.
Here is a video of him using his 3-pitch mix – fastball, curveball, changeup.
Keeping in mind the following metrics are from a bullpen session, this is how they rank among other MLB left-handers. We might say because of the bullpen session only, they are untried at the MLB level but nevertheless intriguing.
Fastball velocity – 99th percentile
Fastball vertical movement – 96th percentile
Curveball vertical movement – 99th percentile
Still throwing in the upper 90’s, the challenges for Casey Crosby are to replicate these metrics in competition and to improve on his K/BB ratio. Those are mighty big challenges but just another pothole in the road for him to overcome.
Discussion (63)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Lindor and Clevinger for Lux, May, Verdugo and what else?
A rant, and a relatable rant at that, from Chad Moriyama:
Reasonable fans have been accused of overreaction to this off-season but I honestly feel like we’ve been rather consistent. Dodgers initially spent big in order to try and win while they built the infrastructure for sustainable success.
We defended the team getting to that point because winning the division consistently is the best path to postseason success. They have been undoubtedly wildly successful in laying that foundation, and deserve credit (and have received it) for doing so.
Now they’ve gotten to the point they wanted to before ostensibly taking the next step, a place where they can essentially not sign anybody and still be division favorites.
They have money to spend on impact talent that could push them over the top at minimal cost to sustainability and only hitting profits. They haven’t done that yet, so people are upset that everything clicking has effectively built towards … achieving record profits.
To an extent that’s expected from ownership, but not sure what that reality has to do with whether it’s justified for fans to put the screws to ownership over it. Sorry for the annoying thread, but had to get that off my chest.
Okay, nobody really knows why the Dodgers didn’t make an offer to Rendon and only he knows if he wanted to play for the Dodgers or not. Everybody reported that the Dodgers were runner-up in the Cole sweepstakes at $300 million with some deferments in the deal. I’m guessing he really wanted to be a Yankee and they did a pretty good job selling the organization. They were also high bidder, no one is disputing that. I was amazed that the Dodgers went to $300 million. I wouldn’t have and I really wanted the Dodgers to get him. The only two difference makers were Cole and Strasburg.
As to Anthony Rendon, does anybody really believe he would put the Dodgers over the top? They should have beaten Rendon’s Nats in game five. That was pretty much a bullpen problem. The Dodgers already win lots of games. If we’re looking at a hitter who really made a difference in the playoffs we should have pursued Howie Kendrick. Okay, I’m not serious.
Honestly, I think everybody needs to take a step back and see how it plays out. Then let it fly.
All this is right now is a lot of speculation. No real facts. So how about this. They met and talked with him. They just didn’t connect. Ned Colletti has some pretty good stories about those kind of meetings. It’s a lot of money. Both the player and the organization have to feel comfortable. Or maybe they found something on the trade market they thought they could pull off and they opted to move in that direction. If they pull off a Lindor trade or something else, then we’ll know.
As far as catching lightning, isn’t that what happened when the Dodgers signed Justin Turner and Max Muncy?
Hello to all. Can I leave a few comments?
Yes!
If you respect all the posters Hamchuck.
It’s wait and see mode season. Adding an elite player or two seems an ambitious off-season goal, but it might be necessary to get over the WS hump. I didn’t put much hope in signing one of the Big Three, but I may have been underestimating our resolve. Our reported offer to Cole was on the Yankee obscene level and we did make a reportedly obscene offer to Harper last year. And we certainly weren’t cheap with our deals for Kelly and Pollack last year, or Treinen this year. So, I don’t know what to make of our commitment to free agency? I tend to believe we’ll pull the trigger if a player just works with us a little.
I’m not sure where that puts us this year and our chances of repeating the last three years success. At this point, I think our best hope some of our highly esteemed farm talent to grow up fast. Like a similar trajectory that Buehler, Bellinger, and Seager enjoyed.
** I think it most important one of Urias or May makes that leap to be a legit number 2 or 3 to replace Ryu’s production. The chances? I think it’s a long shot for next year based on what I saw from them last year. I think they’ll be steady rotation guys, but prone to inconsistent outings. Throw in Stripling and Meada, we have a legit ace, a declining Kershaw, and 4 back end rotation starters. That sort of reminds me of 2016’s rotation. That will likely put a stress on the bullpen , so the Treinen signing was probably wise.
** I like our offense if Verdugo and Lux start the entire year and hit near 300. But I really like our offense, if Seager comes back an improved hitter and Ruiz can make a case for rookie of the year. If that plays out, we’ll have a better balance of small ball production mixed with usual smash factor. Might be necessary anyway, if the league messes with the baseball and our slugging production dips
** Is all of this a pipe dream? Maybe. But it’s only asking them to live up to their billing sooner rather than later. At worst, they shI think the odds are better of our young guys developing vs obtaining studs via free agency or trade at this point.
I know everything is not likely to happen, but some, actually most of it, is rooted in reality that involves a players history and character:
1. Walker Buehler takes another step forward and wins the Cy Young.
2. Gavin Lux is ROY.
3. Max Muncy and Joc Pederson just do their thing.
4. AJ Pollock finally has 1 healthy year.
5. JT has a season similar to last year.
6. Bellinger works to be a better hitter – he hits fewer HR, but cuts down on K’s and hits over .310.
7. Corey Seager returns to his All-Star form (he wasn’t that far off anyway)
8. Will Smith is joined by Kaybear Ruiz after the Break and they are a formidable duo.
9. Alex Verdugo returns to health and hits .340.
10. Clayton Kershaw puts up a season even better than last year (remember, no one is a bigger competitor).
11. Blake Treinan, Kenley Jansen and Joe Kelly are good (not even great) in bounce-back years. Maybe one is great (and it likely won’t be the one we think).
12. Dustin Many and Tony Gonsolin step up and show out.
13. Another rookie or two steps up.
14. Julio Urias seizes the #2 Spot. He was damn good in a tough year for him. By the way, I hear from someone pretty close to the situation that his Domestic Violence issue was totally manufactured by the media. She slipped and he tried to grab her. He was advised to play along and make it go away. Once someone gets the wrong idea, it is tough to stop that train. Julio is allegedly a well-respected kid who is almost a man. I am anointing him the Dodgers #2. 150 innings. I am not sure how they manage that…
This is a pretty young team and to me, all show the ability to get better. If they do, this is maybe the best team in baseball. There will be some additions – maybe not who we think. I don’t know if it is prudent to go $100 Million with Bum, but I would do that before I went $60 million with Ryu, but maybe they don’t need either one. Sign Rich Hill for the second half and here’s the rotation:
1. Buehler
2. Urias
3. Kershaw
4. Maeda
5. May
Not as sexy as Cole or Bum, but I like it. BTW, I wonder how Cole will like pitching to Passed Ball Sanchez?
Quotes from CK:
On what went wrong: “It’s a hard question for me to answer. Bluntly, postseason, if I pitch better, we probably are winning. So, it’s like, it’s not easy to answer. We’re in a great spot again. Got a great team. We lost [Rich Hill], [Hyun-Jin Ryu], [Russell Martin]. But I think Andrew [Friedman, president of baseball operations] will make necessary adjustments where he sees fit and we’ll be in a great spot to win the division again.”
On bouncing back: “Every year is no fun. This year, the abruptness, the way it happened. It’s no fun. It’s not. It continues not to be. But you have two options: you can either crawl into a hole, or you can move on and try to get better for the next year. I don’t want to crawl into a hole yet, so I’m going to try to get better for next year.”
On the dichotomy of dominating a division but coming up short: “Over the years here, it’s just, I’m thankful. I’ve said it before, not every player gets to be on a team in the position we are every single year. I’m thankful for that. I love being here, love being part of it. It’s no fun to lose and be at the center of that. But, at the same time, I’m not ready to hang up yet. I want to keep trying and keep going. And the sentiment I got from the guys after, and talking to the guys after, [is] yeah, it sucks, but we feel good about our chances and we still want to get better. It’s a good feeling, man. I feel we’re right at the top of the NL again. With whatever happens between now and Spring Training or now and the Trade Deadline, [it] will only make us better.”
On the possibility of the Dodgers signing former rival Madison Bumgarner: “I love Bum. Great pitcher, good dude, great competitor. I know Andrew [Friedman]’s working on all sorts of things. We signed Blake Treinen, he’s got amazing stuff. It’s a good sign for us. To play with Mad Bum would be great.”
In response to Hamchuck (actually, it applies to us all):
GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
By Max Ehrmann © 1927
I love his attitude, his character, his focus on trying to improve.. You could not ask for a better team mate. He is grateful to be with the Dodgers. Clayton, we are grateful for you and thankful for the contributions you have made over the years. . Hoping and looking forward for a good year for you.
MT, I’m glad to see your posts. I’m a little worried about you trying to take on the mob.
I’m a little concerned that the Lindor rumors have some legs. I don’t think he’s a great fit and I would hate to give up Lux and May in the deal for Lindor and Clevenger. On one hand, I think the sky’s the limit for both Lux and May. I’m completely enamored by Lux’s athleticism and May’s stuff and projectability. They both have a good chance to better than their trade counterparts. On the other hand, Lindor and Clevenger will be better next year.
As you stated, we have a very good, very talented team. I don’t think we have a bunch of back end rotation guys. I think Urias and May are both front end guys. Sure, there will be bumps in the road on the way to the post-season, but they have the stuff to be post-season heroes. I’m also particularly impressed with Gonsolin. In 2018, it was reported that he was hitting 100 Mph and held it late into games. We didn’t see any on that all year last year and I’m curious to see if he gets back to that elite heat next year.
If Treinen is anything close to his 2018 campaign, the bullpen as a whole will be unbelievable. We just need a couple of guys in the rotation that can pitch deep and keep some pressure off the pen. One additional elite arm pushes everyone down a slot and the entire pen gets better as a result.
I still think this team is too right handed. It would be great to work a deal for Nolan or Bryant or Betts. We have a lot of trade assets beyond Lux and May. I sure hope something comes together.
I cannot see giving up Lux and May for anybody. Both are going to be all stars. Both are controllable.