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As Crow flies off, Nats look foolish
GRANT PAULSEN: Nationals shouldn't have let Crow fly
Date published: 8/24/2008
AWEEK AGO, I wrote about the newest member of the Baltimore Oriole farm system, a left-handed pitcher named Brian Matusz. My plan was to write something similar about Aaron Crow this week. I won't be doing that, though, because Crow has since become "the one that got away." The Washington Nationals couldn't agree on a contract with Crow before last week's deadline to sign draft picks. That means the highly touted right-hander, chosen with the ninth overall pick in June's draft, will continue to play with the independent-league Fort Worth Cats. Crow was considered the top right-handed college pitcher in this year's draft. He was the second pitcher to be taken, behind only Matusz, who went fourth overall to Baltimore. A power arm from Missouri, Crow set a school record in wins when he went 13-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 15 starts this season. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Crow struck out 127 batters in just over 107 innings. His arsenal encompasses two major league-ready pitches. His dominating heater can touch 98 mph, and his slider has become a plus pitch. He also can throw a quality changeup. None of that matters now though--unless you are a Fort Worth Cats fan. Crow won't be a National, and the Nationals will now get the 10th pick in next year's draft as compensation. That might make for a more productive and exciting draft day next June. But Nationals fans didn't want to have a better draft next year. They wanted their team to sign this year's top picks. Both Crow and the Nationals are at fault for this deal not getting done, but I put the ultimate blame on the team. The Nationals currently own baseball's worst record, and, believe it or not, that is OK with the team's patient fan base. The fans have given their team a pass because Washington's front office has a plan to build from the bottom up. A major part of the plan is spending on the draft and sink money into their farm system.
Date published: 8/24/2008
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