He Hopes Streak Provides a Boost

Until April 25, Jeremy Carr was just another lower-level minor league outfielder in the Kansas City Royals’ organization, looking for a way to go from being an “extra” to a “prospect.”

He found a way.

On April 25, Carr began what so far has been the longest hitting streak in professional baseball this season. Through the next 31 games, the double-A Wichita Wranglers leadoff batter would get at least one hit, finally being stopped on May 30 by the El Paso Diablos.

During his streak, Carr, 26--who played at Cal State Fullerton in 1992 and 1993--averaged .370 (47 for 127), with 13 multiple-hit games. Among his hits were nine doubles, a triple and five home runs. He scored 30 runs and stole 17 bases.

He finished six games short of the Texas League record, set by El Paso’s Bobby Trevino in 1969. But he did break the Wranglers’ franchise record of 24 games set by Greg David in 1990.

If the streak wasn’t a career saver for Carr, who started as a second baseman and has never batted higher than .260 in four previous professional seasons, it was definitely a career booster.

“I think what I did during the streak made me [a prospect],” Carr said. “It opened eyes in the organization that I was coming around with the bat.

“I was hitting about .150 in the first 10 games. But I was hitting the ball right at people, so I never questioned myself. I knew the hits had to start falling. And the confidence I got during the streak is enormous. When it went to 25 games, I felt it could go on the rest of the season.

“I was never given the opportunity to be a prospect. I thought I was with my speed, but no one said that I was. Now I am.”

The boost could not come at a better time for the 5-9, 180-pound Carr. While the majors has its share of small speedy players, such as Lance Johnson, Brett Butler and Bip Roberts, outfield is considered a power position. Those with big home run and RBI totals stand a better chance of reaching the majors than those who slap the ball around.

Unless those who slap the ball around can make walks and singles feel like doubles and triples with their speed. Carr is doing this as well; he’s among the Texas League leaders in stolen bases with 25.

“I like playing the game within the game,” Carr said. “The competition of the pitcher and hitter, of trying to steal a base.”

Although Carr averaged .360 in his Fullerton career, Coach George Horton thought it was his baserunning ability that caught the attention of the Royals, who made Carr a 23rd-round selection in the 1993 draft.

“He might have been the best base-stealer I’ve ever seen,” Horton said. “His technique and instincts were unbelievable. If he had played here four years, I believe he would have been our all-time leader. He was as good as it gets.”

Even though his streak is over, there has been a residual effect. Carr said he is getting more respect from pitchers. “I see a lot more off-speed stuff in 2-0 and 3-1 situations now,” Carr said. “Usually with leadoff hitters, a pitcher gets behind in the count and he’ll still throw you a fastball to see if you can hit it.”

Carr said if he can keep his hot season going, he hopes for a September call from the Royals. “If they’re still in the pennant race or wild-card race maybe I can help them, with my speed. “

Maybe even with his bat.

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Even back at Savanna High, Rob Crabtree heard the talk that was too small, and didn’t have a good enough fastball for pro ball.

Yet the right-hander is still in there pitching. And still getting people out.

Currently with Bakersfield Blaze, the San Francisco Giants’ single-A team in the California League, Crabtree, 24, is providing some quality relief work. In 24 appearances he is 4-1 (second on the team in victories), with a 2.13 earned-run average and one save. He has pitched 42.1 innings, giving up 31 hits and 14 runs (10 earned), while walking 23 and striking out 49.

Being back in California is making a difference, Crabtree said. Last year, he was in Bellingham, Wash. His numbers in the short season Class-A league were solid--3-3, 2.77 and four saves in 28 games--but he missed his family, which resides in Anaheim.

“Coming back to California was exciting,” Crabtree said. “My parents and friends have been coming up and watching me. Even though it’s Bakersfield, it feels so close to home. On an off day I can drive down [to Anaheim].”

No matter how his year turns out, Crabtree isn’t sure where he fits in the Giants’ scheme. So he plans to return to Cal State Northridge to continue work on his degree in kinesiology.

But what if the Giants do have plans for him?

“I feel as long as I keep doing what I’m supposed to do, it’s got to open eyes,” Crabtree said. “I know there are guys ahead of me. I’m considered a bonus if I do well.

“Playing professionally is what I thought it would be. It has taught me this is a business, that any day they want to make a change you can be out of a job. It hit me this spring, when I saw guys getting released with tears in their eyes. That’s when it hit me. It will always be a game, but now it’s your job.”

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Last week, Vigilante catcher Ed Brooks tied a Western Baseball League record by throwing out four players attempting to steal in a 3-1 loss to Grays Harbor. All four plays came at second base. Brooks threw out Steve Dietz twice, in the first and ninth innings, Randy Warner in the fifth and Al Mealing in the sixth.

This season, Brooks has thrown out seven of 19, and his 36.8% rate is tops among WBL catchers. As a team, the Vigilantes rank third in throwing out runners, with a 39.1% success rate.

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TOUR of the WEST

A Team-by-Team Look at the Western Baseball League

Tri-City Posse

Pasco, Wash.

Location: Tri-Cities (composed of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland) is a three-hour drive southwest of Spokane.

Club established: 1995.

Ownership: General Manager Sean Kelly and club President John Montero each own a half-interest.

Manager: Jamie Nelson, a catcher who played 16 years in the minors and 40 games with the Seattle Mariners in 1983. Nelson, now 37, hit his first--and only--major league homer in his second at-bat.

Most famous alumni: Posse had six players--tops in the league--sign with major league organizations last year. Pitcher Jerry McMullen (Boston Red Sox), catcher Chris Madonna (Red Sox) and catcher John Turlais (Pittsburgh Pirates) are playing Class A ball.

Home stadium: Tri-Cities Stadium, built in 1995, has a capacity of 3,730.

Tri-City baseball history: Had more than 10 teams from 1950-72 and 1983-86. The Triplets (now the Boise Hawks) were the Texas Rangers’ team in the Northwest League in 1983.

Tri-City famous for: Hanford Nuclear Reservation, located 30 miles northwest of Richland, where plutonium was produced for the first atomic bomb.

Next play Vigilantes: Tonight-Thursday, at Tri-City.

Information provided by Tri-City Posse.