Potanko: Pirates Have a Special Manager in Double-A Altoona (+)
Altoona- The Pittsburgh Pirates have young talent in the minors that need to be molded, and with that, you need good coaches with a father-like mentality.
No coach in the Pirates system fits that role quite like Callix Crabbe in Double-A Altoona.
Crabbe entered into the Pirates’ coaching system back in the 2021 season when he was named the team’s High-A manager in Greensboro.
At age 40, the Virgin Islands native offers a fresh take on things, and with him being so young, he can relate to these young kids more so than, say, an older manager.
Since being on the Pirates’ coaching staff in 2021, Crabbe successfully earned the promotion during the 2022 off-season to become the Pirates’ Double-A manager.
Crabbe replaced former Altoona manager Kieran Mattison, who has since transitioned into the role of base running and outfield instructor for the Pirates’ entire minor league system.
When I was in Altoona covering the Curve’s opening series, I had the pleasure to speak with Crabbe each night on his philosophy on coaching and the kind of role he wants to play with his players.
For instance, there were a few bloopers on the Curve’s pitching, and Crabbe discussed how he approached his pitcher in a tough situation and keep him from getting in his own head.
“Ultimately, we play a challenging game,” said Crabbe. “There are going to be some moments where something happens that we don’t want to happen. It’s like life; sometimes, things happen, and you have to have the ability to bounce back and respond. Often times it’s when difficulties happen, you learn more about yourself.”
Baseball, as most people will put it, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes as a manager, you have to remind your guys that it’s a long season, and it doesn’t matter if you start hot or cold.
“It’s not always an easy message to sell because a lot of guys want to get off to a good start,” said Crabbe. “Baseball is just one of those games that have an ebb and flow to it. So I think using our own experiences from when we played and share with them and remind them that it’s ok when you start off a little bit slow.”
Crabbe continued.
“The real thing is about having the right mentality. If you focus on the results, clearly, baseball is going to disappoint you more often than not. It’s important to remember that players might mirror your thoughts and emotions, so if I’m responding reactively, they’re going to react that way too. It’s important to be consistent in my behaviors.”
One of the more interesting comments Crabbe noted during my three days in Altoona came when we discussed challenging players and preparing them for the big leagues, and putting them in spots where they might struggle historically.
For context purposes, my question regarded Mason Martin potentially receiving playing time against a lefty starter.
“I tried to balance the needs of all the players during the first three games of the season. I’ll be honest; I won’t play very platoon heavy. I think that’s not what needs to be done at this level in the minors. It’s not my style; I had a lefty lead off against a lefty in game three. I feel like I need to prepare them for the big leagues as much as possible. If I remove those developmental opportunities, that means I not being a good leader.”
As I mentioned earlier, a good coach or manager has the ability to become a pseudo-father figure in a young player’s life. It seems like Crabbe has taken that role and ran with it.
“I think back to the managers that I had coming up and enjoyed being around, and more times than not, those guys had the right mix of toughness and love. I try to remember how hard the game is, and every time a play happens, I’m trying to look through the lens of empathy. Obviously, I have to be demanding at times, because it’s my job to help players develop. I definitely look back on those managers, and now that I’m in that seat, I want my guys to know I have their backs, but at the same time, I’m trying to get them to the big leagues.”
Crabbe, out of almost every coach or manager I’ve ever met, was one of the most prepared and accommodating people I’ve talked with to date.
He always had a notebook ready to rattle off some stats, or tidbits for the writers, and was so well spoken and patient with the questions.
The Pirates have a special person and manager in Crabbe.