We’re 13 games into the Phillies season and there hasn’t been too much to write home about just yet. The Bats for the most part have been cold, starting pitching hasn’t been fully what we expected, and it feels like the same old Phillies.
However, one of the bright spots early on in this season has been the emergence of Justin Crawford.
Since game one of the season Crawford has stepped in the centerfield role and has delivered on the hype surrounding him. The 22 year old has appeared in 12 of the first 13 games and hasn’t looked out of place at all.
He has had 41 plate appearances in those games and is batting .316 with 12 hits, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Crawford has looked very comfortable facing Major League pitching and has been everything the Phillies had hoped for so far.
On top of that Crawford has already delivered in a clutch moment for the Phillies…
His fielding has also been great and the more games that he plays the clearer it is becoming that the Phillies have found their everyday centerfielder. If Crawford can continue to perform as well as he has been, and the Phillies big guns wake up I have no doubts that the Phillies can win the NL East for a third straight season.
While it hasn’t been the start for the Phillies that I think most we’re hoping for, it’s still only April and there is a lot of baseball left. Hopefully, Crawford will continue to produce at the level he is and the rest of the bats start to get going.
The Phillies started a nine game homestand last night vs the Dbacks that continues today and tomorrow before welcoming in the Chicago Cubs and then the Atlanta Braves next weekend.
-Walsh
The Philly Phan Cave 
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