Peak performances
Giants’ Crawford, 31, savors respect he receives from big-league peers
WASHINGTON — Brandon Crawford has evolved into baseball royalty, and his latest trip to the All-Star Game provides a testimonial to where he stands in the sport.
The Giants’ shortstop has plenty of hardware, including two World Series rings, three Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and a Willie Mac Award.
He’s by far the oldest of this year’s All-Star shortstops and was the focus on Monday of writers from other cities who asked about shortstops they cover who had expressed their admiration for the eight-year big-leaguer.
“I appreciate them saying that,” Crawford said. “It makes me feel a little old.”
Who would have thought it? Old Man Bran-
don, emerging as a senior member of the baseball fraternity? He’s 31 and an All-Star starter for the first time, penciled in as the No. 8 hitter in the National League’s lineup for Tuesday night’s game at Nationals Park.
The other time Crawford was an All-Star, he was one of four Giants to play in the 2015 Cincinnati game. This time, he’s the Giants’ lone representative. Catcher Buster Posey, an All-Star for the sixth time, stayed in the Bay Area for treatment on his hip ailment.
“A little more lonely in the clubhouse,” Crawford said. “I’ve got to get to know some of these guys better.”
Oh, they know him. He was the shortstop on teams that won two World Series and a World Baseball Classic, and he’s a nightly highlight reel.
Defense has long been Crawford’s calling card, but his hitting is the best it has been in his career — he hasn’t come close to this season’s .825 OPS — and there’s no doubt he’s the MVP of a team that has a winning record (50-48) at the AllStar break after losing 98 games last year.
The Giants are in fourth place, but just four games behind the first-place Dodgers, and Crawford will take it.
“I wouldn’t say we’re thrilled with where we’re at,” he said, “but considering some of the injuries we’ve had and coming off a tough year last year, yeah, we’re OK with where we’re at. We’d like to get better with guys coming off the DL in the second half.”
And perhaps with an extra guy or two before the July 31 trade deadline?
“It’s easy to say, ‘Yeah, we’d love a guy like (the Mets’ Jacob) deGrom’ or somebody who’s being talked about potentially being traded,” Crawford said. “Could we use him? Would we like to have him? Of course. Is it realistic? I’m not sure. That’s why it’s sort of a hard question to answer.”
The lineup would be deeper with a healthy Evan Longoria and Joe Panik, Crawford said, as would the rotation with a healthy Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. But, Crawford said, “any team could use a good player at the deadline. I think when we have a fully healthy roster, we can compete with anybody.”
For now, he’s having a ball with his family and All-Star teammates in the nation’s capital. He spent time with his kids on the field for Monday night’s Home Run Derby and will ride through the streets of Washington in Tuesday’s pregame parade.
In the game, Crawford will be flanked by third baseman Nolan Arenado and second baseman Javier Baez and bat two spots below Bryce Harper, between Nick Markakis and Willson Contreras.
“Hitting eighth in this lineup is a lot different than hitting eighth in a regular-season Giants lineup,” said Crawford, noting Contreras, not a pitcher, is hitting behind him.
That means Contreras is a better hitter than Madison Bumgarner, someone said.
“I won’t answer that because Madison will get mad,” Crawford said, “... but, yes, he is.”
Crawford, 0-for-2 with a walk against American League starter Chris Sale, compared the lefty’s “funky delivery” to that of the A’s Sean Manaea, who beat the Giants on Sunday and can look deceiving against left-handed batters.
“Another at-bat that’s not very fun,” Crawford said.
Back at the site where the Giants won the 2014 Division Series, Crawford said his favorite moment at Nationals Park was Brandon Belt’s 18th-inning home run in Game 2.
“It doesn’t seem like it was four years ago,” Crawford said, “that’s for sure.”