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Pete Crow-Armstrong trying to fix one trait that even Cubs fans find obnoxious

PCA runs hot, but he's learning how to avoid boiling over.
Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong is arguably the highest-energy player you'll come across in Major League Baseball, but that energy is too often wasted in frustration. While PCA's lightning-esque speed and magic range in center field have become well-known, so, too, has his tendency for mid-game tantrums, which can include (but are not limited to) bat throwing, helmet spiking, and -- without fail -- a mouth full of expletives.

But PCA is trying to change. Or, at least he says he is. Crow-Armstrong told ESPN recently that he was genuinely hurt upon hearing about a Little Leaguer who was taken off his team (by his own father) for throwing a bat and almost injuring a teammate, after which the Little Leaguer said, 'But Pete does it.'

According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Kyle Schwarber also spoke with PCA during the World Baseball Classic about the downsides of showing so much negative emotion during games. Schwarber suggested to Crow-Armstrong that he's giving opposing pitchers an unnecessary advantage by showing how frustrated he is.

Everyone's lightly pushing Pete Crow-Armstrong to rein in his outbursts

Constructive criticism is coming from all sides on this matter. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has also been outspoken about the need for Crow-Armstrong to control his emotions. Counsell, like everyone else, understands the danger of instructing a passionate player like PCA to settle down too much, as it can put out the inner fire that contributes to Crow-Armstrong's talent in the first place.

But at the end of the day, Crow-Armstrong knows there is room for improvement when it comes to his demeanor. He knows that, despite Cubs fans always having his back through rough stretches at the plate, many are annoyed by his tantrums and have every reason to be.

Pete Crow-Armstrong attracts vitriol from fans that he could easily avoid

Not surprisingly, Crow-Armstrong's controversial on-field personality (and brutal honesty in interviews) has made him a villain in the eyes of rival teams' fanbases. And while PCA can wield this to his competitive advantage, in other instances, it might set up situations in which he's attracting unnecessary vitriol that's just making his ability to focus all the more difficult. It's like Schwarber said -- why give people fuel to get under your skin, or know that you're struggling? Schwarber was talking about opposing pitchers, but his point might as well apply to opposing fans, too.

No one's looking to dim the fire inside Crow-Armstrong. He's one of the most entertaining players in sports, and in a way, his biggest weakness only makes him more human and relatable in the eyes of Cubs fans. Unlike a superstar like Aaron Judge, who is without any discernible eccentricities and comes across as a robot at times, PCA wears everything on his sleeve. But Cubs fans want him to be the best baseball player he can be, too, and the outbursts are holding him back from reaching his ceiling.

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