'P-C-A!': Tokyo Dome's chants 'the coolest' for Cubs outfielder
Jordan Bastian
@MLBastianTOKYO -- As Pete Crow-Armstrong settled into the batter’s box on Sunday night, a familiar chorus surrounded the Cubs’ center fielder. Chants of “P-C-A!” repeated and grew in volume from a contingent of fans within the stadium.
The major difference is that Crow-Armstrong is more than 6,000 miles from the Wrigley Field faithful who band together to chant his moniker. These were fans inside the iconic Tokyo Dome for the Cubs’ 4-2 exhibition win over the Yomiuri Giants. Hearing his initials shouted in Japan is something the young outfielder will remember for a long time.
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“The coolest,” Crow-Armstrong said during Monday’s team workout at Tokyo Dome. “I mean, I get treated incredibly well in Chicago, and that’s no secret. I definitely don’t want to start comparing -- that is what I’m not looking to do. But coming across the world to hear that was arguably the most special thing that’s happened to me in baseball to this point.
“It’s a real love for baseball that they have out here. I wasn’t coming in here expecting that and that was the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of.”
The Cubs begin their regular season with Tuesday’s Opening Day clash with the World Series-champion Dodgers, putting the teams’ five combined Japanese stars in the spotlight for this global event. This week, though, it has been clear that “PCA” is also a popular player for baseball fans in Japan.
Prior to Monday’s workout, Crow-Armstrong attended an event at the Skytree Tower, where a couple was having wedding photos taken. He said the couple recognized him and asked him to step into a few of the shots for their keepsakes.
During the win over the Giants, Crow-Armstrong showed off a bit of why fans gravitate toward him. He showed off his elite speed with a double and a stolen base, while also making a handful of stellar plays in center. And, of course, there is the blond hairdo with the bright blue stars dyed into his look.
After Sunday’s win, a Japanese media member asked manager Craig Counsell about Crow-Armstrong’s style of play, and also style of hair.
“It was a game that shows what Pete can do on the field. He can do everything, really,” Counsell said. “And the hair, the hair is better this year. You get better from year to year. Last year, blue hair? Ehh. This year? Stars. It’s improvement. Just like a rookie gets better his second year, he’s getting better.”
Crow-Armstrong said he enjoyed the songs and chants that the Tokyo Dome crowds put on during the two exhibition games, comparing it to a soccer atmosphere. He also was struck by how often so many fans would simply wave to him, leading him to return the favor in center field and as he headed back to the dugout.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that,” Crow-Armstrong said.
Counsell smiled when asked about fielding questions about his budding star from local reporters.
“It helps when the fans are chanting his name in a stadium in Tokyo,” Counsell said. “Whoever that was -- Cubs fans or Japanese Cubs fans, I’m not sure who it was -- but that’s pretty amazing for a player one year in the league. And it makes sense.”
Shota tests out the Tokyo stage
In the early moments of Monday’s workout, Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga walked up the mound inside Tokyo Dome and peered toward home plate. He then went through his delivery in methodic fashion -- without throwing a ball -- as a large pack of cameras monitored his every move.
The brief visualization exercise came as Imanaga prepared for his Opening Day assignment opposite Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Tuesday’s marquee event. Counsell knows that for both those pitchers -- along with Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki of the Dodgers and Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs -- this series in Japan is a massive moment.
“Tomorrow’s a little harder,” Counsell said on Monday. “It’s just important for Shota and Seiya and for Ohtani. They’ve got the weight of a lot on their shoulders tomorrow and the next couple days. But, they also enjoy it. That’s why we do this, is to have moments like that.”
Quotable
“Shota has this unique way of kind of competing and having fun, and us being able to see that all at the same time. And that’s a really special trait and it’s great for fans. It’s best for fans, because you get to see his joy. Sometimes with some players, they’re competing and it’s hard to see their joy. With Shota, we can see his joy. That’s awesome.” -- Counsell, on Imanaga