Pete Crow-Armstrong did not need an interpreter or a carefully rehearsed answer to describe what happened during the second half of last season. The Chicago Cubs star offered a much more colorful assessment.
During an appearance on Barstool Sports' The Yak, Crow-Armstrong was asked about sustaining his production across an entire season. He acknowledged that his performance fell sharply after his sensational start in 2025.
“In the second half, I obviously [expletive] the bed,” Crow-Armstrong said.
Crude? Absolutely. Incorrect? Not especially.
Pete Crow-Armstrong recognizes what went wrong
Crow-Armstrong established himself as one of baseball’s most exciting young players in 2025. He finished last season with 31 home runs, 35 stolen bases along with his first Gold Glove Award, becoming the first Cubs player since Sammy Sosa to record a 30-30 season.
The final numbers hid an uneven journey.
Crow-Armstrong entered the 2025 All-Star break hitting .265 with 25 home runs and 27 stolen bases. After the break, he batted only .216 and produced six home runs. His postseason performance did little to quiet concerns that pitchers had discovered holes he had not yet learned to close. Crow-Armstrong hit .185 during the Cubs’ playoff run.
Chicago did not need him to prove he could produce one spectacular half. It needed to know whether he could respond after the league adjusted to him.
That is why his next comment carried far more weight than his blunt review of last season.
“But this year, I’m maintaining,” Crow-Armstrong said.
Cubs star has avoided another second-half collapse
Crow-Armstrong’s claim is supported by what he has done on the field.
After hitting two home runs against the White Sox on Monday, including the walk-off winner in the 10th inning, he reached 30 home runs and 31 stolen bases. Crow-Armstrong became the first player in Cubs history to produce consecutive 30-30 seasons.
PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG
— MLB (@MLB) August 18, 2026
WALK-OFF HOME RUN FOR 30/30 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TSUSXmb8vi
He also reached the milestone with more than a month remaining. Last year, he did not record his 30th home run until late September.
The difference is significant. Chicago already knew Crow-Armstrong possessed an outrageous ceiling. His speed can change an inning, his defense can erase extra-base hits and his power has grown well beyond what many expected when he reached the majors.
Consistency was the unanswered portion of the equation. Crow-Armstrong has done more than enjoy another torrid stretch in 2026. He has sustained his production into the portion of the calendar that caused him trouble one year ago.
October remains the final test for Pete Crow-Armstrong
Crow-Armstrong was discussing his individual consistency, not making a promise about what will happen during the postseason.
Still, his improvement should leave the Cubs far more comfortable than they were last September.
Crow-Armstrong entered the 2025 postseason after struggling for much of the second half. This time, Chicago could arrive in October with its most dynamic player performing at an MVP level rather than searching for the swing that made him a star.
He has answered the question about whether he can maintain his success through the summer. Producing in the postseason is the challenge still sitting in front of him.
Crow-Armstrong did not predict playoff dominance. He did something more useful: He recognized last season’s collapse and explained why he believes it is no longer happening.
The regular-season concern has been addressed. October will determine whether the answer is complete.
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