Carl Crawford didn’t bring much to the table in Boston, and he hasn’t brought anything to the table in Los Angeles. Yet as Opening Day approaches, Crawford is still flapping his gums about his less-than-stellar Red Sox tenure.
Crawford again spoke out about his time in Boston during an interview with CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler. The outfielder acknowledged that he didn’t produce while donning a Sox jersey, but he also insisted that Boston just wasn’t the right fit for him.
That may be so, but why continue to harp on the disappointing two seasons, especially if you’re trying to put the whole experience in the rearview mirror?
The biggest problem with Crawford’s ongoing desire to speak out is that he’s walking a fine line. We all know his stint with the Sox was disappointing, so in repeatedly reverting back to the argument while in a new environment, he’s running the risk of a similar storyline unfolding all over again.
Crawford, who has yet to play a game with the Dodgers, has already experienced another injury setback, and it’s looking like the 31-year-old might not be ready for Opening Day. In other words, this spring is falling exactly in line with what plagued Crawford during his time in Boston — an inability to stay on the field.
What apparently disgruntled Crawford most about Beantown, though, was the media’s treatment.
“That smile turned upside down quick,” Crawford reportedly said. “I think they want to see that in Boston. They love it when you’re miserable. Burying people in the media, they think that makes a person play better. That media was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Perhaps Crawford has a point, but it isn’t one that hasn’t been made a thousand times over. And in Crawford’s case, it’s a point that loses validity given the facts surrounding his time in Boston.
Crawford signed a seven-year, $142 million contract, and then proceeded to provide the club with a .260 average, 14 home runs, 75 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 161 games during a two-year stretch. On what planet is that not cause for criticism, especially given how lucrative the deal was that brought him into the pressure-packed situation?
Yes, Boston is a difficult place to play, mainly because of the high expectations of the fans, the media and the organization. When someone doesn’t perform up to snuff, he’s generally going to hear about it, but it’s really just the nature of the business. To suggest that Crawford somehow got the short end of the stick would be to completely overlook the fact that he set the franchise back by not producing.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, they were able to execute last August’s blockbuster and rid themselves of many headaches going forward. Crawford still seems hell bent on trying to reignite those headaches, though, and in the process, he’s just making himself look foolish.
Crawford still has plenty of talent, and despite a two-season setback, he could once again flourish, especially now that he’s blessed with a new beginning in Los Angeles. However, by continuing to look back instead of forward, Crawford is setting himself up to fail.
But who knows? Maybe we’re just “burying” him for nothing again.
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