Carl Crawford’s numbers so far this season aren’t pretty. In fact, they are actually quite grotesque.
The four-time All-Star, and $142 million man, is only 7-for-51 — good for a .137 average and a .185 on-base percentage.
Crawford has yet to homer, has driven in only one run and has stolen only two bases, which even forced Red Sox skipper Terry Francona to sit him down on Saturday in an effort to help the 29-year-old regain his focus.
But as startling as Crawford's slow start may seem, Red Sox fans shouldn't worry just yet. Historically, March and April have been the worst months for Crawford across the board.
Here’s a look at some of Crawford's career numbers versus how he's performed in March and April:
Career overall stats: .295 average, .336 on-base percentage, .441 slugging percentage, .777 OPS
Career March/April stats: .272 average, .320 on-base percentage, .392 slugging percentage, .712 OPS
As is the case with many hitters, Crawford doesn’t usually hit full stride until May or June. So of all the numbers that one can toss around in regards to Crawford — and the Red Sox as a whole — the most important one is 149, the number of games the Sox have left.
If Crawford doesn't start swinging a hotter stick within the next few weeks, it could then be time to become concerned. Until then, though, Sox fans should expect better days to be on the horizon for the struggling outfielder. Saturday's day off may help the cause.
