Conversely, you don't have to believe Crawford's contract is perfect in order to think that he's capable of producing.
He's likely overpaid. What of it? Being overpaid doesn't mean that anything produced is a waste, and if the Red Sox have plenty of one thing at any time, it's money, even in this age where being under the luxury-tax threshold might be more appealing than crossing it. The return on investment might be ugly, and you can categorize the money above-and-beyond what he's able to produce as "waste", but if Crawford can play, and well , as he did in his time prior to , from here on out, the standings --and Red Sox -- are unlikely to care much about that.
This isn't to say you should dismiss any questions you have of Crawford. He still needs to show that he's both healthy and able to produce, as his was ugly, and even the more positive parts had flaws. But, his past merits a second chance, as far as your patience as a fan is concerned, and he's coming at a time in which the Red Sox could use his particular amalgam of skills, as they see just which direction their season is heading in these last few weeks of July.
Keep Out" and "No Soliciting or Loitering. Nah," Crawford, who turned 36 last month, says from behind that wall. He gets that question a lot, and it's easy to see why. To go from the raucous atmosphere of packed stadiums to days as quiet and wide open as the Texas prairie…well, it's no wonder that last week, a cousin he hadn't spoken with in quite a while phoned with the same assumption.
Talk to me, Carl , she said. Really, now, tell me how you're doing It's not the case at all. I got rewarded for it. I'm at my crib. I did everything I could. So you come home and enjoy your life. People never see me, so they take that as, 'Oh, he's so depressed and lonely. I'm in the comfort of my own home, and I'm not worried about the outside.
Trust me, I'm not depressed at all. That he just kind of came back home when it all ended and is keeping to himself is no surprise to those who know him well. Several Dodgers field inquiries regarding Crawford these days with quizzical looks and zero answers. Or maybe Texas. Crawford maintains residences in both states and splits his time. In Arizona, Crawford's son Leo, 3, lives with his mother.
But Houston always will be home. He grew up 10 minutes from here, in the shadow of what was then known as Enron Field now Minute Maid Park. A high school sports star who signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at the University of Nebraska and declined a basketball scholarship offer from UCLA, Crawford instead signed with the Rays , who had picked him in the second round of the draft. His father lives here in this house, and his mother lives not far away.
Crawford knows the grind of the baseball schedule as well as anyone, how bothersome it can be as a player when people keep leaving you messages. So for now, during this transition, he is leaving his friends on the Dodgers alone.
Absorbing everything. Trying to be subtle. The main thing is trying to catch up on time with my kids, especially my oldest. That's Justin, and he is quite a baseball player, Crawford says. He's playing some travel ball. Then Carl taps his iPhone and calls up a video of young Leo taking a swing at a baseball on a tee. As Leo drills the baseball, Carl smiles the smile of a proud father. Yes, he figures, with these kids' bloodlines, he will be back in the baseball world soon enough. A baseball answer to Veruca Salt?
As mentioned above, a chronic wrist condition and a strained ligament in his elbow were far more significant and resulted in the wrist and TJ surgery.
The Red Sox had an adverse history at this time regarding injury evaluation. Eventually, the medical staff had a top to bottom revision, so Crawford was not alone in his having treatment issues. Crawford was not immune to fan hostility and media blathering. Crawford and high-priced Adrian Gonzalez both became targeted directly and via innuendo by print and social media. The team was viewed far too often as a back-to-future contingent of the s — the 25 cabs for 25 players.
Self-indulgent, overpaid, underperforming, baseball divas, and Crawford became a notable target. And with rabbit ears, the message was heard.
Ben Cherrington took over the dysfunctional family and gathered in a new manager. Bobby Valentine came to Boston, and Boston went to the basement. A messy situation partially resolved. Injuries, diminished speed, and bat quickness that was disappearing.
Crawford was released in , with the Dodgers eating the remaining years of his contract. While Crawford can be one of the most dynamic players in the game when healthy, his constant injuries have put a hamper on his contributions to his team since joining the Dodgers. A healthy Crawford down the stretch would certainly give a boost to the Dodgers, but like a rusty nail he is still sharp yet unreliable.
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