04/24/24
February 20, 2012
Carl Crawford: 'You Want to Show You're Worth the Money': As the Boston Red Sox begin spring training in Florida, Carl Crawford told the media he was surprised to learn last fall that team owner John Henry was opposed to his signing. "I wasn’t happy about it," said Crawford, who responded to his seven-year, $142 million contract with his worst season in the majors. "I was a little surprised to hear the comments but you know it's unfortunate he feels that way. Wish those words hadn’t came out." He said the contract probably affected his performance last season. "You want to show you’re worth the money. The pressure builds up on playing in Boston. This year I have to find ways to get over that and play my game."
Sounds to me as if Crawford may have a hard time ever dealing with the kind of pressure playing in Boston carries. Maybe he could follow A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh, where the pressure to win generally subsides after the home opener. Watch him win 18 games.
posted by dyams at 07:55 PM on February 20, 2012
Crawford was great when he played for Tampa. Boston broke him. Give him back please.
posted by bperk at 08:48 PM on February 20, 2012
Watched Crawford with a couple of the Boston talking heads this evening. He didn't seem to be terribly upset, more surprised than hurt, with John Henry's comments. For his part, as the link points out, Henry has said that his comments were prompted more by having a lineup overloaded with left-handed hitters than they were about Carl Crawford. To me, Crawford appeared quite relaxed, nothing like the uptight person he was last season. Perhaps it was the pressure of a large contract in a new place, but it seems he might be better equipped to deal with it this year. There was a quick look at him hitting off a tee in the batting cage - swinging one-handed because of his wrist - and he's narrowed his stance, closed it up from the extreme open stance of last season, and seems to have made his swing a bit more compact. He may never again hit over .300, but I would bet he is north of .280 with 25+ HR. He is well aware that he stunk last season, understands why it happened, and will do his best to avoid having something like that happen again.
posted by Howard_T at 10:07 PM on February 20, 2012
Maybe he could follow A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh, where the pressure to win generally subsides after the home opener.
Sold, we will take him. Another pitcher would be great as we strive for mediocrity. Will the Pirates add another season to the current record of seasons under .500 ????????
YES
posted by Debo270 at 12:06 PM on February 21, 2012
I'm hoping Henry will now come out to say he supports Luis Suarez unconditionally, just to make things even better.