Duck, Duck, Lose by Jared Carrabis
Carl Crawford ducks the Boston media, tells them to "Go ask the Captain" instead


I've ignored the whole Carl Crawford thing up to this point, because I like to give players the benefit of the doubt in their first year.

With that being said, I guess I can start critiquing Crawford, because it looks like he's already calling it a season. I backed off writing about Crawford's apology blog post on ESPN.com, which was titled "Sorry for the year I've had" because I actually feel bad for the guy.

Before you jump through your computer screen and scream "How the hell can you feel bad for a guy who willingly took $142 million to come here!", hear me out. I feel bad for the guy, because part of me thinks that he really didn't want to come to Boston, but how can your turn down an offer that is going to pay you 30% more than the other? I'm not making excuses for the guy, as he's a grown man and it was ultimately his decision, but in fairness, he's not tanking the first year of his seven-year pact on purpose.

While even the casual fan is well aware of Crawford's struggles, it seems that things have really been deteriorating for him as of late. It all started with the ESPN link above, where Crawford wrote, "I just want to say I'm sorry for the year I've had. You guys have been really supportive and I appreciate that. Hopefully when we get into these playoffs, I can be the real Carl Crawford that I know I am. We'll see."

Carl, I know your intentions are well and good, but don't apologize for the season that you've had until the season is over. The Red Sox are sinking headfirst at the bow, and Crawford is apologizing for his season before the final game, when each of these final games still mean something. There was his first mistake.

His second mistake came when he was taking days off with what was described as a "stiff neck". While it must be unpleasant to play with a "stiff neck", Dustin Pedroia played through the last month of the season and through the entire 2007 playoffs with a broken hamate bone in his hand, which required surgery at the end of the year. If Pedroia is going out there with broken bones, you can manage with a stiff neck.

Then, what many are deeming as the last straw, and are even calling for Crawford to be dealt this winter, Crawford shafted the Boston media last night.

After Boston's most recent debacle on Tuesday night, Crawford addressed a group of media members surrounding his locker by saying, "I don't know why you're standing here while I dress, because when I'm dressed I'm leaving." When asked if he was taking any questions, Crawford responded, "Go ask the captain."

There's an old saying here in Boston that the only people who dislike players who don't like the media is the media. Listen, I understand that there is a lot of frustration with what has been going on here this month. I get it. I also understand that there is a lot of pressure to live up to a big contract, a pressure that has driven some players to take steroids, but if it's frustration that you feel, take it out on the field, not on the media.

I'm not even trying to stick up for the media, because that's their job. But for the sake of the fans who pay to see you play, in Boston especially, we pay to see emotion from our players. The best case of this is JD Drew. That guy could hit .300 with 25 homers and 90 RBI, but if he doesn't slam his helmet after he strikes out, he has to reach for his wallet when he wants to buy a beer in Boston. That's just how it goes.

While there have been fans and media members alike proposing the idea of giving Crawford the Edgar Renteria treatment of shipping him out after one failed year, I know that Crawford is better than that. He may be a good player getting paid great player money, but there is still time for him to earn that contract.

Like he said in his ESPN diary, the postseason is a whole new season. Let's see what he can do then before we blow up GM's voicemails looking for trade partners.

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Published on September 21, 2011

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