Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
Carl Crawford on the boos: ‘That’s my little theme now wherever I go’ 07.12.12 at 11:08 pm ET
By Mike Petraglia

Carl Crawford

PAWTUCKET — Carl Crawford could at least joke about it.

Fans in Pawtucket for the second straight year booed the Red Sox star outfielder for a miscue, this time not running out of the batter’s box on a pop fly that fell fair down the left-field line. He got a single, not a double, and failed to score because of it in the third inning of Pawtucket’s 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Bisons at McCoy Stadium Thursday night.

“I was nervous today,” Crawford admitted after going 2-for-3 with a run scored. “I don’t know if I’ll be nervous on the first day [back in Boston] but I’ll probably be a little nervous, probably nerves build up. I’m sure I’ll have a few butterflies.”

That first day back is still slated for Monday night against the White Sox at Fenway Park. But on Thursday, he admitted he felt nerves the first time up, when he showed bunt for strike one and waved at strike two before grounding out to second.

“I was nervous the first at-bat,” said Crawford, who had his pop fly moment in the next at-bat in the third. “The second at-bat, that just happened, so I was as really nerved up the second at-bat. Just being back out on the field, just being back here in Pawtucket. I remember I got booed here last year so I had to worry about that again. It’s kind of my little theme now wherever I go. Last year, it did, now I’m just trying to block all that stuff out.”

On a more serious note, Crawford said he hasn’t been contacted by any authorities after a fan allegedly hurled a racial slur his way in Manchester, N.H., during a Double-A game with Portland. The man who is said to have uttered the slur reportedly is a member of the Leominster police force.

“I just want to put all that stuff behind me,” Crawford said. “Whatever happens with that, that’s old news to me.”

The status of his left elbow is news. He adjusted his throwing mechanics to take more stress off the elbow — any little advantage to avoid Tommy John surgery.

“I’m just trying to have the proper mechanics, more like what you’ll see a pitcher do,” he said. “They throw the right way and they don’t really have problems because they’re not throwing awkward. I was throwing in a way that was putting strain on my elbow. I’m just trying to throw the right way.

“Definitely frustrating for me because I definitely want to be out there and it’s hard. I’m not a guy who likes to make a lot of excuses. I want to be out there but at the same time I have to be careful and it’s a fine line with trying to explain why you’re not out there and why you’re still on the sideline.”

The most encouraging words came when Crawford was asked how he feels about returning on Monday.

“I feel like I’m closer than I ever was before early on in the year,” said Crawford, who’s battled wrist, elbow and groin issues on his path back. “At this point in my time, it’s time to get out on the field and see what I can do.

“[The elbow] never really gave me any problems when I’m swinging. I’m not worried at all about my elbow at the plate. When I’m throwing, I just said, ‘Whenever it happens, it happens,’ but I’m not going to hold back once I get on the field. If I take that field, I’m going to go all out.”

And, barring any setback on Friday or Saturday in Pawtucket, that is still on track to be Monday.

“It’s a little concern but at the same time, like I said, once I cross the white lines, I’m not going to worry about it,” Crawford said. “I feel like the expectations are always going to be high, so my thing is to play within myself and not worry about all that. Hopefully, I ‘m doing the things I normally do and helping the team win and getting the team back in the race.”

Read More: Boston Red Sox, Buffalo Bisons, carl crawford, Leominster police Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Bernie carbo75

    On a more serious note, Crawford said he hasn’t been contacted by any authorities after a fan hurled a racial slur his way in Manchester, NH during a Double-A game with Portland. The man who utter the slur is reportedly a member of the Leominster police force.

    Then he should be fired. Think racism won’t affect him in his job?

  • Mfgg

    Whatever Crawford. You’re making 140 mil, you haven’t done anything. What do you expect? Man up and play!

  • Snooddood7

    boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • Doubtful

    Not sounding good, not running out a pop fly? Worried about boos? So nervous in a minor league at bat that he struggles? He will never perform in Boston.

  • AndyP

    Give Crawford a break.  We’d all take the money too.

  • Doug

    It almost sounds like he’s setting himself up for failure, I hope not, I wish this guy the best, when he plays all out and is in the groove there aren’t many better, he can steal better than Romney and that’s saying a lot.  Good luck Carl.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PGRRHRMH2AMOBTBSSOY56T5ECE lcp00076

    I’m still booing for not diving on that SEASON ENDING fly to left last year.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PGRRHRMH2AMOBTBSSOY56T5ECE lcp00076

    Check out this beauuuut.  Thanks Carl!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGJRyQCoJFc&t=0m51s
     

  • Freddykool

    THE B ON HIS HAT SHOULD BE FOR BUSH LEAGUES WHERE HE BELONGS…..

  • pie face

    friggin Theo has screwed up the Sox for the next 6yrs. Crawford will never succeed in Boston –his greed got the best of him, he should have never signed here. CC does not seem that bright which is fine but being a greedy athlete he just couldn’t resist the money. He should have stayed in his comfort zone of a mediocre market as a mediocre player. Lackey and Gonzalez are in the same situation, not that bright but as a greedy playesr couldnt resit the cash and now they are in over there heads and none of them have what it takes to succeed in a competitive environment.

  • pie face

    i watched the PawSox–Crawford stood in the batters box like a dope and watched it drop in the outfield, completely unprofessional (any little leaguer knows better)—you are correct, CC doesnt have what it takes, he just keeps making excuses–hes gonna spend the rest of his contrat on the DL–which aint so bad cuz he sucks. CC is an anchor and will weigh down the RS for years to come—thanks a lot theo–you jerk.

  • pie face

    Dont be ridiculous—Jackie Robinson suffered 1000x the nasty remarks by ignorant fools—and what did he do?–he kicked-ass. He didnt whine and complain like a baby and go back on the DL. We are all better for it that Jackie had the stones to step up. Study some baseball history you dink.

  • pie face

     Hey Dougie—
    Learn the game–CC has a losers mentality and will never succeed in a competitve market  Damn there are a lot of Pink Hats here.

  • pie face

     Pink Hat

  • Cato the Younger

    Seriously? Fired for yelling a racial slur, if one was used, during his off time? I believe this is still America. So, it this were an all black event and one of the customers yelled the N word. Word this also be a slur?

  • Geeteolboy

    Watch his elbow blow out on his first throw from the Monster to second. His comments give the impression he’s rooting for it to happen.

  • Crapsguy58

    How is Crawford ‘greedy’?  Who else would turn down a $140M contract offer?  The owners don’t have to produce these insane contracts.  That said, Crawford better quit being ‘nervous’ and just get out there and play ball.  And produce while you’re at it or it’s gonna be a miserable 6 years for you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-Casey/100000445248596 Patrick Casey

    “I remember I got booed here last year so I had to worry about that again.” This line scares me the most. Screams fragile mentality.

  • Anonymous

    Pensez-y … les 3 tactiques dont nous avons parlé beaucoup avec les émotions ou les comportements humains Marshall Femme, plut?t que votre produit lui-même. Ouais, quand nous affecter la partie interne du client, nos ventes sont susceptibles de voir de grands résultats … et bon, ils vont se sentir bien alors qu’ils sont écrit sur ??le chèque! Que pourriez-vous demander?

  • Mary J

    allez vous faire foutre perdant

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify