Carl Crawford – sittingstill.net’s Kelly O’Connor
Mark July 16th on your calendar.
As far as Carl Crawford is concerned Monday is the day when he expects (hopes?) to return to the Boston Red Sox.
“We’re taking it day by day but Monday (July 16) is the day I’m trying to reach,” Crawford said after playing in a rehab game Thursday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox against the Buffalo Bisons. “I feel the pressure of everybody wanting me to be out there so I’m trying to get as many at-bats (as I can).
“That’s the fastest time that we can think of. I want to be out there myself. I know fans want me to be out there. Management wants me to be out there.”
Crawford, who batted leadoff, played left field and was limited to five innings, was 2-for-3 against Buffalo right-hander Jeremy Hefner. Hefner retired Crawford on a weak grounder to second on an 0-2 pitch in the first. Che-Hsuan Lin was on third base in the third when Crawford blooped a 1-0 pitch just inside the left field line for a single. In his last at-bat, he lined an 0-2 pitch to center for a single.
Crawford, who made four throws from the outfield, was encouraged by the fact he was able to go all out.
“I’ve been able to run well,” he said. “I threw the ball today – the way I wanted to throw it. I’ve pretty much been able to do the things that I normally do.”
Crawford is beginning a new 20-day rehab assignment. Originally, he rehabbed from June 23-30 with the Gulf Coast Red Sox and continued with the Portland Sea Dogs from July 3-5. But Crawford, who was scheduled to continue his rehab with Pawtucket on July 7, was scratched because he strained his left groin muscle while legging out a triple on July 5 in Portland’s game at New Hampshire.
According to Major League rules, Crawford was eligible for another rehab assignment this year for Boston because he had not played in the previous six days. Crawford has yet to play in 2012 for Boston because he underwent off-season surgery on his left wrist. And he suffered another setback in late April when he sprained the ulnar collateral ligament in his left (throwing) elbow which he later said may require off-season surgery.
As much as anything, being patient has been a major challenge for Crawford.
“I have to be extremely patient this year and make sure things are what they should be,” said Crawford, who’ll play nine innings Friday and Saturday and then take off Sunday. “It’s been a test for me this year.”