Carl Crawford is an honorable man and he is trying to do the honorable thing. Back in April we reported that Crawford would visit Dr. James Andrews for a diagnosis on his left elbow.
As we discussed, visiting Dr. Andrews is never a good thing. And today, Crawford revealed that at some point is elbow was going to require Tommy John surgery.
That may be at the end of the season, or that may be on the very next baseball that he throws.
He wants to prove his worth to the team and to the fans. At this point, no surgery is scheduled, although Crawford did give it some thought. “Thought about it but at this point, if I can play, I think the Red Sox want me out on the field,” Crawford said.
Crawford returned from an rehab assignment earlier this week with a slight groin pull. “Just treating it and staying stretched out and still doing stuff to make sure I’m ready to go,” Crawford said.
“The thing is, I do that every year. It’s like spring training for me, so I’m starting back running again, and I always get tight in that area. It’s just one of those things that it always happens to me.
We’re just taking care of it. I know how things are around here: Once you say one little thing, it goes way bigger than what it really is. That’s it pretty much.”
As much as Crawford wants to play and wants to contribute, it might be time for wiser heads to prevail.
Someone needs to step in and make a decision for him. Position players usually recover from Tommy John surgery in about half the time as pitchers. Surgery now we have him ready to go by spring training.
The Red Sox are 9 1/2 games back in the American League East. They have 76 games remaining. Common risk assessment should dictate to the Red Sox that now might be the better time for Crawford to have the surgery.
The day that he throws a ball in from left field and his elbow let’s go is not something anybody wants to see. However, the Red Sox are still expecting Crawford contribute the second half season.
