Tumblr
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Del.i.cious
Carl Crawford: Boston media loves it when players are miserable
Carl Crawford hopes to make his Dodgers debut on Opening Day. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
As Carl Crawford rehabs from Tommy John surgery and works toward his Dodgers debut, he’s finding it hard to forget the misery he experienced in his two seasons with the Red Sox — especially when it comes to the Boston media.
Crawford told CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler he made a mistake in signing a free-agent contract with the Red Sox following the 2010 season, but the media magnified his suffering.
“It just wasn’t the right place for me at the end of my day. I didn’t do my homework. Maybe they didn’t, either,” Crawford said. “At the end of the day, it just wasn’t the place for me.”
Crawford takes responsibility for his sub-par on-field performance in Boston, which ended with his injury and inclusion in the subsequent blockbuster trade to the Dodgers. The .296 career hitter dropped to .255 in his first year in Boston.
“I get it, I didn’t perform,” he said. “I got the money. I didn’t perform. I gave them every reason.”
Crawford said the Boston media jumped at every chance to criticize him while he struggled.
“I took so much of a beating in Boston, I don’t think anything could bother me anymore,” he said. “They can say what they want — that I’m the worst free agent ever — and it won’t get to me. But it bothered me the whole time there.
“Look how they treat [John] Lackey. Adrian [Gonzalez] hit 30 home runs (actually 27), and they talked about him not hitting home runs.”
“That smile turned upside down quick,” Crawford said. “I think they want to see that in Boston. They love it when you’re miserable. Burying people in the media, they think that makes a person play better. That media was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Crawford continues to say he’ll be ready for Opening Day, but the Dodgers are in no hurry to rush him.
LOL Crawford. Boston loved you when they forked over the money that's paying your sports cars and big mansions now. You took the lazy way out and played like a bum. You were a small town hero in Tampa and cracked under the pressure of the big lights and sold-out stadiums. You couldn't take criticism from real fans because almost nobody showed up in Tampa. And you blame the media? Had you played well you would have been revered. By the way, we loved Gonzalez. We hated losing him but if it meant getting rid of your lazy butt (and Beckett's) it was worth it.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeMan there are so many things I could say about this guy right now but all I will say is that you did not produce and in turn the media and the fans tore you a new one. Plain and simple. I have a feeling he ain't gonna produce out there in L.A. either. Just a hunch.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThat's just the way Boston is! Ask any NY fan! They ar mean, jealous, spiteful people.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeLackey turned in the worst performance by a starting pitcher in the history of the game. He was bad enough on his own. You were hurt for 2 straight years and did NOTHING. Gonzo was sold as having a "perfect" swing for the park and turned in nothing more than average numbers for a # 3-4 hitter. The media is bad in Boston no lie but your group made it worse on yourselves by playing crap ball!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Likecarl crawfish - injury prone, over paid, overrated piece of crap.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeCarl; I live in Tampa Bay, and I loved you here. I don't blame you for what happened, because I know your work ethic. HOWEVER, I do blame you for being naive, and for calling Boston your "dream job" when you left. After playing Boston 19 X / yr. throughout the start of your career, you should have had better perception than that and known what you were getting into, not simply be enamored with the dollar signs.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like