Carl Crawford Battling Wrist Injury That May Require Injection

Since returning to the Red Sox, Carl Crawford has started to resemble the same baseball player that tormented the Red Sox for so many years when he wore a Tampa Bay jersey.  Nothing was more reflective of that than Sunday afternoon’s performance by Crawford that saw the speedster collect three doubles and three RBI in a romp of the Indians.

But Crawford was pulled from the game in the fifth inning with a flare up in his wrist, the same one that was surgically repaired back in January.  Crawford told reporters after the game that he has been playing with some discomfort and pain in his left wrist since his return and he claims some days are worse than others.

Manager Bobby Valentine stressed to the media that the injury was minor and that both he and Carl wanted to keep it at the minor level, hence the decision to pull him from the game.

Crawford revealed that he had an injection to alleviate the pain in his wrist back in March when he tried to speed up the recovery process, only to further aggravate the injury. Now, Crawford is deciding whether to have another injection that should allow him to continue to play this season.

"“It’s been five months since I had the shot, so it’s probably just time for another one,” he said. “Had the game been close, I definitely would have stayed in the game. I didn’t really think it was too much of a big deal.” – courtesy of NESN."

On the season, Crawford has a slash line of .258/.287/.461/.748 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI.  While those numbers are a far cry from his career average’s, we are seeing Crawford more comfortable at the plate, something that is imperative if the Sox have any chance at the postseason.

Crawford has been the topic of criticism during his time in Boston, failing to meet the expectations that led to his 7-year deal worth $142 million.   Another trip to the DL would only fuel that fire of criticism and nay sayers, and considering the Red Sox are a better team with CC in the lineup lately, let’s hope the injection is all he needs at this point.