Crawford’s Season Over. Surgery On Thursday.

It was the right thing to do. Carl Crawford‘s torn ulnar collateral ligament wasn’t getting any better. With four teams ahead of them in the wild card race, Boston is going nowhere in 2012. If you do the math – six to eight months to rehab for a position player – Crawford might just be ready for opening day 2013. It all adds up.

Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard it all before. Crawford has been a big fat injury-riddled bust since he came to Boston. No one has excoriated him more than I have. That is until now.

In 31 games, Crawford swiped 5 bases, batted .282, had and OBP of .306, slugged at a .479 clip and had an on base plus slugging percentage of .789. Did he set the world on fire? No. Is it a damn sight better than his 2011 season of .255, .289, .405, .694? No question. What is equally important is that Crawford has been more relaxed and freewheeling this year than his tight and dry as a funeral drum 2011 season.

As a Red Sox fan you have to root for this guy. In 2013 he’ll only be going into the third year of his $142 million, seven-year deal with Boston. He’s not going anywhere. Root for Carl Crawford. Red Sox Nation needs him to be confident, solid and productive.

I’m burying my hatchet. For now…