McAdam On Toucher & Rich: Sox Still Clueless About What To Do With Crawford?
The Red Sox pulled off a 2-1 win in Texas on Tuesday night thanks to a Mike Aviles blooped a tiebreaking single in the top of the ninth. This win over the Rangers put the breaks on a four game skid that put the Sox back below .500 for what seemed like the hundredth time this season.
Clay Buccholz didn't record the win, but had a solid performance to keep his team in the game. The starter gave up only four hits in seven innings pitched.
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Sean McAdam of Comcast SportsNet spoke with Toucher & Rich about the much needed win, rumors about the Sox getting pitching help and Carl Crawford.
Teams around the Majors are making some moves, but the Sox seem like they'll be sitting back. What's the real likelihood that the Red Sox make a move for a top flight starting pitcher that's a tradable commodity before the trade deadline?
"Well we know it's not going to be Cole Hamels this morning because he has agreed to go back to Philadelphia. You've got Zack Greinke pitching in Philadelphia last night with a Red Sox scout on hand and it has been reported that they have had some interest in Josh Johnson, as you guys have mentioned. I don't see them ponying up what it would take to get one of those guys."
The gang then moved on to discuss some of the players that are already on this Sox roster, mainly Carl Crawford. The outfielder spent the first 3 1/2 months of the season on the DL following surgery on his left wrist.
In the seventh inning of Tuesday night's game manager Bobby Valentine pulled Carl Crawford and replaced him with Daniel Nava, a move that left some scratching their heads. Granted Crawford was 0 for 3 on the night with a strikeout, but why pull him in what was a 1-1 game?
After the game Bobby V. made comments about not wanting to test the left fielder's arm. Should there be some concern about Crawford's elbow when the manager starts talking like this?
"It does and it seems to fly in the face of all the things they've been saying and doing in the last couple of weeks about that elbow."
"They're 19-months into this contract with Carl Crawford and they still don't know what to do with him. They don't know where to hit him in the lineup, that was the drama or issue before the game, and now they don't know how long they can keep him on the field because of the elbow."
Crawford had batted second his first seven games back this season, but was was moved down to seventh in the batting order for this most recent game. Will this have a negative affect on his game or was it just because he had only had 14 at-bats against left-handers this season?
"It was cited that it was only something that was going to be done against lefties, but for Pedro Ciriaco? It's one thing if Ortiz is back and you say, 'Well you know what I want to go Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Gonzalez, Middlebrooks, blah, blah, blah. But, you're demoting Crawford where he was uncomfortable a year ago, where he didn't feel he could flourish and utilize his skills."
Plus, why send out scouts to see players if the team doesn't intend on making any moves?
