Knee sidelines Crawford, but not serious

Update 11:45 pm LF Carl Crawford wasn't in the starting lineup Tuesday night for the opener of the series at Fenway Park, but appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth after a mid-day flight from Alabama, where he underwent an MRI on his right knee and hamstring showed no problems.

Crawford said the back of his knee/hamstring area started to feel sore during the Rays 10-game homestand, where the "turf kind of wore me out a little bit." The All-Star leftfielder flew to Alabama Tuesday morning to get examined by Dr. James Andrews, and though the injury isn't considered serious, Crawford labled it a "strain on the back of my knee," something which will likely linger for a little while.

Manager Joe Maddon said Crawford will be back in the lineup Wednesday. Crawford said it's just a matter of playing through pain.

"It's one of those things, you've got to either play through it, or hope for it to stop, or stop playing at all," Crawford said. "Since we’re in the middle of things, you don’t want to go to the DL, so you just have to find a way to play through it."

Crawford said he may have to shy away from sliding catches for a while, and admits the injury has taken away a little bit of his explosiveness on his basepaths (three stolen bases in his last 19 games going into Tuesday). He said it's a matter of building the muscle back up again.

For more, check out Wednesday's Times.

Crawford was on his way to Boston Tuesday afternoon after spending the day with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., after complaining of soreness in his right knee and hamstring.
Manager Joe Maddon said the MRI report was good, and he would talk to Crawford before the game to see if he would be available for reserve duty tonight.
Maddon said the Rays will be a "little bit cautious with him until the soreness subsides," but reiterated that "everything seems to be ok."
Neither Crawford nor the Rays said anything previously about the problem, but that would explain why he hasn't been running as often when he has been on base, and also why he unexpectedly was not in the starting lineup on Sunday. Maddon said it was merely soreness that was building up, but the injury definitely had some in the clubhouse nervous. As Cliff Floyd said, Crawford "makes us go."
"It’s hard to evaluate, (his presence is) so important," Maddon said. "Having Carl there improves your defense. It improves your offense. It causes much more concern for the other team on the bases. It provides confidence for the rest of the group that he’s there. Listen, he's our All-Star. He plays the whole game. He plays it hard. If you don’t have him out there, then the entire complexion of the team changes."

Here is what the lineup will look like tonight:
Iwamura, 2b
Navarro, c
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Floyd, dh
Hinske, lf
Gross, rf
Bartlett, ss
Garza, p

RED SOX

Ellsbury, lf
Pedroia, 2b
Youkilis, 1b
Ramirez, dh
Lowell, 3b
Drew, rf
Varitek, c
Crisp, cf
lugo, ss
masterson, p

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Baseball Fan]

Insane Fans of other teams,post on your teams cities Paper,Let us starving fans enjoy our fun.Were all excited about the Rays and we deserve to be.

[Nathan]

I'm sorry guys. I realize I'm pathetic and strange. One loss gets me upset because I'm a big loser, and nothing ever goes my way. I hope the team loses, so then I look better by comparison. (It's ain't easy being so real!)

[Bill]

There wasn't a whole lot the Rays did wrong last night other than starting pitching. So, don't worry............bad pitching is going to happen.

PS: I'd rather have Ortiz in the line-up, because that puts Manny in left field.............

[skp]

Nathan, this loss doesn't look a whole lot different that some of our other recent losses, where starting pitching lost the handle and offense couldn't catch up....if those losses were a "harbinger of things to come", i'll take what's apparently coming next - a huge winning tear....

[jeff]

"where the turf kind of wore me out"

ie Shannon Stewart when he played for the Twins on turf.

[CharlieRay]

Some fans are slow to get it, some fans are fast to get it and in this case this fan is HALF Fassst to get it

[Nathan]

Guys, I've been with this team every game for every season. I'm tired of letting myself believe, only to have the team disappoint. Again. It's like crying wolf. Well, I'll believe it now come October. If we're even a whiff of the AL East crown, I'll eat my words. I'm not some fairweather fan; I'm am, however, a realist. And admittedly I live vicariously thru my teams. I hate losing and this game tonight in Fenway has all the earmarks of being the harbinger of things to come. I hope I'm wrong. History says I'm not. Oh, and thanks MLB for sticking us in a division with the two Bottomless Pit Payrolls. Oi.

[Eric]

Yeah, "All things", including reader comments.

[Roman]

Nathan, I am really trying to see your point, but I don't see how one could say this team is overrated. I really don't. But, I think if I were bitter fan of another team, I could see your point.

You name a stat and the team is somewhere in the top percentage of teams.

As for Tampa Bay being the mantra of the Tampa Bay area. I can't tell you how incorrect you are. Either you are blind, dumb, and just completely off of your rocker.

The times have brutally honest with the Rays. I am a die hard Rays fans and the Times have gotten under my collar on more then a few occasions.

Lastly, if the Rays were so mediocre they how come they are still in first place, and have been so for twenty-one days? Explain that to me?

Why don't you relax and let us fans who have been through the mud and muck of baseball for the last 11 years have some fun. You come across as a guy who screamed there is not Santa Clause once you realized all you got was stinkin' sweater. Grow up or move out of the area.

It's extremely pleasing as a Rays fan to read the AL East standings and for once NOT have to look at the bottom of the standings. I am enjoying this season, and if it comes to an end, then so be it. But it been a great ride thus far and doesn't need your kind spoiling the fun.

[Nathan]

How many times do I have to post to say this team is utterly overrated; cannot win big games on the road; and cannot hit the ball consistently. Apparently, Mother Times only likes "positive" comments. Either you need a less restrictive policy or you need to review submissions faster. Who am I kidding, mediocrity is the mantra of all things in the Bay Area.

[Baseball Fan]

Switch Hinske or Gross with Pena in the Batting order to try and jump start the offence,untill Pena gets back on Track.