Carl Crawford Still Sounds Miffed About His Time in Boston

Carl Crawford spent almost two injury-plagued seasons in Boston, before being dealt last August to the Dodgers in a blockbuster swap that also netted Los Angeles Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett (and Nick Punto). The outfielder still seems a little upset about how his time in Boston played out, or as upset as a player making close to $20 million per season can feel.

The Red Sox are in Los Angeles tonight to take on the Dodgers, so it’s time to re-examine the trade. The LA Times starts off quoting Crawford on the differences between the two clubhouses.

"“You just walk in the clubhouse and you got a positive feel. Immediately,” Crawford said."

As for Crawford’s time in Boston?

"“That was just a bad experience,” Crawford said of his time in Boston. “I definitely felt like I had a chance to get a fresh start. With a team, new atmosphere, new environment. “New everything.”"

Whatever lingering bad feelings Crawford (.289/.340/.413) might have about Boston — and vice-versa — have been rendered mostly moot. The Red Sox have moved on from last year’s 69-93 last-place debacle and as of Friday had the most wins in the American League, leading the East by a game over the Rays.

Los Angeles, with a healthy Crawford in the lineup, has been the story of the second-half in baseball, rocketing from 12-games under-.500 on June 21 to first-place in the National League West thanks to a 37-9 mark since July. Clayton Kershaw lowered his ERA to 1.72 Thursday. As I brought up a month ago, he’ll likely be the favorite to win the National League MVP award.

Everybody was a winner here in this trade, well, except for Bobby Valentine.