Boston Red Sox: Why Carl Crawford Will Have a Great 2012 Season

Carl Crawford is one of the keys to a successful 2012 season. He is going to feel the pressure this upcoming season to be the best hitter and base stealer that the Boston Red Sox have seen—other than Jacoby Ellsbury in 2011.

Crawford should have made that catch to make that final out, and that will haunt him forever unless he can make it into the postseason for a shot at the World Series. His bat and speed are the X factor for the 2012 Red Sox.

Haunted by Missing Catch

Many of the players are blamed for this final loss, but Carl Crawford could have at least sent it into extra innings if he used his speed in the field to catch that ball. It dropped a couple inches in front of him, and that is unacceptable when we have seen him make far greater plays with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Crawford looked as if he was too scared to be on the Boston Red Sox, but maybe with a year under his belt he can become the great threat on the base paths as well and the fielder who can make great plays, like Jacoby Ellsbury.

Crawford would love to get over his worst season since 2008—where he had 25 stolen bases and 12 home runs. He also only played in 109 games due to injury.

So, this missed catch should be motivation enough to propel Crawford to do better.

Batting Average

Carl Crawford has a career batting average of .293, and in 2012 he only hit .255.

This is unacceptable for how much money he is going to make with the Boston Red Sox.

In five of the past seven seasons, Crawford has hit over .300, and he has been able to get on base through walks to maybe get stolen bases. He needs to stop playing as if he is being watched by millions and start playing as if he wants to earn the contract the Sox gave him in the 2010 offseason.

He Will Steal Bases

The Boston Red Sox already have Jacoby Ellsbury in the leadoff spot, but who says that they don't need someone toward the bottom of the lineup who can steal bases?

Carl Crawford needs to be that guy.

Crawford stole his lowest number of bases since his rookie year (nine bases in 63 games played in 2002). He has at least 46 or more in seven of his 10 seasons, and that should go down in Boston, but maybe the Sox will allow him to run more if it means a World Series in the future.

In His Prime

The Boston Red Sox are lucky to have both Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez when they are entering their prime playing years, but Crawford still needs to prove himself by having a fantastic 2012 season.

Crawford will be 31 in August, and he should have five solid years before he slows down some and starts to get hurt more often. With age comes more responsibility to conditioning and keeping healthy.

Hopefully, he comes back from his wrist injury with a new-found vigor that will get him in gear for the best season of his career.

Craving Postseason

The Boston Red Sox have not made the postseason since being swept by the Angels in 2009, and Carl Crawford has been there every year since 2008.

In 2008, Crawford nearly won the World Series, but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies and both him and Adrian Gonzalez are looking to win a title in Boston.