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Rays' Crawford Is Finding A Way

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2008

Updated: 10/17/2008 01:00 am

BOSTON - A 5-for-5 night at the plate is a pretty good indication that a batter's swing is in good shape.

For Carl Crawford to put together one of those nights Tuesday in only his eighth game following a nearly two-month layoff, well, no one really saw that coming.

"I was hoping it came quick, but for it to actually happen is another thing," Crawford said Thursday afternoon.

Crawford said his swing still isn't exactly right as he continues to recover from the surgery on his right hand that he had exactly two months before his five-hit performance in Game 4. But there's no use complaining considering the way things are going for him.

"My hand's feeling better, that's the most important thing," he said. "I'm just trying to stay short and find a way to get hits. It's not my normal swing, but it's working. I'm just trying to find something that works right now."

The Rays have no complaints, certainly. Manager Joe Maddon is pleased with the way Crawford has kept the lineup moving while batting in the fifth spot. Entering Thursday, he had driven in four runs in the ALCS in addition to scoring three of his own. More than anything, he's been impressed by the way Crawford has done it.

"It's not just about getting hits; it's about the at-bat," Maddon said. "He's not expanding his strike zone like he did earlier in the season. More now, having not played in a while, he's had a better command of the strike zone. He's hitting the ball off the left-field wall, up the middle - he's just spraying it all over the place. Historically, that's when he does his best work."

And that's another aspect of the way Crawford has played lately that piques the Rays' interest: He's still easing back into regular action. Not that it would be easy to improve on 5-for-5, but there may be more to come from their All-Star outfielder.

"It seems like I'm getting better with each game," Crawford said, "so I hope that continues."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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