Brandon Crawford deserves better.
Craw will go down as arguably the greatest Giants shortstop off all-time. He was a central figure to the team’s dynasty run of the 2010s. A Bay Area native, Crawford and his family were beloved by Giants fans throughout his 13-year tenure.
On Wednesday, Crawford had to exit the 7-1 loss to the Diamondbacks with a hamstring injury, throwing the rest of his season – and career – in doubt. Crawford is usually laid back, but he seemed subdued even by his standards while talking to reporters after the game.
“On the groundball (in the second inning) halfway, three-quarters down the line, just running down the line I felt (my hamstring) grab a little bit,” Crawford said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “Told (first-base coach) Antoan (Richardson) I hoped it was a cramp and I wanted to play defense and stay out there. But it wasn’t just a cramp.”
Manager Gabe Kapler told reporters there’s a chance that Crawford could go on the injured list. With just 10 games and 11 days left in the regular season – and the Giants’ playoff hopes all but extinguished – this could be a cruel way for Crawford’s career to end.
The 36-year-old is playing out the final season of a two-year, $32 million contract he signed before the 2022 season. After putting together a career year and finishing fourth in the National League MVP voting in 2021, Crawford has been beset by leg injuries the past two seasons and missed 105 games in that span.
Many figured that this could be Crawford’s final season before retirement and his declining production in 2023 hasn’t done much to change that narrative. In 92 contests this season, Crawford is slashing .197/.276/.319 with seven homers and 38 RBIs.
No matter if he’s healthy or not, you can only hope that the three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champ gets a hero’s send-off next week when the Giants host their final homestand of the season. It’s a real gut-punch for another mediocre and boring campaign under the Farhan Zaidi/Kapler regime.
“Hopeful that it feels better the next couple days,” Crawford said. “But, I dunno. We’ll see.”