"Eventually, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine and Carl Crawford will talk, at which time they will leave behind the comments Valentine made as an ESPN analyst that insulted the left fielder and move on to more timely matters.

One such topic: Crawford's spot in the Red Sox lineup.

For nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Crawford was a dynamic top-of-the-lineup threat. He typically batted second or third, and his success led former Red Sox manager Terry Francona to often describe him as a "game-changer.""