"The first thing Carl Crawford needs to understand about the 2011 season is that it's going to be a statistical disappointment. The second thing Carl Crawford needs to understand about the 2011 season is that it's not over.

No matter what Crawford does between now and the end of September, he's likely to post his worst numbers in nearly a decade. But as he showed yesterday, that doesn't mean the Red Sox left fielder can't make an impact.

Crawford went 4-for-4 and stroked three hits against New York Yankees ace CC Sabathia, including an RBI single to kick-start a five-run fourth inning that helped lift the Sox to a 10-4 victory at Fenway Park. In the process, Crawford provided a glimpse into why the Red Sox so confidently believed he'd justify a $142 million contract last winter, even if he's almost guaranteed to fall short of expectations in Year 1.

"I can't give up," Crawford said. "I've always got to have positive thoughts about making the season better for me as best I can. I definitely have that in my mind."

Crawford's first season with the Sox has clearly taken its toll. He started slowly, began experiencing doubts and has never really recovered. His best stretch of play came in the 23 games before he went on the disabled list with a pulled hamstring, during which time he hit .314 with five home runs and 18 RBI, and the Red Sox went 17-6."