Carl Crawford says he didn't smile his two years in Boston

Carl Crawford says he was miserable during his two seasons in Boston. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Crawford signed a seven-year, $142.0 million contract during the 2010 offseason after spending the previous nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Carl Crawford doesn't want to think about his tenure with the Boston Red Sox. But when asked, he says that he "cringes" every time his mind races back to the debacle that was the Boston franchise during the time he was there, especially last season.

Crawford signed a seven-year, $142.0 million contract during the 2010 offseason after spending the previous nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He was bothered by a wrist injury his first season in Boston.  Crawford was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2012 but the same elbow problem showed up again and he was limited to just 31 games before having season-ending surgery.

"I don't think I smiled in two years," Crawford told USA TODAY of his time on a troubled team in Boston. "I was just frowning, I started growing grey hairs on my face from the stress and everything for two years straight. When you hear how bad you are every day, doubts spring into your mind. made him wonder if his career was in jeopardy. "Deep down, it's like I know I can still play baseball but after being told how much you suck for two years straight, it kind of messes with your mind."

This season, Crawford is batting .314 with one home run and two RBI and is hitless over his last 14 at-bats.