Crawford likely out until May

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FORT MYERS, Fla.Left fielder Carl Crawford likely wont be back with the team until around May 1, it seems.

Crawford is progressing in his rehab from surgery on his left wrist. But a setback earlier in camp delayed that progress. He has been swinging at balls on a tee, is on a throwing program, and is scheduled to take 20 or so bunts today. He has not taken swings at live pitches, though.

No, manager Bobby Valentine said. No, thats later.

Valentine said Thursday morning he does not think its likely he will see Crawford hit live before the teams heads north after Mondays game.

Valentine said Crawford would need about 50 at-bats to get ready, which translates roughly into about 15 rehab games. Asked if Crawford could be ready to join the team in a couple of weeks, Valentine replied:

It might be realistic. I dont know. It doesnt seem it. Are we going to ask him to have 50 at-bats somewhere? Probably. So you got to do the math on that. Thats 15 games at three-point-something at-bats, and then you got to get 15 games from the time he starts playing.

I think we have, its a target. Its not a bulls eye.

Valentine emphasized the importance of letting Crawfords rehab take its own progression, not dictated by the calendar.

You dont want to put the kid, anybody rehabbing, under the pressure of a deadline, Valentine said. It can never be the calendar or the schedule that says when a guys healthy. It cant be. Its not fair. Its just not fair.

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