"The Red Sox don't play a meaningful game for another seven weeks, but manager Bobby Valentine already is resigned to starting the season without Carl Crawford.

The outfielder, who went underwent wrist surgery last month, can't yet swing a bat and could be out well beyond the opener on April 5 in Detroit.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Carl's a few weeks into the season before he's really ready to go," Valentine said yesterday. "I wouldn't be surprised, nor disappointed, if that's what nature dictates as the healing process."