Entries Tagged 'Coco' ↓

It’s happening already: the talk about the Sox taking on the Cubs in the World Series.

Right now? I’m not sure anyone wants to face the Cubs. They seem to be on a holy war effort to claim a post season spot, and even with Soriano taking a six week break, the Cubbies are on pace to keep the best record in baseball by the All-Star break.

Papelbon bailed out…

It took back-t0-back home runs by Youk and Crisp (you may want to cut and paste or bookmark this page since I believe it’ll be the last time that happens in Boston) to save Paps from a loss. He blew the save (his first blown save since May 9), and it looked like Hanson was going to cough it up again in the 10th, but the Sox stuck it to them and Youk can have his ALMOST cycle day in Cinci’ (he was just missing a triple).

Ladies and gentlemen, Spring Training is not even officially one month old and Mr. Crisp has begun the campaign to be jettisoned from the Land of the Red Sox.

He’s been vocal about the fact that he’s had to compete. I see it this way:

Last year, Coco had a few injuries to endure throughout the regular season and, even though he played through them, his body just couldn’t take much more punishment while being able to focus on the offensive side of his game. The Sox, actually, were incredibly lucky to have someone like Ellsbury ready to go. Had he not been as well-prepared, the Sox would have had a slightly harder time winning seven straight games.

This year, Coco is in the fight for his life to save (or get back, really) his job and keep his value at a high level.

I’m still a big fan of both potential center fielders.  I believe Coco is a brilliant defender who will be able to play at his level of defense for the next five years before he’s so incredibly banged up as to render him almost useless in any hard activity.

I believe Ellsbury is a potential superstar who could use his good looks and his super agent to rise to the levels only enjoyed by less than 1%.

I also believe there is no guarantee with either option. You see, even though Coco is a great defensive player with a few years under his cap, he came into the organization with the great hope of the replacement for a goofy, sometimes admittedly idiotic leadoff hitter.

There will be a great amount of discussion in the next few weeks. Red Sox Nation seems to wish this were easier, but also seem to want nothing less than this whole mess to disappear and Ellsbury to take over.

Regardless, this will be an interesting test.

• Buchholz had a really rough outing yesterday giving up hits to the first five batters he faced (he came in the game in the third). He’s competing with a rejuvenated Colon who threw a bullpen session yesterday and had “good movement and a fastball that reached 90 a few times”. This could get really interesting, folks.
• Terry Francona has decided that Pedroia is a moron and told the Boston Globe they could print it. The comment came after watching Pedroia “Dance With the Stars” for Mike Lowell’s charity.
• Curt’s going to have surgery. Just a gut feeling. This year is probably toast for him.
• Big Papi wants to ride it out in Boston for the next big contract. I don’t know how they’ll avoid paying him a ridiculous amount of money unless he gets hurt or has a crap year.
• Varitek will get a three year, $36 Million dollar deal. Just my guess. We’ll see if I’m right. Also, the Sox don’t seem to do this (publicly anyway), but they should give ‘Tek a Personal Services contract.
• Next stop on the rumor mill? Nowhere. It’s been unrealistically quiet this year (no problem there). Good feelings will occur when real games begin.
• Theo is the next one up for a big administrative contract. He’s rumored to currently pull in $1.8 Million/year. I think he’ll get a sizable bump; how can they not?
• Not too much noise on the center field competition, is there? Must be something happening with Crisp that we don’t know about…

Coco showed up with a bit of a chip on his shoulder this week and made sure that everyone heard that he’d rather be traded than sit on the bench. I don’t blame him. While I am certainly one of those people who thought he didn’t live up to any sort of offensive prowess, Coco Crisp is one of the most exciting and electrifying defensive players I’ve had the pleasure to watch in the past 20 years.

When healthy, right?

When the team is doing well, right?

Nope.

Coco is not the best center fielder in the league. He’s just damned good and damned entertaining.

Watching him play the last two years has been a great form of entertainment. And, to that end, I hope he can stick with the team and show his skills this year as well.

I just don’t want him holding back Ellsbury, who is, without question, a starting major league center fielder.

How lucky are the Sox to have this problem?

It appears it’s now a question of “when” and “where” not, “if” Coco will be traded. With the return of Kielty, Crisp is a good couple of solid pitchers or a catcher away from being sent to destinations unknown.

Personally, I’d like to see them package Tavarez and Crisp in a deal that brings a couple of strong, young relievers to fill the middle of the bullpen.

Also, unrelated, what the hell is the deal with Francona? Is he getting an extension or not?