Introducing your center fielder number ten in your programs and yet to be number one in your hearts. Coco Crisp has signed a contract extension through ’09, plus a club option for 2010. Though this isn’t new news it is a solid indication of how the Red Sox felt when they re-signed the speedy fielder three months after trading for Crisp as he quickly impressed , David Riske and Josh Bard. While sending Guillermo Mota, Andy Marte, Kelly Shoppach, cash considerations plus a player to be named later or future cash considerations. The trade was the second in Coco’s young career as he was later added as the player to be named later in the July 19th, 2002 trade that sent Chuck Finley to the Cardinals for Luis Garcia. St. Louis drafted Covelli Loyce aka “Coco” Crisp with their 7th pick in the 1999 draft.

Coco Crisp made his major league debut in August 15th of 2002. His career potential has been summed up from the start as best case scenario being a steady everyday outfielder. Assets shown over career have to be his “fleet feet on the bases.” He also maintains a steady swing with ever improving power, also possesses strong bunting skills with his steady bat in which he uses to slap the ball down the lines and gap shots for extra bases.
His flaws tend to be that although a comparable switch hitter his left side is noticeably weaker of the two. Though he seems to have the overall speed his defensive acceleration and overall defense needs fine tuning as centerfield is a very important spot in Fenway as he must make up for Manny Ramirez’s defensive deficiencies.
The five year, 27 year old has posted a career .990 fielding percentage with only twelve career errors and only having at most four in one specific year. So as you can see if the ball is in the air anywhere near Crisp in the outfield he will not touch a blade of Fenway grass. Where most people feel the problem in Crisp’s game is the lack of arm strength when throwing deep from the outfield though it seems to be a non issue for Francona as would rather have the speed rather than the arm in center.

The six foot one-hundred and eighty pound Los Angeles, California native looks to break out this year and show all Boston faithful that he will bounce back from a lackluster year in which he played in 105 games after getting injured with a non-displaced fracture of his left index finger on April 8th at Baltimore while attempting a stolen base in the third inning.
He posted a batting average of .264 almost twenty points lower than his career average. Seemed to try and play through his injuries throughout the season so his numbers were not up to par, not reaching ten homeruns in his 413 at bats. This year I project if healthy with a little luck and if he receives a good spot in the lineup, he can hit 20 HR’s if given 500 + at bats. Crisp actually posted 22 doubles and 22 stolen bases which he should post again this year with ease.

Look for him as of the start of the season in the six-seven spot in the batting order as Lugo may lead off and Crisp seems to be more of a two slot so if he has a good start and Youkilis or others struggle look for him to move up and he will get some great pitches, I am sure of it as Big Papi is the number three hitter and who better to hit in front of. He would surely put up numbers almost worthy of top CF in the East and beyond as when in 01-02 when he was an all-star in single A as an outfielder in the Carolina League. He is truly a poor mans combo of the Yankees Johnny Damon and the Blue Jays Vernon Wells.