Has a cancer hit the Red Sox training camp in Fort Myers this spring?
Not quite. But Coco Crisp did express a desire to be traded if he couldn’t play every game this season—which isn’t likely given the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury.
“I want to play every day,” Crisp said. “I think everybody wants to play every day. If you don’t, I think there’s something wrong with you. I don’t want to sit on the bench. I can cheerlead with the best of them, but that’s not where I want to be, though.
“I would honestly rather be somewhere else and play than be on the bench. I’ll take whatever comes and deal with it. It’s no knock against Boston. The fans have treated me well. It’s ultimately for myself. I think I can speak for anybody: you want to play. So whatever the best situation is for yourself to play is where you want to be.”
The Red Sox are clearly better for Ellsbury’s offense at the top of the lineup, but neither Bobby Kielty nor Brandon Moss could make up for Coco’s value as part-time centerfielder/fourth outfielder.
- B/R Ticket Guide
You can count me surprised that Coco and a young pitcher weren’t dealt in a package for one of the top line starters who changed hands already this offseason (Johan Santana, Dan Haren, or Erik Bedard).
Coco’s recent comments will play more loudly, more egregiously when whistled through the Boston media. But I hear Coco expressing frustration that he isn’t able to satisfy his desire play every day, not his being disgruntled that a young star is rising behind him.
I do hear him asking for the things you expect from anyone who truly wants to compete. I do not hear him asking for a trade…yet.
I think Coco sees the writing on the wall—it’s not going to happen ahead of Jacoby Ellsbury—and I don’t have a problem with anything Coco Crisp had to say.
However, assuming that Coco Crisp has to be dealt, what can the Red Sox get in return? What will they need in exchange?
Coco’s skill set as a starting centerfielder, a very good fielder, and a potential top-of-the-order batter is desirable—and so is his contract. But now that it’s clear that Coco won’t be happy if the season progresses with him on the bench, the Red Sox's negotiating leverage has dropped.
Please note, I don’t expect Coco to pull a Jay Payton during the season, but it’s clear that the Red Sox would like to move him in the right deal at this point. The ideal situation would involve the Red Sox being able to find one of the following in return for Coco: (1) a No. 3 starter, (2) a set up man, or (3) a young catcher.
If possible, swinging a trade with the Rangers for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia—who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade—would be a coup to solidify the post-Varitek era behind the plate. I would happily package George Kottaras, Coco Crisp, and a reliever in our farm system to make the gamble on Salty.
Other options include trying to match up with the A’s and Billy Beane for Joe Blanton. But at this point, Beane’s asking price is out of touch with reality.
Now, throw in either Justin Duchscherer or Huston Street and some of the farm’s better talent becomes a good possibility.
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10 months ago
Well Coco isn't a bad guy from my experiences with him in Cleveland. He's a great guy.
He's also fought really hard to get where he is at. He was doubted day after day, always getting sent down in favor of another outfielder in Cleveland. But he kept giving Eric Wedge too many reasons to not take him out of the lineup.
He wants to play, I can't blame him. I don't think he's a cancer.. He just wants to play every day.
Also I don't think your Salty trade is possible. The Rangers just got him, I can't see them dealing him.
10 months ago
Tim,
Are you seriously thinking that the Red Sox could get Saltalamacchia for Coco Crisp, George Kottaras, and a reliever? Texas would be absolutely dumb to accept that trade. Why would you trade one of the centerpieces of your offense in the future for a centerfielder who isn't getting any younger and two prospects with nowhere near equal value? Honestly, the Red Sox would be lucky to get a mediocre middle reliever for Crisp, not a potential All-Star catcher.
Just because you're the Red Sox doesn't mean you can get whoever you want.
from 10 months ago
J.J. I don't disagree with you here. But there have been whispers of a deal for Salty in the Boston media since the end of last season. I don't understand why Texas would shop him, but it appears at least through the traditional media outlets that there has at least been some thought to a Salty trade to Boston with Coco Crisp as a big part of that deal.
I would feel very comfortable including Coco, Kottaras, and a top pitching prospect along the lines of Michael Bowden or Justin Masterson for Salty.
10 months ago
Gotcha, Tim. Not living in Boston, I didn't realize there were whispers about a possible trade, however extremely unlikely. If a guy like Bowden or Masterson was included, I could see Texas considering it as they need pitching more than Britney Spears needs dignity. However, Daniels would have to be absolutely blown away to give up a guy who was the centerpiece in the trade that sent his franchise player away.
10 months ago
This is what Coco said, "I’ll take whatever comes and deal with it. " Does that sound like a guy who will be a cancer? He wants to play, he feels he is an everyday centerfielder - are there 30 centerfielders better than Coco? I don't think so. Defensively, he showed last year he was as good as anyone. There is nothing wrong with anything he said. I think almost everyone would agree that Ellsbury should be the starter, but that doesn't mean Coco should be happy he doesn't get to start. Defense often goes overlooked, but his defense was a big reason the Sox were as good as they were last year. He is young, relatively cheap, so hopefully the Sox can get something they need for him, and he can get a chance to go to a team and play everyday.
from 10 months ago
Stew, I agree with you and the headline (with ?) was meant to point out how the media/radio is already pouncing on these statements. If you read my point of view:
"Coco’s recent comments will play more loudly, more egregiously when whistled through the Boston media. But I hear Coco expressing frustration that he isn’t able to satisfy his desire play every day, not his being disgruntled that a young star is rising behind him.
I do hear him asking for the things you expect from anyone who truly wants to compete. I do not hear him asking for a trade…yet.
I think Coco sees the writing on the wall—it’s not going to happen ahead of Jacoby Ellsbury—and I don’t have a problem with anything Coco Crisp had to say."
I think that comes across clear. If it doesn't, it should have....
10 months ago
Jarrod Saltalamacchia has nothing on Tek behind the plate. His defense is, at best, mediocre. Salty has an above average bat, for a catcher, but it really a guy who should learn to play first base. If you think Salty has the catching ability to replace Tek you are sadly mistaken.
10 months ago
yeah, sumpin' crispy sumpin' cool
10 months ago
you must not be from Boston because that analysis was way too calm and coherent.
from 10 months ago
Hahaha....boo yeah!
You're making Red Sox fans look classy in the eyes of the world Tim—who thought such was possible?
Keep up the great work.
10 months ago
Saltalamachia did absolutely nothing with Texas after the trade last year. Crisp is the best fielding outfielders in the league, and he had an off year behind the plate last year. If Boston offers Crisp amoung other players/prospects, Texas should be happy to get rid of Salty.
10 months ago
sdsd
10 months ago
Between Manny and Drew and resting Ellsbury, I think there is 300 or more at bats to be had as the fourth outfielder. Of course Crisp wants to play every day, everyone does. But I think his best move, as it has been for time immemorial, is to force Boston's hand. Start hitting .320 with a little power and a few walks, and by May they'll be beating down Theo's door.
10 months ago
14,000 reads? thats amazing
10 months ago
At first glance at your article, I thought I was reading the AP Wire story. At second glance, I realized I was right. Most of the words and substance were the same. And yet, I didn't see any credits given.
So your formula is to copy someone's other piece, change the title to make it more sexy, add a few comments, then presto, a new piece!
Unless you wrote the original AP article, I apologize. Otherwise.......
from 10 months ago
Can you point me to the AP Newswire piece? Because I wrote this on my blog after hearing Coco's comments on the radio. I can guarantee you that I didn't see another piece of writing on this outside of the Boston.com Extra Bases blog that I got the transcript of the quote.
10 months ago
ok...I found it: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BBA_RED_SOX_CRISP?SITE=JRC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Note...this timestamp from Howard Ulman's AP piece was 5:00 PM on 2/20. My blog post was at 10:17 am that morning. You can see a screenshot of that time post from my blog management tool here:
http://img.skitch.com/20080222-b1nnstp4bj5hibi2xr7tb518rr.jpg
Reading through it...outside of them reporting on the same piece of information, I don't think they make all the same points. Why the hate?
10 months ago
No hate Tim,
Just plagerism is a serious sin in the writing business.
Giving no credit and making it look like you did the interview?
Essentially copying another story like you now admit you did, whether its AP's or not, is not the issue. Changing the title, a few words, then claiming it as your own, is the problem I have.
Look up the word integrity in the dictionary. If you find it insulting when someone calls you out for what you did, then so be it.
from 10 months ago
John:
1. If the qualifier, "While addressing the media in Fort Myers, Coco Crisp said..." had been in front of the quote would that have made you feel differently? I never claimed to have done an interview. The quote was broadcast on the radio and tv. I pulled the exact wording from the Boston.com article as not to mis-quote Coco himself. Realistically, I didn't expect that anyone would think that I had any first hand access to sports personalities. If not qualifying that more explicitly was wrong, them consider me corrected.
2. However, everything outside of that quote, which was directly from the athlete to a large group of gathered media was 100% my thoughts and wording. You are painting a very broad brush with your statements.
3. How is my pulling this quote of Crisp's any different than you pulling this quote;
"I thought it was terrible," Kobe Bryant said after the game. "If [fans] want to do that, they can stay home. He's going to be our guy for two months. Kwame's sensitive–you boo him, it's going to affect him. I told him I've got his back."
in one of your recent articles? http://tinyurl.com/3y2yck
Were you with Kobe after the game? If not, where did you find this quote?
The reason I was interested in Bleacher Report was to better my writing ability and thought that an open community of writers to learn from would be a great thing to advance a hobby of mine. If this is a lesson for me that there would have been a better way to reference that public quotation from Crisp, so be it and consider myself having learned something. (Although instead of pointing out the correct way of referencing the athlete's statements, you've provided nothing constructive to this point.)
John...I would be happy to continue this discussion in the comment thread here so that the larger community can learn along with us or happy to find a way for us to conduct this offline.
All I want out of my experience on Bleacher Report is to learn how to better my prose from some great editors and engage in good sports debate with other fans.
10 months ago
No hate Tim,
Just plagerism is a serious sin in the writing business.
Giving no credit and making it look like you did the interview?
Essentially copying another story like you now admit you did, whether its AP's or not, is not the issue. Changing the title, a few words, then claiming it as your own, is the problem I have.
Look up the word integrity in the dictionary. If you find it insulting when someone calls you out for what you did, then so be it.
10 months ago
I think the reason that Coco is starting to feel the need to speak out is that he's never really had someone to give him competition for a starting job. Jacoby Ellsbury is a legit threat for Coco, as they seem to be players with the same talents and skills.
10 months ago
He could also possibly have to move positions, like he did in 04 when Grady Sizemore came up
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