Many expected the Sox to trade Crisp before last season, but holding on to the veteran center fielder turned out to be a prudent move. Jacoby Ellsbury struggled mightily at times last season, and Crisp ended up starting 98 games for Boston.
At times, Crisp looked like a superstar for the Sox, hitting extraordinarily well for brief stretches. Between those times, however, Crisp had monumental struggles at the plate. He was one of the Red Sox streakiest hitters, but was consistently great out in center field. Who can forget his ridiculous catch to rob the Mets David Wright of extra bases during a game in 2006? He made another tremendous catch to end the 2007 ALCS, running full speed into the bullpen wall in the triangle to help preserve a (large) Boston lead and move the Red Sox into the World Series.
Crisp was 20 for 27 in steals last season, his third straight season with at least 20 swipes. Coco ended up with a .283 average in 2008, with seven home runs and 41 RBI. It was smart to move his more than $5 million salary, with other holes emerging that need to be filled.
Coco Crisp is now a Royal. And we hope that when Kansas City visits Fenway Park for a four game set from July 9-12, the Sox faithful will stand and cheer for him, remembering the outstanding defense he played here for those three years.
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