What's gotten into Coco Crisp?
There may not be a more incredible statistic in baseball at the moment than this: Coco Crisp is hitting .291. That, by itself, is somewhat pedestrian. But consider: Only 23 days ago, Crisp went to bed batting .246. He has 28 hits in 55 at bats since. That’s .509 since Aug. 17. Dustin Pedroia wishes he was as hot as Coco Crisp. The man has raised his average 45 points in less than a month.
Tonight was more of the same, and even though his 3-for-3 game didn’t factor into any Red Sox runs, Crisp’s emergence is becoming as one of the more improbable and fascinating storylines of the Red Sox season. After some tumultuous moments – the spring training “I want to play” mini-saga, the haymaker he threw at James Shields – Crisp is likely to finish 2008 with his best season in his three years with the Red Sox.
“I’m just going up there and trying to stay within the count, I guess,” Crisp said. “See the ball, hit the ball. Focus on the counts. Oh-0, 1-1, whatever, and trying to take the approach pitch-by-pitch.”
Before Saturday night’s game – when Crisp was hitting a mere .467 since Aug. 17 – he offered a more existential explanation.
“I’ve been getting lucky,” Crisp said. “I got dribblers, a bunt base hit. That’s how you get rolling, so hopefully I can continue being lucky and getting those balls to hit sharp, bounce back and get little bloopers off gloves. That’s some of the biggest things. That’s how you get those good three or four games, unless you’re like Pedroia and you just hit everything hard.”
He had blasted a triple to the gap the night before. I told him that didn’t seem like it took much luck.
“It was lucky that he made it in the gap where he couldn’t catch it,” Crisp said.
Well, if that’s true, then isn’t everything in life luck?
“There you go,” Crisp said. “Every guy gets lucky.
“I don’t really care. I go out there and do my best, and whatever results happen, so be it. You know? You can’t do nothing about. You try your best, you fail, you tried your best. You succeed, you tried your best. I don’t think you should look at it any different. It’s just, whatever happens happens.”
The timing of his hot streak, for his own sake and for the Red Sox, could hardly be better. With J.D. Drew coming back soon and Mark Kotsay around, the Sox will have a glut of outfielders. Crisp made his wish for playing time clear before the season, and right now Terry Francona can’t keep him off the field. His hot bat lengthens the Red Sox lineup and gives them a sort of second leadoff hitter, a dynamic wild card as the playoffs near.
(All of that's contingent upon Crisp staying hot, which regression to the mean tells us will not happen. He won't hit .509 for the rest of year; that we know. But if he can rake at .291 -- his current average(!) -- that's a great weapon in the ninth slot.)
Crisp did seem to take some satisfaction from his recent streak tonight, based on how eventful his season has been. “It’s been a long road back from injuries, suspensions,” Crisp said. “I’m just trying to find myself.”
On a final note, two quick items to add to your to-do list:
-Wish the best for Loyce Crisp. Coco’s father watched the game from the hospital tonight. Coco, surrounded by television cameras, made a point to say hello to his father after the game, and he said Loyce is in good shape.
-Pity Sean Casey. He owns Tom Brady in the Red Sox fantasy football league.
The American League average batting average is .268, so .291 is not "somewhat pedestrian."
he's finally becoming the offensive player the red sox thought they were getting. we should expect this from him all the time. this has also been the story of this year-some guys get hurt other step up.
Crisp plays hard and he is the best center fielder in the league. his defense takes away runs and that is Big. I am very happy he is adding to the offense that makes it even better. I hope it continues into the world series.
Even more dramatic due to Jacoby's failure to live up to expectations.
What's gotten into Crisp? Good question. I hope it's legal!
Coco's overall speed on the base paths, defensive skills, (including an obvious willingness to go "all out") to reel in difficult drives, provides a strong contribution towards a winning effort. Now that his plate appearances are above average to strong, Coco provides an important depth/dimension to our outfield.
Crisp is a free spirit in the "buffalo head" mold.
We've been lucky to have him.
(Funny . . . I did not read the comment above mine before typing this either!)
I have to laugh at all the teams that tried to steal Coco fromt he Sox in the off season.
"He will never be anything more than a 4th OF."
"He'll destroy the club house."
"Where will you play him?"
"Well, we can give you a long man or a guy no ton our 40 man squad."
One of Theo's better moves was to value him correctly.
who start in world series?
Congrats to the first comment. Pedestrian? Hardly! Instead of calling Adam Kilgore a Coco hater, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and figure it was the lateness of the hour and he meant to use amazing instead.
"Goodcall" - I'm pretty sure Adam meant that the .291BA was pedestrian relative to the comment that preceded it (that it's the most incredible stat in baseball). Take things in context.
Crisp deserves a lot of credit. He plays as hard as anyone on the team, running into walls, diving on the warning track, sprinting on every at bat, and scraping together runs with bunts and stolen bases. When he lost his starting job he didn't visibly sulk; instead, he continues to play hard and, most importantly, help the Sox catch the Rays. He's an invaluable 3rd/4th outfielder.
Like Pedroia I wanted him gonzo, get what you can for him..and that's why I'm not a GM. With Jacoby & Coco in the OF they are making Sox pitchers look very good. Jacoby will fill out, become stronger, retain his speed & become another Sizemore.
I miss the hair.
Coco didn't throw a haymaker, he ducked a haymaker and threw a jab.
can you say salary drive!
Could get great trade value if he keeps it up...
Doesn't it figure that, with Drew on the way back, and Kotsay playing well both in the field and at bat, Coco Crisp is someone Francona benches at his own peril?
Maybe Ellsbury better look over his shoulder...at least for this season, and the playoffs. Crisp is earning his playing time. Ellsbury has been great in the field, but incredibly inconsistent at the plate.
Who'da thunk the Red Sox outfield might look like this: Jason Bay, Coco Crisp and Mark Kotsay.
I was of the opinion he was no better than a 260 hitter and the Sox should trade him. I agree with all the comments above.
The Sox have to concentrate on acquiring a young catcher with Fiske, Posada, Veritek potential. He should understudy Tek and be prepared to step in as needed. Tek's job is to teach him all he knows.
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You couldn't fault his defense. If he had a Dwight Evans-like arm, he'd be Willie Mays out there. He gets to more balls than Ellsbury, and generally makes plays look more easy than Ellsbury does (i.e., he's in better position, gets a better jump, knows the parks and hitters, etc.).
Crisp is a bit of a, er, flake though. His emotional inconsistency is what kills him at the plate. Really, he's obviously got the tools to hit much better than he usually does, but he lacks that even keel and mental toughness that, say, a Jason Bay or Dustin Pedroia has. For that matter, rookie Jed Lowrie has a better idea up there than Crisp has.
Right now though, he's sure on a tear. May it continue for another month.
Such a good comment I thought I would repeat it...
"Who'da thunk the Red Sox outfield might look like this: Jason Bay, Coco Crisp and Mark Kotsay. "
Sean Casey can't get a break!
Whatever got into him, let's just hope he didn't get it from the L'il Wayne concert...
It is the resurgence of the lower part of the batting order that has been the biggest difference in the team's recent winning consistency. Leading that resurgence has been a Coco Crisp who has found something after a stretch where he seemed offensively lost. We are not talking just luck.
His .246 average was the part that seemed inexplicable. He consistently seemed overwhelmed by hard stuff. Didn't make sense given the way he started with the Sox in 2006 and his time in Cleveland. He does seem a bit quicker with his bat lately. It looks like something has clicked in. Maybe Madagan, or anybody for that matter, said something or maybe Coco just found something he lost, but it makes a huge difference in the offense.
Look at the team's run scoring since he's started hitting. They've had very few games scoring less than 5 runs. He's an all around offensive threat who puts pressure on the other team's defense with his bunting ability and the pitcher when he's on base. And their outfield defense is about as good as there is with Crisp and Ellsbury out there.
I hope they keep him, because with Manny gone he should be able to get plenty of playing time and contibute to an attack adept at manufacturing runs. That helps a team score more consistently and with the Red Sox pitching that should mean win more consistently.
I couldn't be happier for Coco Crisp. He's a determined, play hard kind of guy with a lot of soul. I think we're finally seeing the player that Coco can be and can continue to be. I hope the Red Sox will consider keeping him on next year. Besides, he's one of the few players left on the Sox with a little color and flare - he's someone that's exciting to watch.
great player no doubt .but he is an ex tribe member .grady is still the king .look at the comparisons , forget the batting average 4 now .grady is still the number I know it ha ha .
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