Coco Crisp

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Coco Crisp
Coco Crisp on June 6, 2011.jpg
Oakland Athletics – No. 4
Center fielder
Born: (1979-11-01) November 1, 1979 (age 33)
Los Angeles, California
Bats: Switch Throws: Right 
MLB debut
August 15, 2002 for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics
(through April 3, 2013)
Batting average     .273
Hits     1,200
Home runs     91
Runs batted in     465
Stolen bases     257
On-base percentage     .329
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp[1] (born November 1, 1979) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Crisp is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. He previously played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Crisp was born in Los Angeles, on November 1, 1979. He was drafted and selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Crisp is a graduate of Major League Baseball's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program. He played on the 1995 Senior Division RBI World Series champions from Los Angeles.

Nickname [edit]

Crisp was originally nicknamed "Coco" by his sister and brother who teased him that he looked like one of the characters on the Cocoa Krispies cereal box. The nickname was short-lived, until he started playing AA baseball. The team had all the players fill out a questionnaire form to get to know one another. Covelli listed "Coco" as his nickname on the form. His teammates thought the name was funny, so they had it put on the scoreboard during the game. After a week and a half, he was traded to another team, but the nickname stuck, and he has been "Coco Crisp" ever since.[2]

Minor league career [edit]

In his minor league career, Crisp played for Cardinals affiliates in four different leagues from 1999 to 2001. He opened the 2002 season with the New Haven Ravens, then the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Cardinals. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians on August 7, 2002, to complete an earlier trade for pitcher Chuck Finley. In the Indians organization, he played for their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. Crisp had 69 hits, one home run, and 24 RBI before being called up by the Indians. Crisp never had any major league experience with the Cardinals.

Major league career [edit]

Cleveland Indians [edit]

Crisp became the starting center fielder with the Indians in mid-2002, replacing the injured Matt Lawton. For the next few seasons, Crisp established a reputation as an excellent fielder and speedy baserunner. Despite his success, Crisp had to fight for his roster spot each spring. In 2005, Crisp moved to left field following the emergence of another young outfielder, Grady Sizemore. In his final two seasons with the Indians, Crisp showcased his offensive talent by batting .297 and .300 with 31 total home runs and 35 steals.

Boston Red Sox [edit]

After Johnny Damon signed with the New York Yankees, the Red Sox sought Crisp to fill Damon's role both in center field and as a leadoff hitter. In January 2006, the Red Sox sent prospect third baseman Andy Marté, pitcher Guillermo Mota, catcher Kelly Shoppach, a player to be named later (Minor Leaguer Randy Newsom), and cash considerations to the Indians for Crisp, catcher Josh Bard and pitcher David Riske. Already a fan favorite in Cleveland, Crisp saw his national fame jump dramatically upon entering big-market Boston.

After a promising start to his Red Sox career, which included signing a 3-year contract extension worth $15.5 million, Crisp broke his left index finger attempting to steal third base and spent the next 42 games on the disabled list. After returning to the Red Sox outfield on May 28, Kevin Youkilis had taken over the leadoff spot, and Crisp usually batted 7th or 8th in the line-up for the rest of the year. In 105 games, he had a .264 batting average with 8 home runs and 36 RBI. Besides his injury, Crisp's 2006 season may be best remembered for a fantastic catch against the New York Mets on June 29.

Crisp playing for the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

2007 season [edit]

Crisp began the 2007 season struggling offensively. On April 20, 2007, Crisp fell over a short wall at Fenway Park while trying to catch a home run by Alex Rodriguez. Although he was unable to make the catch, missing by inches, he hit a game-tying triple off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the eighth. The Red Sox went on to win 7–6. During this season, he made numerous impressive catches in the outfield. It has even been claimed by one major league club that Crisp is easily the best defensive center fielder in all of Major League Baseball.[3] Although he struggled at the plate throughout much of the season, between June 13 and July 5, Crisp raised his batting average from .221 to .265, and after a 3 for 4 game on July 22, he raised his average to a season high .277. On June 18, entering the game with only two home runs in the season, Crisp belted two homers in the first multi-HR game of his career in a 9–4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

On August 5, Crisp was almost run over by the Seattle Mariners' mascot, the Mariner Moose. The Moose, driving a lap around Safeco Field's warning track on an ATV, nearly collided with Crisp as he was leaving the dugout for his position in the middle of the fifth inning; Crisp had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell was incensed by the mascot's actions and voiced his displeasure to both the mascot and Seattle's head groundskeeper. Immediately following the incident, the Red Sox received an apology from Mariners GM Bill Bavasi.[4]

On October 21, in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Crisp made the catch that sent Boston to their second World Series in four seasons. He hit the wall shortly after making the catch, minorly injuring himself in the process. He was well enough to play in the World Series though.

Although he was the team's starting center fielder throughout the 2007 season, he was benched mid-series during the ALCS for rookie Jacoby Ellsbury. He remained benched for the 2007 World Series, only appearing late in games for defensive substitutions.

2008 season [edit]

Bench-clearing brawl on June 5, 2008.

On June 4, Crisp was the center of controversy in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. While Crisp was trying to steal second base in the bottom of the sixth inning, Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett placed his knee in front of the bag in an attempt to prevent Crisp from stealing the base.[5] Crisp stole the base, but was not happy with this. On base again in the bottom of the eighth inning, he attempted another steal, this time taking out second baseman Akinori Iwamura on a hard slide. His slide was controversial and catalyzed the "payback pitch" the following game. During a pitching change in that inning, Rays manager Joe Maddon and Crisp argued, with Crisp in the dugout and Maddon on the pitching mound. After the game, Crisp said that he thought it was Bartlett in the play in the eighth inning, not Iwamura. Crisp described Bartlett's knee in front of the bag as a "shady" play.[6] The very next game, in Crisp's first at bat in the bottom of the second, leading off the inning with the Sox up 3–1, Rays starter James Shields hit him on the thigh on the second pitch. Crisp charged the mound and first dodged a punch from Shields, and then threw a punch at Shields, setting off a bench-clearing brawl. Crisp, Jonny Gomes, and Shields were ejected from the game.[7][8] Major League Baseball suspended Crisp for seven games due to his actions in the brawl.[9] Upon appeal, the suspension was reduced to five games, which he had served as of June 28, 2008.[10] In Game 5 of the ALCS, Coco Crisp had a game-tying hit in the bottom of the 8th inning to cap Boston's 7-run comeback. Boston would go on to win the game 8–7 with a walk-off single in the ninth inning by J. D. Drew, but lose the series in 7 games.

Crisp with the Kansas City Royals in 2009 spring training.

Kansas City Royals [edit]

On November 19, 2008, Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Ramón Ramírez.[11]

During his lone season with the Royals, Crisp's batting average was at a career low .228. On June 23, 2009, Royals manager Trey Hillman announced that Crisp would receive season ending surgery to repair a labrum tear in his shoulder.[12]

Oakland Athletics [edit]

On December 20, 2009, Crisp reached an agreement with the Oakland Athletics on a 1 year deal worth $5 million a year with a club option for 2011.[13]

On December 23, 2009, Crisp officially signed his 1 year contract with the Oakland Athletics.[14]

Crisp began the 2010 season on the 15 day-DL with a fractured left pinkie finger.[15]

Crisp entered the 2011 season exercising his one-year option with the Oakland Athletics. On August 24, Crisp homered from both sides of the plate against the New York Yankees. In that game, he hit a game-winning three-run home run in the top of the 10th inning on the first pitch he saw against reliever Rafael Soriano.[16]

Crisp re-signed with Athletics on January 3, 2012, on a two year, $14 million deal with a club option for 2014. Crisp had received other offers from clubs such as the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox as well, but declined them both.[17]

On October 10, 2012 in Game 4 of the 2012 American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Crisp came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. The score was tied 3–3, there were 2 outs and a runner on second base (Seth Smith). The A's were down 3–1 entering the inning, but subsequently tied the game with three straight hits off Detroit pitcher José Valverde, thus setting the stage for Crisp. He came through with a walk-off single to right field that scored Smith, giving the A's a 4–3 win and forcing a decisive Game 5. On October 11, 2012 the Tigers finished off the series with a 6–0 victory over the A's.

Playing style [edit]

Crisp is known for having good range in center field, but also for having a very weak throwing arm as a result of numerous shoulder surgeries. At the height of his career, he was considered a good base-stealer and a generally aggressive baserunner. He has a .281 career postseason batting average. He owns the Athletics franchise record for most consecutive stolen bases without being caught.[18] He is known to be a good "small-ball" type player because of his good bunting skills. Crisp has also only been hit 5 times in his 9 year career.

Personal life [edit]

Coco is of Afro-Puerto Rican descent. His mother is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent and his father is African American. He is married and has two children, a son (Caden) and a daughter (Amalie).

See also [edit]

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References [edit]

  1. ^ Coco Crisp Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ projo.com Coco's fielding mighty Crisp, Sean McAdam, 6/27/2007
  4. ^ boston.com Their only close call was a moose on the loose, Dan Shaughnessy, 8/6/2007.
  5. ^ Gaddis, Carter (June 6, 2008). "Strikeouts Concern Maddon". The Tampa Tribune. 
  6. ^ Smith, Joe (June 5, 2008). "Red Sox retake first from Rays 5–1". St. Petersburg Times. 
  7. ^ Ortiz, Jorge L. (June 6, 2008). "Even MVPs can be benched for not hustling". USA Today. 
  8. ^ Amalie Benjamin (June 6, 2008). "Red Sox outfight Rays: Brawl precedes Ellsbury injury". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 27, 2008. 
  9. ^ "National Sports Briefs". Associated Press. June 7, 2008. 
  10. ^ Gordon Edes (June 27, 2008). "Crisp suspension reduced". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 27, 2008. 
  11. ^ Royals acquire Coco Crisp from Red Sox for Ramon Ramirez
  12. ^ Crisp to miss remainder of season
  13. ^ http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091220&content_id=7833744&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak
  14. ^ http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20091223&content_id=7850074&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak
  15. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5053101&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
  16. ^ http://bayarea.sbnation.com/oakland-athletics/2010/11/8/1802186/oakland-athletics-exercise-coco-crisp-mark-ellis-options-decline-eric-chavez
  17. ^ "AP Source: CF Coco Crisp agrees to deal with A's". The Boston Globe. 
  18. ^ "Coco Crisp continues to improve franchise record" Accessed July 4, 2012.

External links [edit]

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