Coco Crisp About To Sign With A's

"The Athletics were closing in on a deal Sunday with free-agent outfielder Coco Crisp on a one-year contract with a club option for the 2011 season. A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed an impending deal on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had not been made by the club. That could come soon (CBSSports)."

From what I have been reading it sounds like this deal is basically done. The A's like to focus on pitching and fielding, but this lineup is so bad that they really need to add some power (and talent) to the offense. Crisp is a hell of a defensive player, but he is no better then a 8 or 9 hitter on any team that actually had a shot at making the playoffs.

Coco Crisp Done For Year

"Royals CF Coco Crisp will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder on Wednesday. Crisp, who has been on the disabled list since June 14, will have surgery to repair a torn labrum. The operation will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala (Sportsline)."

Well the trade of Coco Crisp for Ramon Ramirez keeps looking better and better, and with Ellsbury playing well in CF the Sox have to be loving this. Coco is good defensively, but he is worthless at the plate. Before his injury Coco was batting .228 with 14 RBI and 13 stolen bases. I don't know what happened to him since he left the Indians, but he has never been the same. He will try to battle back next season, but with a team stacked with young talent it will only be a matter of time before Coc is on the move again...

Coco Traded To Royals

According to Brian McRae reporting for Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City, the Royals acquired Coco Crisp from the Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez. I emailed McRae to confirm, and he said, "It's a done deal." The Royals get speed and a capable center fielder, while the Red Sox receive a quality late-game reliever.(cbssportsline)

I like the move. We needed bullpen help and Ramirez could be the late inning guy that Timlin was. Last year Ramirez who is 27 years old, threw 71 innings and had a 2.64 era while striking out 70. He also isn't a free agent until 2012.

Crisp never turned out to be the player that everyone thought he could be, but pulled his weight at the end of last year and in the play-offs. This was a necessary move by the Sox.

Hot Stove

As you know this year's off season is filled with questions regarding Mark Texeira, Manny Ramirez, CC Sabathia as the big names. Personally, if I were a GM I wouldnt want any part of the latter two "big ticket" names. Before you start thinking that I am retarded let me enlighten you on why. Manny, I just plain dont like him, he is a great player but is a selfish prick and would be a detriment to any team he plays on. Now, CC is a proven stud based on what he did for the Brew Crew last year, but come on this guy is eventually going to break down.

The point of this article is not to highlight the big names, but the other free agents and/or deals that could be difference makers in the up-coming season. The list consists of position players of the likes of Orlando Cabrera, Orlando Hudson, Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Edgar Renteria. I love both Orlando's because they are spark plugs at the top of the order and are solid defensive presences in the feild. It would be crazy for the White Sox and the D-Backs not to retain them. Bobby Abreu is a solid player who produces solid at bats and is a true grinder at the plate making opposing pitchers work for the out. Adam Dunn, he truly is a donkey, he has possibly the most power of any left handed hitter in all of baseball other than Ryan Howard, but this guy either hits a HR or strikes out. Although this is the case he would be a solid player on a good team that could afford his strike out per at bat ratio. He reminds me of a young Jim Thome, he has power and could drive in runs if he had the complementary players that got on base for him and he walks and strikes out a lot.

As for pitchers, you have A.J. Burnett, Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe, and Ben Sheets as the other top pitchers out there. Personally, I think A.J. Burnett is a poor mans Josh Beckett who has not lived up to the potential and has underutilized his ability. With that said I personally believe that he will be heading to the NL where he can take advantage of only having to get 8 outs against sub par hitting. The team that will sign him, in my opinion will be the Cards, which will put them back at the top of the NL Central and will give them stability to completment the pure force of Albert Pujols. Ryan Dempster is an interesting pitcher, he has experience both starting and closing, but I am not convinced he will be worth the money his will end up getting this year. More than likely he will probably end up in a Cubies uniform, however I feel that he is nothing more than a 3rd starter but will put up numbers because the NL sucks so much. Ben Sheets has nasty stuff, but gets hurt way to much, he reminds me of Matt Clement because he just cant stay on the feild. But with that said, he is worth the risk of any team that signs him because of his number one starter stuff. I feel he will end up in the AL possibly in Baltimore, New York, and I would love to see him sporting a Red Sox uniform. With that said, Derek Lowe is the most intreguing free agent of them all. Hate him or love him, he is a solid starter and has the post season experience that teams desire. Its been said he wants to come back to Boston but I feel the Sox wont make that happen because they already has Justin Masterson, a young D-Lowe in the making. So, my feeling is that he will be a Detroit Tiger next season, pitching with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he still is a valuable pitcher.

Now the needs of the Red Sox have had me thinking a lot lately after seeing all the rumors that have been reported. All I know is that Lugo has to be moved to allow Lowerie a chance to prove himself as a full time player for a whole season. Despite how terrible he has been in Boston, much like Edgar Renteria a few years ago, I feel that he is one of those players that just cant play in the lime light. The good news is that there is a market for SS this year, with teams like the Tigers, White Sox, and others in need of one. My feeling is that no team is going to take a chance on him until spring training to see what he has after the injury pleagued season he had last year. Any deal including Lugo would be for a shitty prospect or another high priced contract that has not panned out. With that said the Tigers are probably the best suiters in any deal because of the apparent washed up D-Train. I just don't see how Dontrelle has gotten so bad so quickly, and I do believe that he will regain his form and become the exciting young pitcher that he once was.

The second issue is what to do with Coco. Should he stay or should he go? I believe that its time to go, not because he wasn't good last year, but because of his value at this point. I believe that he will be dealt in a situation that will include a young catcher such as one of the 3 in Texas or Jeff Clement of the Mariners.

Red Sox Stun Rays With 8-7 Comeback Win

One of the greatest games I have ever seen. You would never have thought so with the way it looked during the first 6 1/2 innings. Dice-K was getting lit up, B.J. Upton seemed unstoppable, and Fenway Park looked more like the waiting line at a wake, then the stadium of the defending champions. All seemed loss. I had already began planning out the team for next year. Already I had sat back and thought of all the reasons this wasn't the year; Beckett's "problems", no production out of CF, World Series MVP Mike Lowell hurt, D.L. Drew plays only when feels like it, and our starting SS is someone named Jed. I was about to call it a night after Papelbon came on with 2 men on and no outs, and let up a double to B.J. Upton to make it 7-0. It was there that sinking feeling I hadn't felt in awhile. I was giving up...then it happened...

Lowrie comes up and rips a double to right, but then Tek and Kotsay roll over quickly for the next two out. 7 outs left, down 7, and Coco at the plate, sounds like a good time to start popping those sleeping pills (which I did). Crisp singles, still the Fenway crowd just seems like it has nothing left, a good 20%-30% of the fans are gone, I can't blame them, it looked hopeless. Pedroia fights off some pitches,
"fucking guy never gives up, good old "Little Dusty"", well once again Dusty reports for duty, and hits an RBI double scoring Jed Lowrie.

"Well good for Little Dusty at least he get one last hurrah, he had a hell of a season".

Papi comes up, instantly I kind of am pissed,

"this guy hasn't done anything all playoffs. He actually has a lower BA then Ellsbury. Is it his wrist? He is actually pissed about Manny?"

It very well may be his wrist, but he can still pull an inside fastball. Balfour makes that mistake, and Papi crushes one past Pesky poll. "Wow! At least they will make this interesting, they won't go down without some kind of fight."

Rays 7 Sox 4. Youk flies out to right, and the inning ends.

My mind starts racing..."ummmm ok 6 outs 3 runs. They can do that."

Papelbon makes quick work out of the Rays in the top of the 8th. "Man he is pumped up, but I don't think he can go another inning, his pitch count is already like 40."

Dan Wheeler comes out for the Rays in the 9th.

"They can hit this guy, but don't get too excited still a long way to go".

Bay walks, the sudden doomed look comes over Wheelers face. J.D. Drew hits a shot to right, and the Sox have now climbed within one.

"Fucking Drew, guy is so fucking annoying, he doesn't play, blah, blah, blah...has anyone been more clutch lately? Did I just compliment D.L. Drew.... Wow this really is a strange game."

Lowrie, and Sean Casey go down quickly (Casey came in for Tek). Kotsay hits a double, and you can just tell the Rays know what's coming, but Coco is at the dish. I am now on my knees in front of my TV. First time since I was a little kid and watch Glen Wesley hit the crossbar in the Stanley Cup Finals.

"Oh man I want anyone other then Coco up, he never comes through. I take that back I wouldn't want Tek either, but shit Coco just doesn't come through in games like this."

Coco hits a singe to right, Kotsay's got wheels and comes around to score.

"OMG, Coco did it, finally he's a hero". Then he gets thrown out trying for 2nd. "Fucking Coco, can't he let me enjoy him for more then 5 secs".

Inning over 7-7, text messages are pouring in.

Masterson comes in for the Sox for the 9th.

"Man they have asked so much out of this kid. It's unfair, really unfair".

Barlett gets on with a single. My heart sinks,

"God I feel for this kid, he doesn't deserve this".

Iwamura pops out, but then the walking God Upton comes to the plate. Masterson walks him.

"Best thing that could have happened", I say to myself, trying to be positive.

Pena's up, announcers then inform me that Pena has it into something like only 3 double plays on the year. The trap is set...Pena hits into the double play. Masterson makes it out of the inning. Sox have the best players on the team coming up.

Pedroia comes up and hits a ground ball off Longoria's glove, but Barlett is able to get to it, and throw him out.

"Oh no, Pedroia might kill someone".

Ortiz is up.

"Can he do it again, but no way they will throw inside to him."

2 pitches go by count is 1-1 and Ortiz tries to bunt down the third base line.

"What the fuck, you just hit a HR, why are you bunting???" I starting thinking of every reason possible. "Maybe his wrist is really fucked up, maybe he can't hit pitches away".

Ortiz strikes out on the next pitch.

"Oh God they are going to have to bring Masterson out again, poor kid".

Youk comes up, fights off 10 pitches, then hits a ball weakly to Longoria, who makes a hell of a play to get to it, but seemed to get too relaxed after he got the ball in his glove. He throws too short, and Pena can't control it, the ball goes flying, and Youk trots to 2nd.

"Wow they are going to do this, WTF is with Boston's teams".

Bay is intentionally walked.

"HAHAHAHA why would you do that? Drew is hitting like .700 against Howell".

3 straight balls to Drew, 2 pitches later Drew puts one over the right fielders head. Youk comes home, and the place goes nuts. I am now running aimlessly around my room, yelling at the top of my lungs.

"THIS TEAM HAS TAKEN YEARS OFF MY LIFE!!!!!". Sox live on for another day, and the legacy that is the Sox, since the Boone homerun, lives on....

-BMack

Red Sox Falling Apart, Lose To Angels 9-2

Not only did the Red Sox get blown out tonight with their ace on the hill, but Manny once again shot off his mouth. Before the game Manny stated that the Red Sox do not deserve a player like him, and that he just wants to leave and be in peace. I really never thought that Manny would leave, but after today I really think the Sox are going to deal him. The sad thing is I don't think the Sox are going to get much value from any trade, because teams know they are desperate. Well the trade deadline is tomorrow, so we will have more on that then. Now back to the game...

Josh Beckett got crushed, as the Angels swept the Sox tonight. Beckett went 5 1/3 innings allowing 8 runs on 11 hits with 8 Ks. Josh has just not looked the same as he did last year, but I still think he will turn it on. Still, it make you think about how he came into camp out of shape. The only bright spot for the Sox was a 2 run HR by Coco Crisp, but it was out shined by the Angels 16 hits. I can't really get into this game anymore, since I am really focused on the Manny situation. All I have to say is thank God they have the day off tomorrow.

-BMack

Crisp Wants Out?

There has been a big deal made out of Crisp saying that he would probably ask for a trade if he is not the starting CF for the Red Sox. Why are people so shocked and appalled by this? This is a guy who is one of the better defensive CFs in the league. He can get to more balls than 95% of the outfielders in the MLB. I don't blame him for wanting out if he loses out to Ellsbury. My overall opinion on this matter is yes the Sox should probably trade him, because the fans want Ellsbury, and he is the future. He proved he can play last year, and the Sox should give him a shot (just like they did with Pedroia). Now this is not to say that I don't think Coco is a very good player. I just believe that he needs a change of scenery (like Renteria) to get this hitting career back on track.

Prediction- Coco traded halfway through Spring Training

-BMack