Sox are going to totally regret trading Coco

[SShorefan 4.0]

Nothing worse than an "I told you so", so allow me to tell you and I will try not to repeat it during the season.

The Sox will rue the day they traded Coco Crisp. 

I could talk about the importance of his defense, or the versatility of having either he or Jacoby come off the bench in the later innings as base stealing threat.  But I won't.  Instead I will simply refer to this ESPN article about Nanc... I mean JD Drew.

Sunday, February 15, 2009
Drew: Back still sore from herniated disk
Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew is still battling back stiffness from a herniated disk that limited him in 2008.

The outfielder said on Sunday that he had one MRI following the season and the exam didn't show any serious injury. He said that even though the injury has lingered, he's still able to hit and run.

Drew was limited to 109 games last season, hitting 19 home runs with 64 RBIs.

The 33-year-old said he could play right now if the team needed him.

Drew arrived in camp several days before position players are due to meet with the team's medical staff and workout under the club's supervision.

Drew played in two regular season games after Aug. 17 before playing in 10 of Boston's 11 postseason games. 

[the_Bird]

Ah, springtime is near!  The first JD Drew injury report of the season, it's like spotting the first robin!

[yall hate]

Time will tell.  Coco 'couldnt' remain on the team, simply because it was going to cause problems having him be a backup.  yes, there are injuries which would have allowed him to play, but he is clearly a player who plays much much better when he is playing everyday and those guarantees just werent going to happen here.

They also did a good job getting a guy who is signed very cheaply who could make a significant impact on the bullpen.  A player who's impact could be felt from day one, irrespective of injuries.

(And I say all of that with the recognition that Coco will likely do really well this year in KC, but I dont think he would have done as well in Boston...)


Edit:  Also, dont forget, if you keep Coco, you dont get Baldelli (time will tell ifhe is worth it).  You also have to spend a bit more money in the bullpen, so maybe then you dont get Smoltz (coco making 4.4 million I think, Smoltz guaranteed 5 million...I know we like to think of the Sox having unlimited cash, but the truth is they do limit their payroll)  So who knows what other dominoes would have fallen had they not moved Coco.

[Toine43]

It's always been the back with Drew. That's the type of thing that just isn't going to go away. I don't like it when people rag on JD for his injuries. He has a reputation as a softee who doesn't give it his all, but frankly I haven't seen any evidence suggesting that since Drew has been here. The guy has also been there for us in the postseason, with some very clutch hitting over the past couple of years. Trot always got hurt, and fans didn't complain about that.

On to Coco. I think the biggest thing we're going to miss from Coco is his speed on the basepaths. With him and Ellsbury both in the lineup, it gives the ballclub the opportunity to score runs even if the offense isn't necessarily clicking. With him gone, that's one less guy who can steal bases or bunt his way on base. As good as it was (and it was VERY good), I don't think Coco's defense will be sorely missed. Ellsbury's defense in comparison to Coco's is probably about 90 cents on the dollar, and both Kotsay and Baldelli are known as excellent defensive players. Also, if your worried about depth, I again like our 2 backup outfielders, Kotsay and Baldelli.

Coco had a solid 2008 campaign, and I wouldn't be surprised if he played well again this year. But from what I've heard, we got a good reliever in return for Coco, and our pitching staff as a whole is about as deep as a pitching staff could possibly be. I say don't worry, we'll be fine.

[Truck Lewis]

i agree that Kotsay and Rocco give us some nice 4th and 5th options...would it have been nice to have a speedster with a glove like coco on the bench yes....but he had to leave

[SShorefan 4.0]

IMHO

The Sox traded Coco to help Coco and in the process lessened the team. 

A questionable Rocco and a healthy Kotsay combined do not bring to the table what Coco brings....especially a healthy Coco. 

Again, IMHO, do not be surprised if Ellsbury continues to slump as he did at the end of last season and the Sox are forced to look to sure up center field.  With JD Drew bound to go on the DL for large chunks of time, it will become evident that the gap in the outfield is enormous. 

I respect the argument regarding salary swaps and Smoltz, but the Sox were so far below where they were last year that money didn't matter.

[Silas]

Coco had to go.  The Sox got, what appears to be, a very solid hard throwing, young reliever.  While Crisp is a great defender, he has no arm.  He has lost what ever power the Sox thought he had in Cleveland and is a 4th outfielder for a playoff team.  The Sox traded him at his highest value.  That said, Kotsay, Baldelli, and Wilkerson provide good to excellent back up if Drew doesn't play regularly.  Ellsbury needs to be given a chance to play without looking over his shoulder.  His rookie year was better than what Crisp would offer now.  Plus Ellsbury has a good chance to have a much better year this year.  The only thing that Ellsbury lacks is an arm...same as Crisp and Damon.  Boston just can't find a center fielder who hits with an arm.   

[elcotte]

IMHO

The Sox traded Coco to help Coco and in the process lessened the team. 

A questionable Rocco and a healthy Kotsay combined do not bring to the table what Coco brings....especially a healthy Coco. 

Again, IMHO, do not be surprised if Ellsbury continues to slump as he did at the end of last season and the Sox are forced to look to sure up center field.  With JD Drew bound to go on the DL for large chunks of time, it will become evident that the gap in the outfield is enormous. 

I respect the argument regarding salary swaps and Smoltz, but the Sox were so far below where they were last year that money didn't matter.

I don't believe that the Sox will miss him one day. they got a good guy for the pen and they have the outfield covered.

[MBz]

I am a big Crisp fan, his defense is going to be missed I think.  It was nice at the end of a close game to be able to shift Ellsbury to left and put Crisp in center.  It was nice to have speed off the bench, but Lugo will be able to fill that role.  Also, I do expect Ellsbury to slump.  I don't think he's a consistent player.  I think you're gonna see him hit .200 one month then have a month of .350.  The Baldelli signing, I don't really like it because of how questionable he is, no one knows how often he can play if someone does go down with injury.  Also, how healthy is Kotsay going to be.  Also, salary and the Red Sox is NOT an issue.  This team has plenty of money if they want to spend it.  I mean we were actually willing to give Varitek 10-12 mil for one year by offering arbitration to him.  Ellsbury has as bad of an arm as Crisp.  Center fielders aren't going to have strong throwing arms.  Look at all of the starting center fielders in this league.  I'd say maybe 1/3 of the starters have a solid arm.  I'd rather have a center fielder with a lot of range then a strong throwing arm, and Crisp definitely has more range then Ellsbury.

[KJ33]

The Sox don't disagree with anything in your assessment of Coco's ability.  It just wasn't that simple.  He wanted out last year but Francona was able to cobble together playing time for him because of injuries, Ellsbury's ineffectiveness etc. and Coco bit the bullet all year and was a good soldier, even though he wanted to be a bona fide every day player. 

Clearly, they were not going to be able to manage that again for a whole season without there being a problem.  They didn't trade him away because they didn't believe in his abilities, they wanted to get something for him now, rather than face a distraction and ending up getting little to nothing when their hand was forced during the season.

[xmuscularghandix]

The same reason why Danny got rid of all PG's behind Rondo, is why Coco needed to go, Jacoby needs his position guarunteed so that he can go through his struggles and learn.

Plus its unfair to Crisp becuae he's a gold glove caliber CF, that shouldn't be a backup.

Kotsay and Baldelli will EASILY pick up his slack.

[MBz]

The same reason why Danny got rid of all PG's behind Rondo, is why Coco needed to go, Jacoby needs his position guarunteed so that he can go through his struggles and learn.

Plus its unfair to Crisp becuae he's a gold glove caliber CF, that shouldn't be a backup.

Kotsay and Baldelli will EASILY pick up his slack.

IF Kotsay and Baldelli are healthy.  That's the major issue now. 

[Bankshot]

I think they might miss Coco too, but I think they will miss Manny's bat more.

[mahonedog88]

As of right this second, yes you are correct.  It looks like as of now, that trade shouldn't have happened.  With JD seeing a back specialist, Baldelli not being fully healthy yet, and Ramirez (the bullpen pitcher they traded for) completely stinking up the field yesterday in Spring Training, it looks like we'll miss Coco

But it's waaaaaaay to early.

[MBz]

Right, I would have liked to see them taken more time to see how injuries played out at the start of spring training.  The trade market for Coco should have been the same then as it is now.