Coco Crisp, OF, Boston Red Sox

April 20, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By David Wysocki
Edited by KFFL Staff

Even though Boston Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp (finger) doesn't give you cavities or increase your blood-sugar, he is nonetheless as sweet for Red Sox fans as he was as a member of the Cleveland Indians. That's why his latest injury is equally as sour early here in 2006.

Crisp started the 2006 campaign with a bang in his new threads, batting well and replacing what Boston lost in the offseason to the Dark Side in outfielder Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees. The 26-year-old Crisp was thrown right at the top of the order and put in the vacant center field position after being traded this offseason from Cleveland in exchange for prospects third baseman Andy Marte and catcher Kelly Shoppach. He was also promptly given a new three year contract extension. The same day, he was placed on the disabled list after sliding awkwardly into third base and hurting his index finger.

Finger injuries many times seem to linger with a lot of players. Texas Rangers starting pitcher Adam Eaton sat out nearly half of the 2005 season with the San Diego Padres after hurting his finger with an injury that was described as only occurring in rock climbers. Eaton was traded and re-aggravated the finger this spring.

Crisp is fortunate, for he is not a pitcher. While the injury won't hamper his quickness and speed, it may affect his hitting. Another former Padre and current teammate of Crisp's is second baseman Mark Loretta. Loretta tore ligaments in his finger in a reoccurring injury he battled with in 2005. Loretta saw his numbers plummet dramatically from his All-Star numbers of just a few seasons before.

Just because players like Loretta and Eaton had long-lasting and reoccurring finger problems doesn't mean Crisp will suffer the same. Crisp broke his left index finger on a non-throwing hand. A broken bone will be easier to heal and easier to return from. Crisp, two days after his injury, claimed he had zero discomfort in the finger.

The Red Sox don't seem to be missing him much with a two and a half game lead on Baltimore after the first 14 games of '06. There had been a lot of criticism entering the season on Boston's offseason moves. Starting pitcher Josh Beckett and new closer Jonathon Papelbon have helped the Sox stay competitive in Crisp's absence. Boston also has a couple outfielders hungry for a chance like this. Most notable is outfielder Wily Mo Pena who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds late this past offseason. Pena is seen as having large power potential, but he lacks defensively and is clearly not a center fielder. Pena will see more time and, if he's successful, may be able to steal some at bats from right fielder Trot Nixon.

The Red Sox will struggle a little more on the base paths and defensively in Crisp's absence, but it is hard envisioning the Red Sox falling far from first. This is a club that has learned how to win, similar to the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves.

Crisp had a splint removed from the finger April 19, as the team re-evaluates the injury. As of right now, no exact time table has been set for Crisp. As long as the team is winning, the club is unlikely to rush the injury. Nobody in the Boston front office has expressed any concern and Crisp is likely to return rather soon. When he does come back, there will likely be a short period of timidity while Crisp gets over the psychological effect an injury on a finger has for a baseball player, mostly at the plate. Crisp is expected to make a 100 percent recovery and will come back to put up solid numbers this year. 

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David Wysocki

David has been a KFFL writer since 2005. He is a San Diego native and a History and Geography student at California State University-Chico. He has a writing background and has appeared in, and helped produce, various local newsletters and magazines on sports and music. He also pitched for the No. 2 nationally ranked Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns his senior year of high school in 2002.

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