Absolutely No Doubt

There is no question that the starting CF spot is Jacoby Ellsbury’s for the taking. I swear- I read it in the Herald: No doubt, Ellsbury’s in CF- Competition with Crisp nothing but a formality.

Wait a minute, I meant to say…

There is no question that the starting CF spot going to the winner of a battle between Jacoby and Coco Crisp. I swear- I read it in the Globe: The Red Sox have a bona fide competition on their hands as Jacoby Ellsbury and Coco Crisp are competing to be the starter in center field.

And if the mainstream media is confused, Coco Crisp is even more turned around. From a starter in 2007 (and widely regarded as the best defensive centerfielder playing the game), to competing with a rookie to avoid riding the pine in 2008 – Coco has been the subject of trade rumors since before the ‘07 season ended. And he’s acutely aware of what it means for him to be competing against “Baby Jesus in cleats” for a place in the lineup.

During the offseason, Coco’s agent said he’d want to leave if he didn’t have that starting spot, and it sounds like Coco still feels the same:

“Honestly, I think so,” Crisp said. “‘Cause I want to play. Like I said, I wouldn’t be happy sitting on the bench. A lot of people say, well, I don’t deserve it. Well, that’s understandable too. I didn’t have a good offensive year like I did in the past. I think I proved myself that I can win healthy and shown that my defense is way better than what people thought. People think that my offense is terrible. Now it’s time to show them that my offense really isn’t. Went through a couple of bruised up years, everybody goest through that. Unfortunately I just went through that when I came over here to mega-media central.”

Tito Francona wants Coco, unequivocally. When speaking to reporters this morning in Fort Myers, he was asked about Coco and Jacoby- and Coco leaving for another team. Tito had no interest in discussing the battle royale between the two, but very stridently insisted: “We want Coco on our team.”

Coco sounds a little bitter in that quote above- which is understandable, I suppose. But he also told reporters this morning that he questions whether or not he even has a fair shot at CF, period.

“I’m not sure,” [Coco] said. “I’m not sure how everything’s going to break down. I’m really unsure of a lot of things this year and, with that, all I can do is just go out there and, like I said, try to have fun like I did in the past. Just go station to station and go through the workout.”

This is one time when I really wish the Gold Gloves were actually awarded across the board to the people who deserved them. I can’t help but think that if Coco had been recognized for his freakishly awesome skills in CF this past year (instead of the award going to a mediocre-at-best fielder), maybe folks would get off his case a little bit. Then again, as my dad always said, “If frogs had wings…”