Coco’s Value > What I thought it was

In fact, Coco saved more runs in the field than anyone in 2007.  The most above a replacement player.  And the most above the average player. 

His defense was great that season, one of the absolute best center fielders in the game–a large improvement over what he had been previously.  And I doubt that anyone expected that kind of greatness out of him in center.  Even though none of us thought that he would be terrible out there either. 

But anyway, because Coco’s defense was so awesome, and he won so many games with the glove, his overall WARP1 fell in at 48th.

Which leads me to having to admit a mistake that I made…

I undervalued Coco Crisp that year. 

Sure, I knew that he was a great defender. 

And sure, I was understanding that he was worthy of a Gold Glove.  But his overall value was well above what I would have guessed. 

Come playoff time during that magnificent 2007 season, I was an advocate for Ellsbury in center and Drew in right.  And to this day I will stand behind that.

Drew had started to hit better down the stretch that season (not to mention, had a track record of being good).  And Ellsbury was tearing the cover off the ball, stealing bases, and was no slouch with the glove either (ride the lightning).

And Jacoby seemed to  just have “it.”  You know that “it” that I am talking about?  The “it” where a player will never succumb to the pressure, never fold when the moment is at its most stressful?

Of course Ellsbury lacked “it” in 2008.  So it is probably just a matter of whether or not a player is playing well or playing poorly (not poor necessarily, but below expectations). 

I didn’t feel that Coco was the best option to start in the postseason.  And that is largely because his inability to hit well.  Crisp just couldn’t hit at all, at least, at times it seemed that way.  So I thought Ellsbury/Drew contained more upside than Crisp/Ellsbury.  And this isn’t Adam Dunn we are talking about in right, so the defense didn’t take much of a hit with combo #1.

But I reiterate.  I undervalued the season that Crisp had.  I do not shy away from admitting to my analytical mistakes.  Everyone makes them, even the ones with most “expertise.” 

Coco was not the 48th best player in baseball at the time.  But he may very well have had the 48th most valuable season that year.  He could track down balls up the middle with the best of them, and that translated into a year that many overlooked his true value, or so it seemed. 

And I overlooked it too.

Speaking of…remember that catch Crisp made against the Mets in 2006? 

or

The amazing at-bat Crisp had in Game 6 against the Rays?

Some of the time, he was actually pretty fun to watch.