Thinking Long and Short Term
Oh No, Coco
Coco Crisp’s ill-advised steal attempt on April 8th resulted in a broken knuckle. I’d hate to say “I told you so,” but here’s another example where a steal wreaked havoc, and not in a good sense. At least the depth chart of the Red Sox outfield goes deep as the triangle in Fenway, with Wily Mo Peña and Adam Stern as options. In a surprising move, Dustan Mohr, not Willie Harris, has been called up from Pawtucket. One would think Harris was the first option, but the former White Sox utilityman will remain with Boston’s triple A affiliate for now.
Crisp will be in a splint for ten days and will then be reevaluated. This injury could shelve the Red Sox center fielder until the end of April or the beginning of May. The Crisp/Mark Loretta tandem was picking up momentum: Crisp had scored six runs and Loretta two RBIs but got on base at a .429 clip in the season to date.
I haven’t seen an announcement on whom Terry Francona will use to hit leadoff, but Kevin Youkilis’s patience, demonstrated by a .471 OBP, makes him the best choice. Adam Stern’s speed does not a leadoff hitter make.
Eons of Ortiz
David Ortiz signed a contract extension yesterday that locked up the league’s premiere designated hitter until 2010. The four-year, $52-million deal lifted the spirits of Red Sox fans almost has high as Big Papi hits his clutch home runs. Here’s to many more covers of video game, jars of salsa, tubs of applesauce, comebacks of remarkable and epic nature, and cameo appearances in photos of Tim Kasey.
