Coco Crisp, Soggy at Best

Anyone else have deja vu?

Well, maybe it's a bit early and a bit too drastic, but the Boston Red Sox are well on their way to almost repeating one of the greatest- nope THE GREATEST comeback in sports history.

Now if only they could get a center fielder that knew how to play. It's easy for Coco Crisp's god-awful numbers to get lost in translation. Look at all the big names that Boston marches to the plate: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Varitek. These are all guys that Boston fans have to love. Hard workers (an exception with Manny) who all produce in some way, shape, or form.

Not to mention, baseball fans have been treated to the dawning of a new ace in Boston with Josh Beckett proving that he is a big game pitcher through and through. So if Boston's winning again and things are looking up, why complain about Coco Crisp?

His average through 8 games is a WHOPPING .161 with 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases, 9 strikeouts. Now, during the season Crisp did a little bit to calm the masses by posting 60 RBI and batting over .250. However, the man that was to come make Boston fans forget about Johnny Damon has done everything but that.

His play in the field at times can atone for some of his sins, but it'll take several more Hail Marys for this man to really feel wanted by Boston Red Sox fans. If I was Terry Francona, I would sit him. He is about as effective as Julio Lugo right now. Young Jacoby Ellsbury is riddled with talent, electric on the base paths, has got great pop in his bat, and brings a young, energetic presence on the field.

I hate to agree with Manny, its not the end of the world if this series isn't won. Of course I don't want my overpaid right fielder telling me this, but he is right to a degree. This isn't life or death, and sticking with Coco because you don't want Jacoby to make a crucial error doesn't cut it. Your job as manager is to put out the best product, and to have Jacoby sitting on the bench watching Coco Crisp haphazardly flail a piece of pine around isn't getting the job done.

If he makes a mistake, it won't cost Boston the series. There are far more reasons for that happening. Try having Bobby Keilty in your outfield to face lefties, or having J.D. Boo on your team at all. Or how bout Eric Gagne's refusal to find the strike zone, or Dice K MatzuSUCKa's decline (faster then Vanilla ice's career). Manny being Manny again doesn't help either. Those are the reasons for the Red Sox demise, should it happen.

I'm not saying Jacoby Ellsbury is the savior, but he certainly can't do much worse the Coco Crisp. It's time to put the cereal away and play some baseball.

Chris Hill

The Next Rick Ankiel?

Joba Chamberlain came out for the 9th (why, Joe...why?), retired David Ortiz, and threw two pitches right at the head of Kevin Youkilis. Both balls bounced off the backstop without making contact with Youkilis.

Umpire Angel Hernandez ejected Chamberlain immediately after the second errant throw. Chamberlain looked stunned, as though both pitches had gotten away from him. Joba, this is the man who once ejected an organ player in AAA Omaha for playing the Mickey Mouse Club theme during an umpire-manager argument. He was initially going to toss you for coming out to Tim McGraw's "Indian Outlaw."

Yankee fans had better pray that Joba was trying to decapitate Youkilis, otherwise we might be looking at the dreaded "Steve Blass" disease. Of course, Yankee fans (and Keith Olbermann's mom) are no stranger to this affliction.

Ryan Maloney