Cuckoo for Coco?

How much willthe Red Sox miss Johnny Damon? Coco Crisp (right), whom Boston acquired fromthe Indians on Jan. 27, was the American League's best defensive leftfielderlast year and should make a smooth transition to full-time duty in center, evenwithout a strong throwing arm. (He is nonetheless an upgrade over Damon in thatdepartment.) Offensively, Crisp is in the same class as Damon, as reflected bytheir stats last year (below). And when age, salary and relative ballparkfactors are weighed in (Crisp moves from Jacobs Field, a pitcher's park, whileDamon leaves hitter-friendly Fenway Park), Boston's move looks as though itmight well pay off.

PLAYER	TOTAL BA	TIMES BASES	ON BASE	OBP	OPS	SB	AGE	2006 SALARY
DAMON	.316	274	252	.366	.805	18	32	$13 million
CRISP	.300	276	222	.345	.810	15	26	$2.75 million

 

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TOM DIPACE (DAMON)

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AARON JOSEFCZYK/ICON SMI (CRISP)