Prospect Retro: Coco Crisp

by John Sickels on Sep 5, 2005 1:30 PM EDT in News

Covelli "Coco" Crisp was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 draft, from Los Angeles Pierce Junior College. Assigned to Johnson City in the Appy League, he hit .258/.380/.354 with 27 steals in 65 games, 44 walks and 41 strikeouts in 229 at-bats. His high walk rate and speed were impressive, but he didn't show much power. I gave him a Grade C in the 2000 book, noting that his secondary skills were impressive, but that it was unclear how much power he would develop.

Crisp split '00 between short-season New Jersey and Class A Peoria, playing 63 games and stealing 32 bases, but showing no power and hitting a combined .254. He remained a Grade C prospect at this point.

Moved up to Potomac in the Carolina League in '01, Crisp had a strong season, hitting .306/.368/.423, with 39 steals and 11 homers. His power was starting to develop, and he maintained good plate discipline, although he was caught stealing 21 times and definitely needed to improve his baserunning. I gave him a Grade C+ in the '02 book, and predicted that he would hit .287 in Double-A in '02.

He did better than that, hitting .301 with 26 steals in 89 games for New Haven. Traded to the Indians at mid-season as part of the Chuck Finley trade, he was inserted into the lineup by Cleveland and hit .260/.314/.386 in 32 games, not great but OK considering he was skipping Triple-A. I kept him at Grade C+ in the '03 book, projecting that he would make an excellent fourth outfielder but wouldn't develop enough power to start.

Crisp hit .360 in 56 games of Triple-A in '03, but spent most of the year with the Indians, hitting .266/.302/.353 with 15 steals. He earned regular playing time in '04 and did very well, hitting .297/.344/.446 with 15 homers and 20 steals, showing improved power production. His numbers this year are similar: .291/.338/.439.

Crisp played very well at times in the minors, showing good speed and the ability to take a walk. His patience has slipped a bit in the Show, but he hasn't lost his ability to make contact, and has developed more power than expected. He should have a long and productive career, and is a good example of a Grade C/C+ prospect who develops his skills.

Crisp's comparables are all over the place, a mixture of throwback players like Terry Moore, 70s speed-and-batting-average hitters, and a few more modern names.

Ken Landreaux
Terry Moore
Warren Cromartie
Lenny Dykstra
Willie McGee
Roberto Kelly
Chad Curtis

A good active comp is Mark Kotsay.

I think the main unanswered question here is still power development. Crisp could still develop in any number of directions.

There is a poll question about Crisp in the comments section.

Poll

What will Coco Crisp's career high in home runs be?

30 or more

16 votes

25-29

41 votes

20-24

117 votes

16-19

50 votes

15 (2004)

3 votes

227 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Cookoo for Coco

I can't say that I've been following Coco for his entire career. In fact, I only recently started studying baseball again 5 years ago. I've spent even less time following the minors. What I can say is when I saw Coco in 2003 that I just knew I wanted him on my keeper roster. I sought to acquire him via any means necessary (eventually trading Edgar Renteria strait up for Coco). I know it seems asinine when somebody rambles on about their keeper league roster (fantasy, simulation or otherwise), but I just can't seem to gloat enough about my acquisition of Coco Crisp.

I've always personally had a "thing" for 3 and 4 tool guys, ESPECIALLY when one of those tools is good defense. I love how John states that Coco is a good example of a mid-level prospect that developed his skills.

Coco is one of the players that renewed my love for the game of baseball after my extended hiatus from fandom (along with players like Kotsay, Renteria and Odalis Perez). There are just some guys you love to watch play.

Thanks for the retro, John.

"If you cant answer a man's argument, all is not lost, you can still call him vile names" - Hubbard

by QuixoticQuasiQuandary on Sep 5, 2005 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

Ex-Cookoo for Coco

See now, I followed Coco all throughout his Cardinals minor league career (which if you read comments here wouldn't suprise you).

I however, would have told you that you were absolutely nucking futs to make that trade. Not that Renteria is that great - he had a couple good years in StL and got way too much money to go be just-above-average for a starting SS in Boston.

But back to Coco - I could never quite figure him out. He doesn't have anything overwhelming. Speed (stolen bases, really) are nowhere near as important to fans or managers as they were when Lou, Rickey, and Vince were tearing up basepaths in the 70s-90s.

Anyway, I'd actually peg him as more of a AAAA player. But then... you are probably right and I am probably wrong. ;)

by Rochioli on Sep 5, 2005 11:32 PM EDT reply actions

Not sure where to put this

I'm interested in a prospect retro on Mark Ellis. He's played very well this year and had would be working on 3 straight solid years had he not missed all of 2004. Some of his numbers compare favorably w/ players like Brian Roberts and Michael Young at similar stages in their career. What do you think?

by Guyute on Sep 7, 2005 8:49 PM EDT reply actions