Editing Coco Crisp (section)

===Boston Red Sox===
After [[Johnny Damon]] signed with the [[New York Yankees]], the Red Sox sought Crisp to fill Damon's role as both leadoff hitter and in center field. In January 2006, the Red Sox sent prospect [[third baseman]] [[Andy Marte]], pitcher [[Guillermo Mota]], [[catcher]] [[Kelly Shoppach]], a [[player to be named later]] (minor leaguer [[Randy Newsom]]), and cash considerations to the Indians for Crisp, catcher [[Josh Bard]] and pitcher [[David Riske]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castrovince |first=Anthony |date=January 27, 2006 |title=Tribe finalizes two deals in a day |url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1302209// |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523232209/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/1302209// |archive-date=May 23, 2017 |access-date=September 10, 2016 |website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref>

[[File:Coco Crisp on September 9, 2007 (2).jpg|upright|thumb|right|Crisp playing for the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 2007.]]
On April 12, 2006, Crisp signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Sox worth $15.5 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2006 |title=Cuckoo for Coco: Red Sox, Crisp agree to extension |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2406515 |url-status=live |access-date=September 10, 2016 |website=[[ESPN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116083554/http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2406515 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 }}</ref> Crisp broke his left index finger attempting to steal third base earlier in the month and spent the next 42 games on the [[disabled list]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2006 |title=Crisp returns to Boston lineup |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2461250 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213149/https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2461250 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=May 29, 2021 |website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref> After returning to the Red Sox outfield on May 28, [[Kevin Youkilis]] had taken over the leadoff spot, and Crisp usually batted seventh or eighth in the [[Batting order (baseball)|line-up]] for the rest of the year. In 105 games, he had a .264 batting average with eight home runs and 36 RBI. Besides his injury, Crisp's 2006 season may be best remembered for a catch against the [[New York Mets]] on June 29.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2006 |title=Schilling beats Mets, helps BoSox win 12th straight |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/260629102 |url-status=live |access-date=May 29, 2021 |website=[[ESPN]] |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214434/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/260629102 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 }}</ref>

====2007 season====
Crisp began the 2007 season struggling offensively due to lingering effects of off season surgery to his left index finger. On April 20, 2007, Crisp fell over a short wall at [[Fenway Park]] while trying to catch a home run by [[Alex Rodriguez]].  Although he was unable to make the catch, missing by inches, he hit a game-tying [[Triple (baseball)|triple]] off [[Mariano Rivera]] in the bottom of the eighth, then scored the go-ahead run on [[Alex Cora]]'s soft line drive single. The Red Sox went on to win 7–6. During this season, he made numerous impressive catches in the outfield. It has even been claimed by one major league club that Crisp is easily the best defensive center fielder in all of Major League Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McAdam |first=Sean |date=June 27, 2007 |title=Coco's fielding mighty Crisp |url=http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_sox27_06-27-07_7065NV4.3ba22c6.html |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023828/http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/sp_bb_sox27_06-27-07_7065NV4.3ba22c6.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=September 30, 2007 |website=[[The Providence Journal]] }}</ref> Although he struggled at the plate throughout much of the season, between June 13 and July 23, Crisp raised his batting average from .221 to .284, a .402 average during that span. On June 18, entering the game with only two home runs in the season, Crisp belted two homers in the first multi-HR game of his career in a 9–4 loss to the [[Atlanta Braves]].

On August 5, Crisp was almost run over by the [[Seattle Mariners]]' mascot, the [[Mariner Moose]]. The Moose, driving a lap around [[Safeco Field]]'s warning track on an [[All-Terrain Vehicle|ATV]], nearly collided with Crisp as he was leaving the [[dugout (baseball)|dugout]] for his position in the middle of the fifth inning; Crisp had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Red Sox pitching coach [[John Farrell (pitcher)|John Farrell]] was incensed by the mascot's actions and voiced his displeasure to both the mascot and Seattle's head groundskeeper. Immediately following the incident, the Red Sox received an apology from Mariners GM [[Bill Bavasi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaughnessy |first=Dan |date=August 6, 2007 |title=Their only close call was a moose on the loose |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/08/06/their_only_close_call_was_a_moose_on_the_loose/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 29, 2021 |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119021326/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/08/06/their_only_close_call_was_a_moose_on_the_loose/ |archive-date=November 19, 2008 }}</ref>

On October 21, in Game 7 of the [[2007 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]], Crisp made the catch that sent Boston to their second [[World Series]] in four seasons. He hit the wall shortly after making the catch, slightly injuring himself in the process. Despite this, he was well enough to play in the World Series.

Although he was the team's starting center fielder throughout the 2007 season, he was benched mid-series during the ALCS for rookie [[Jacoby Ellsbury]]. He remained benched for the [[2007 World Series]], only appearing late in games for defensive substitutions.

====2008 season====
[[File:Massive fenway brawl.jpg|thumb|[[Bench-clearing brawl]] on June 5, 2008.]]
On June 4, Crisp was the center of controversy in a game against the [[Tampa Bay Rays]]. While Crisp was trying to steal [[second base]] in the bottom of the sixth inning, Rays shortstop [[Jason Bartlett (baseball)|Jason Bartlett]] purposely placed his knee in front of the bag in an attempt to prevent Crisp from stealing the base.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gaddis |first=Carter |date=June 6, 2008 |title=Strikeouts Concern Maddon |work=[[The Tampa Tribune]] |url=http://www2.tbo.com/sports/sports/2008/jun/06/sp-strikeouts-concern-maddon-ar-136627/ |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009073615/http://www2.tbo.com/sports/sports/2008/jun/06/sp-strikeouts-concern-maddon-ar-136627/ |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }}</ref> Crisp stole the base, but was not happy with this. On base again in the bottom of the eighth inning, he attempted another steal, this time taking out second baseman [[Akinori Iwamura]] on a hard slide. His slide was controversial and catalyzed the "payback pitch" the following game. During a pitching change in that inning, Rays manager [[Joe Maddon]] and Crisp argued, with Crisp in the dugout and Maddon on the pitching mound. After the game, Crisp said that he thought Bartlett would cover the bag, instead he (Bartlett) chose to tell Iwamura to take the throw in the eighth inning. Crisp described Bartlett's knee in front of the bag as a "Dirty" play.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Joe |date=June 5, 2008 |title=Red Sox retake first from Rays 5–1 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article607891.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=April 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109214013/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/article607891.ece |archive-date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> During the next game, with Crisp at bat in the bottom of the second inning, and the Sox up 3–1, Rays starter [[James Shields (baseball)|James Shields]] hit him on the thigh on the second pitch. Crisp [[Charging the mound|charged the mound]] and first dodged a punch from Shields, and then threw a glancing punch at Shields, which set off a [[bench-clearing brawl]]. Crisp, [[Jonny Gomes]], and Shields were ejected from the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ortiz |first=Jorge L. |date=June 6, 2008 |title=Even MVPs can be benched for not hustling |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/dailypitch/2008-06-06-rollins-hustle_N.htm |access-date=June 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Benjamin |first=Amalie |author-link=Amalie Benjamin |date=June 6, 2008 |title=Red Sox outfight Rays: Brawl precedes Ellsbury injury |work=[[Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/06/06/red_sox_outfight_rays/ |access-date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> Major League Baseball suspended Crisp for seven games due to his actions in the brawl.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2008 |title=National Sports Briefs |work=[[Salisbury Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://www.salisburypost.com/Sports/0607-national |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=June 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608101716/http://www.salisburypost.com/Sports/0607-national |archive-date=June 8, 2008 }}</ref> Upon appeal, the suspension was reduced to five games, which he had served as of June 28, 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edes |first=Gordon |author-link=Gordon Edes |date=June 27, 2008 |title=Crisp suspension reduced |work=[[Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/06/crisp_suspensio.html |access-date=June 27, 2008}}</ref> In Game 5 of the [[2008 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], Crisp had a game-tying hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap Boston's seven-run comeback. Boston would go on to win the game 8–7 with a walk-off single in the ninth inning by [[J. D. Drew]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 17, 2008 |title=Drew's game-winning single keeps Red Sox alive in ALCS |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/281016102 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 30, 2021 |website=[[ESPN]] |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213405/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/281016102 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 }}</ref> but eventually lost the series in seven games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chastain |first=Bill |date=October 20, 2008 |title=Magnificent 7: Rays amaze, top Sox |url=http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081019&content_id=3631606&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305212920/http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081019&content_id=3631606&vkey=recap&c_id=tb&fext=.jsp |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=May 30, 2021 |website=[[Tampa Bay Rays]] }}</ref>

[[File:Coco Crisp 2009 spring (1).jpg|upright|thumb|left|Crisp with the Kansas City Royals in 2009 [[spring training]].]]