in MLB Betting Trends

 

Coco on the shelf

It’s only a couple of weeks into the Major League Baseball regular season, and we’ve already got a high-profile team with significant outfield issues to deal with.

The Boston Red Sox were already down one key player when new center fielder Coco Crisp suffered a broken left index finger sliding into third base during Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles (Boston cashed in as a –143 road favorite). Crisp was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and, according to manager Terry Francona, could miss several weeks of action. Then right fielder Trot Nixon hurt his groin in the second inning of Tuesday’s 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Nixon had to leave the game while his teammates cashed in as –191 faves at Fenway Park.

Crisp was being counted on to replace Johnny Damon, now of the archrival New York Yankees. Seamheads applauded the offseason trade that brought Crisp from the Cleveland Indians; in 2005, the speedy Los Angeles native posted an OPS of .810, compared to the more expensive Damon’s .805. Boston still figures to have a relative bargain on its hands after signing Crisp to a three-year extension Wednesday for $15.5 million over three years starting next season. Damon, meanwhile, signed as a free agent with the Yankees for the next four years at a total of $52 million. Also of note: Damon is 32 years old, Crisp 26.

Nixon is trying to regain his prominent role in right field after missing most of 2004 with a herniated disc. The previous year, Nixon had a career-high .578 slugging percentage. That figure dipped to a career-low .446 as a regular player in 2005, but it looks like Nixon may finally be back on track after starting the season 6-for-21 with a pair of homers. He’s expected to miss about a week; it has yet to be decided whether he will officially join Crisp on the disabled list.

The loss of two-thirds of their starting outfield doesn’t weaken the Red Sox as much as it would other teams. Kevin Youkilis has been waiting in the wings for his chance to shine as a regular player. The plan in 2006 was to have Youkilis split time between first and third base while toiling near the bottom of the batting order. Now he’s the leadoff hitter in Crisp’s absence. The “Greek God of Walks” should thrive in that role given his .400 OBP as a part-timer last year. Youkilis got the 2006 campaign started at a blistering 7-for-17 pace with a pair of walks; his leadoff debut was a 2-for-4 performance in Tuesday’s win over Toronto.

Crisp’s role in the outfield, meanwhile, is being handled by Adam Stern. The plucky Canadian batted eighth against the Blue Jays in Youkilis’ old spot, going 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. His value, though, is primarily as a defensive replacement. A drop-off in production is likely (but not certain) for however long Stern is batting and Crisp isn’t.

The situation in right field is much more settled. Wily Mo Pena, who came over from the Cincinnati Reds in the Bronson Arroyo trade, is already Nixon’s platoon partner. He teased Cincinnati fans by slugging .527 in 2004 before falling back to earth a bit last season. There shouldn’t be too much drop-off between Nixon and Pena in the short term as far as batting is concerned. Pena also looks like a potential gem as a fielder. If Nixon doesn’t heal quickly, he may be out of a job sooner rather than later.

Boston finishes its three-game set with the Jays Thursday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time.

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