Thursday, March 10, 2005
Coming off a breakout season, outfielder likely will be the Tribe's regular leadoff hitter.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- Coco Crisp has a regular major-league job for the first time in his career -- even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it.
"It was nice to hear, but the next day I was over it," Crisp said in the Cleveland clubhouse after the Indians' scheduled game against the New York Yankees was rained out Wednesday.
"Right now, today, I'm playing as if I need to make the team," he said. "I can't take anything for granted. If I don't perform, I don't have a job."
Manager Eric Wedge is confident Crisp will build upon his breakout season of 2004, however.
"Coco knocked down a lot of obstacles last year," Wedge said. "We knew he was a major-league player. As an everyday piece, we weren't sure. He earned the right to be in the lineup every day."
Crisp won't let himself feel that secure. Perhaps it comes from being a 180-pounder generously listed at 6-foot in the media guide -- and a career history during which he has had to prove himself at every level.
"I can't live off what I did last year," he said "I've got to be better."
What the 25-year-old outfielder accomplished in 2004 was very good -- especially since he didn't have a roster spot until the eve of the season opener. Crisp all but had his bags packed for Triple-A Buffalo until regular center fielder Milton Bradley was traded to Los Angeles on April 4.
Career-best stats
The switch-hitter got only 77 at-bats over the first six weeks, but by the end of the season had established career-high numbers in batting average (.297), runs (78), home runs (15), RBI (71) and stolen bases (20).
Much of the production came from hitting in the sixth or seventh spots in the batting order.
This year, Crisp has been asked to fill the leadoff spot that opened when Matt Lawton was traded to Pittsburgh in November.
"Most of my numbers in the minor leagues came out of batting leadoff," said Crisp, who had a .299 mark in 423 games on the farm -- including a .360 average in 56 games at Buffalo in 2003.
"It really doesn't matter where I hit, but I feel comfortable in leadoff."
Crisp admits, however, that his free-swinging style is not that of the prototypical, ie., patient, leadoff man. He has drawn only 70 walks in 1,032 at-bats since making his major-league debut with the Indians in August 2002.
"I like to be aggressive, but up here the idea is to take a couple of pitches," he said.
"Seems like when I do that, the pitcher pumps two quick ones right in there and now I'm hitting 0-and-2. That's not very much fun."
Drawing walks is not a huge priority for Crisp to be successful, according to Wedge.
"It doesn't matter how he gets on base," Wedge said. "We just want him to focus on his strengths and get the job done.
"Coco doesn't need to do things differently to lead off. We told him, 'Just be yourself,' because that is what got him up to the top of the order in the first place."
Crisp hit .380 (27-for-71) last year when he put the first pitch in play.
Wedge said Wednesday that he intends to have Crisp hit leadoff all the time.
The manager said before camp opened that second baseman Ronnie Belliard also would be tried in the No. 1 spot.
"Coco being a switch-hitter is advantage there," Wedge said.
Crisp believes being more aggressive on the basepaths is another way to increase his value.
"If I get the green light, stealing 40 would be no big deal," he said.