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Cleveland Indians Top 25 in 2016: No. 23, Coco Crisp

By Steven Kubitza

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians left fielder Coco Crisp (4) hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians left fielder Coco Crisp (4) hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Our look at the Top 25 Cleveland Indians in 2016 continues with Coco Crisp, who made his return to the city where he started his career.

The Cleveland Indians entered September with a solid outfield unit, but the impending postseason absence of Abraham Almonte meant another player was needed. The Indians found that player in Coco Crisp.

Crisp returned to Cleveland, where his career started back in 2002, after being acquired from the Oakland Athletics. He left Cleveland for the bright lights of Boston in 2005, but he was welcomed back as a strong veteran presence to help the team in September and in the postseason.

The veteran’s best moments during his short tenure back in Cleveland came in the postseason in the form of home runs. A two-run home run in Game 3 of the ALDS was enough to power the Indians to a series victory over the Red Sox, while a solo home run in Game 5 of the ALCS gave the Indians an insurance run in a 3-0 series-clinching victory.

Related Story: Top 25 in 2016: No. 25, Ryan Merritt

He appeared in all but three postseason games and gave Terry Francona an experienced bat off the bench when the National League rules came into play.

Crisp has never been a great hitter and his arm-strength is not the best, but he is reliable. He can be trusted to be an intelligent fielder, which is something the Indians needed in the postseason. When someone like Tyler Naquin struggled, Crisp remained an option to provide solid defense late in games.

The Indians declined his monster option for 2017, meaning he is now a free agent and may be unlikely to return to the Indians. It was clear that his addition at the end of the season was strictly for the 2016 postseason push, as the team now has a whole offseason to address its needs and find talent to fill the outfield spots.

Crisp was only in Cleveland for a few months, but he makes this list due to his several memorable postseason moments, along with his name rarely being associated with anything negative. He was not on the team long enough to crack the top-20, but he deserves recognition for his work when he was here.

Next: Top 25 in 2016: No. 24 Abraham Almonte

Be sure to check in tomorrow to see who comes in at No. 22 on our list of the Top 25 Cleveland Indians in 2016.

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