A’s Right to Go Coo Coo for Coco (Crisp)

On January 5th, the Oakland Athletics re-signed Coco Crisp for 2 years / $14 million (with a team option for 2014). I have read some articles that seemed to question this move, but at the end of the day, any true Oakland A's loyalist should know we are getting a huge bargain.

Crisp chose to stay to with the A's through the 2013 season and possibly longer, providing the A's some stability at centerfield and in the clubhouse. As an A's fan, I could not be happier to know he is going to be returning to the A's lineup and to the fans. Coco has been the most fun Athletic to watch over the last couple years and is also one of the best with the fans. He is always out there early signing autographs, even when he's not playing, and always puts on a big smile for the fans.

People talk about how few fans the A's have and how bad the fan experience is, but I have yet to hear a complaint about Coco (or, for that matter, Gio, or any of the other current or former A's). I enjoy the fan interaction with the players that is unique to the O.co Coliseum, and think Coco is the team's best example.

Even before considering the fact that our young A's team needs some veteran mentoring, and without counting how much he helps the top of our lineup and defense, he is, by far, the most exciting Athletic to watch. He is usually good for one great catch a game, as well as a few pretty darn good ones. Had he been healthy all season, he would have led the American League in steals (as opposed to ending up tied at 49 with Brett Gardner of New York). His steals provide drama in otherwise meaningless spots in games and he's also good for a few surprise homers per season. Not many other A's hitters can boost such a large amount of out of your seat moments like Crisp, and isn't that what going to see games live all about?

Last season, he even let fans vote on how he should wear his hair for certain games. Sometimes he blew out the afro, a la Oscar Gamble, and other times he put it in Iverson-esque cornrows. Both looks came with Coco's trademark grin, and the ‘fro even drew some laughs and giggles from fans when he pulled on his batting helmet over it.

When we rescued a 4-week old kitten last summer, my wife and I only had to bounce around a couple names before we agreed on "Coco." Even knowing he was a pending free agent, there was no other player we would want to call family.

Coco Crisp is a real part of the Athletics family, and I couldn't be more excited to know he's going to be in the green & gold during the upcoming season. He will remain a fan favorite and hopefully even give the A's their first (solo) stolen-base title since Rickey Henderson in 1998. So, the deal, regardless of price tag or length, means more to the A's than could be put into a contract. All the A's fans should be glad to be able to know that 2012 means another year of "Let's go, Coco!" I know I am.