I’m not gonna lie, Coco Crisp really pissed me off when he played for the Red Sox. Other than his first spring training with the team in 2006, I can’t remember a time when I felt good about his contributions to the team. My opinion of him reached its nadir when he started the bench-clearing brawl with the Rays last season, after James Shields had the temerity to hit him in the leg with a pitch — a purpose pitch which should have put an end to the stupid back-and-forth peeing contest that started when Jason Bartlett blocked second base with his knee as Crisp tried to steal.

Crisp should have taken his lump and gone to first. Instead he needlessly caused a bench-clearing brawl. Brilliant. He and Jonny Gomes should go bowling.

Sure, Coco had his moments of greatness — remember that diving catch against the Mets? — but more often than not I muttered, "Coco Crisp, you (bleeping) hump," after he grounded out weakly to second or third, or popped up to right field or left field, or basically just sucked. I despised his batting stance, which had the kind of lame weight transfer you see from 10-year-olds trying to switch-hit in Wiffle ball.

Really? A locked front leg? No wonder you were only good for a line drive every two weeks.

Crisp came to Boston with huge expectations, which, in retrospect, were unfounded. I mean, his on-base percentages in Cleveland were .314, .302, .344 and .345. In Boston, they were 317, .330 and .344. Sure, his slugging percentage dropped off precipitously in Boston, but did we obtain him for his power? No, we obtained him thinking a guy who reached base at a .345 clip was somehow going to turn into Tony Phillips.

Well, didn’t happen.

You have to give Crisp credit for playing phenomenal defense in center field. And honestly, I’m not ecstatic about the idea of trading a good fielding center fielder for a no-name middle reliever (Ramon Ramirez). But it seemed obvious another season of Ellsbury and Crisp wasn’t going to work to anyone’s benefit.

So now it’s game on, pretty boy Jacoby. Time to stop swinging for the fences and just get on base — with your legs, not your can-of-corn power. Meanwhile for Crisp, it’s on to baseball purgatory, Kansas City.

Coco Crisp wasn’t the worst acquisition during the Theo regime. After all, has anyone heard  from Andy Marte lately?

Nevertheless, I can’t say he leaves me with a lot of fond memories.

Cam Martin also writes for CBS Sportsline and BugsandCranks.com.