Head to Head: Coco Crisp vs. Johnny Damon

For better or worse, these two players will be inextricably linked this coming season. They’ll be the answer to each others’ question all year long, and the question will be the same: Was he worth it? Should the Red Sox have ponied up the cash to retain Damon? Should the Yankees have spent so much on him without exploring other options? Who is the sounder investment, both this year and in the future?
Johnny Damon is a well-known quantity; one of the best leadoff hitters in the game over the last several years. Though his career has been marred by inconsistency, over the last two years he was a valuable contributor to the successes of the Red Sox, and his latest paycheck reflects that value (and perhaps over-reflects it). At 32, he likely still has at least a couple good years ahead of him, though there have been warning signs of decline – an increasingly injury-prone body, a falling SB total. What’s more, both his power and selectivity abandoned him in 2005; Damon became primarily a singles hitter, bucking career trends. He joins an aging Yankee club to anchor what may turn out to be the worst defensive outfield in the game.
Coco Crisp, meanwhile, had a breakout year in Cleveland at age 25. In terms of cumulative numbers, Crisp’s 2005 season compares well with Damon’s: an .810 OPS to Damon’s .805, a 119 OPS+ to Damon’s 113, 96 RC to Damon’s 101, identical .293 EqA’s. Crisp put up his numbers while playing half his games in a pitchers’ park; his road OPS were an incredible .160 points higher than at home (Damon, by contrast, had a road OPS 50 points lower than at home). He joins a Red Sox team that’s growing younger, and anchors what may turn out to be the worst defensive outfield in the game.
So, whose 2006 will be better once the 162nd game is played? Will Crisp continue to develop, aided by a hitters park well suited to him? Will Damon continue his current level of production, and perhaps see a power spike due to Yankee Stadium’s dimensions? Tell me what you think.