Jacoby Ellsbury

I saw the replay of last night’s game where Jacoby Ellsbury earned himself his first career ejection.  In the fifth inning, Ellsbury slid into home on a close play at the plate where he was called out.  Replays indicated that he was indeed safe.  Jacoby threw down his helmet violently in disgust.  Although home plate umpire Derryl Cousins had his back turned during all of this, he must have overheard Jacoby’s angry reactions.  In addition to that was Ellsbury’s helmet which was rolling around close to the on deck circle.  After seeing all this, Cousins decided that Ellsbury would have to leave the game. 

Continue reading "What Is It With All These Ejections??"

at some of the other things that happened last night that we might have forgotten about. 

Jacoby Ellsbury tied a major league record with 12 put outs.  I wonder how that feels to tie a record like that considering it’s not really one that you can control.  You just have to get lucky and have the ball come at you every inning – which is basically what happened.  The one catch that I will give Ellsbury credit for is the catch he made in the first inning preventing Aaron Hill from getting extra bases.   Great catch.  As for the rest of them – most were routine fly outs.  And yet he tied a record.  Take what you can get, Jacoby!

Continue reading "Papi Power - What a Game!"

fly by Kottaras.  To me that’s one heck of a performance. 

Other notes:  Jacoby Ellsbury continued his hitting streak with a single in the fifth inning.  I’m excited to see where this is going to go.  Obviously when you talk about hitting streaks, you automatically think to Ryan Zimmerman and his 30 game hit streak that was recently ended.  I dunno if Ellsbury is going to last that long with his streak, but I’d love to see him do it.  Maybe he can join Wakefield in the players that have proved me wrong this season (but don’t get me wrong, Ellsbury is having a great season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as an All Star this year). 

Continue reading "Well That was a Fast One"

As I watched Jacoby Ellsbury steal home against the Yankees Sunday night, I thought to myself: "This pretty much sums it up." An aging Andy Pettitte forgets to deliver from the stretch, letting a youthful Ellsbury elude another future Bingo regular, Jorge Posada's, tag at the plate. Would Justin Masterson have made the same error? The two ballclubs could not be headed in more opposite directions. Every year, the Red Sox seem to call up another hyped prospect, while the Yanks continue to overpay for limited talent, and shun their farm system.

Continue reading "Red Sox continue to steal away Yanks' future"

3-Boston Red Sox: RF-J.D. Drew, CF-Jacoby Ellsbury, LF-Jason Bay

This group has excellent balance. All three are fast and cover ground well at their respective positions, and they are astute baserunners as well. Drew's injury history is a slight concern, but when he's out there he's smooth, athletic, and immensely talented. He really seemed to settle in during his second year in Boston.

Continue reading "MLB's Top Five Outfields"

, you nearly blew your season.  What are you so happy about?” 

And how about Jacoby Ellsbury getting called out on strikes?  Strike three was no where near the plate.  I give Ellsbury all the credit in the world for keeping his cool in that situation.  Sure, bad calls are part of the game, but that one was a little much. 

Continue reading ""We got ourselves a series""

cent and (the over 40 crowd’s gonna kill me for this) not so recent postseason history.  Jacoby Ellsbury found last season’s October stroke, going 3 for 5 (he also reached base on a fielder’s choice and on an error) with two stolen bases, one phenomenal catch in centerfield and a correspondence of at least 5 text messages between sis and myself discussing how cute and handsome he is while he’s doing all of this.  And while Ellsbury certainly was the best looking part of tonight’s game, his stat line is just the beginning of a complete portrait of dominance on a baseball diamond.

Continue reading "Same as it Ever Was"

hers dual until the 6th, when the Red Sox struck first on an RBI sac fly by Kevin Youkilis, scoring Jacoby Ellsbury. Beckett would go until the 7th without surrendering a run, which he did on a solo shot by Carlos Pena. Beckett had another fine night, 8 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned, but because he left with the game tied, he would not factor into the decision and this was still anyone's game.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/16"

innings, couldn't stop the Sox who had 6 total homeruns on the night, capped off by a solo shot by Jacoby Ellsbury in the 5th. Matsuzaka finished the night having given up only 3 hits and 1 earned in 5 strong innings, pushing his record to 17-2 and lowering his ERA to 2.93. He is making a strong case and while it will probably be the Indians' Cliff Lee who wins it, Matsuzaka is probably the strongest runner up, despite missing 3 or so weeks with injury and being among with the league leaders in walks.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/15"

They get Jacoby Ellsbury, who pinch ran for Mark Kotsay, to 2nd, but can't get him in as the Rays remained on top of the AL East once again.

Game 3 is the rubber match tomorrow night, once ag

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/9"

6th inning RBIs from Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, as well as a 7th inning solo shot from Jason Bay, his 27th, made it a 7-0 lead.

Paul Byrd didn't even need have of those runs as he neutralized a dangerous Rangers lineup over 6 and 2/3 shutout innings, giving up only 3 hits. In the end it was a 7-2 lead and another series win for the Sox. They are now 1.5 games behind the Rays, who have hit a bit of a rough patch, losing 5 of 6 to the Yanks and Jays.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/7"

The Sox finally took the lead in the 9th on a bizarre play. Jim Miller misplayed a Jacoby Ellsbury bunt and Alex Cora scored the winning run on the Miller error.

Rookie Justin Masterson got the win after pitching 2 brilliant innings of relief. The bullpen as a whole was great throwing 3 shutout innings in relief of Daisuke Matsuzaka. However, this win was a team effort. Everyone who played for the Sox helped the team’s cause. It is wins like this, playing as a team and coming from behind, that can really inspire a team. This was a great win.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/3"

tell me if you recognize anyone."

Exhibit A: The Red Sox lineup, circa April 2008
CF - Jacoby Ellsbury
2B - Dustin Pedroia
DH - David Ortiz
LF - Manny Ramirez
3B - Mike Lowell

Continue reading "Law and Order"

ile driving in three, two of which scored on a two-run shot in the 5th. 

And how about that Jacoby Ellsbury who was quiet as a mouse during the first half of the season?  Maybe he’s not the hitter we saw last October, but he got a pair of hits last night, scoring two runs.  In addition to that, he stole two bases, which brings his total up to 40 for the season.  Wow that’s a lot of stolen bases. 

Continue reading "Supporting the Team"

Here’s to another sweep against Toronto!

Keep the Faith!

Post game notes:

-Jacoby Ellsbury:  Ellsbury was not in the starting line up for the third night in a row, as he has been nursing a sore tailbone.  Francona says that he can hit fine, but it’s the sliding that bothers Jacoby.  This is a set back for both the basebaths and the outfield, so it seems like we’re making the right choice here.  It also gives Coco some more playing time, which I’m sure he appreciates. 

Continue reading "Sox sweep the Texas Rangers, who ..."

Last month after Pedroia broke up Lackey’s no-hitter in the 9th, a buddy of mine called me.  I told him that I felt spoiled as a Red Sox fan.  There have been four no hitters in our life time, while most people go years and years and years and are lucky to see just one.  So maybe it’s a little pompous for me to start off with that title.  (But in my defense, I have yet to see ANY of these no-hitters, which drives me crazy every time I miss another one). 

Continue reading "Just give up already – you’re ..."

type slump.  He’ll heat up again. 

And speaking of heating up, how about that Jacoby Ellsbury?  He went 3-4 with two runs, an RBI, and a solo homer?  Jeez Ellsbury, we all wanted you to heat up, but you really went all out with the home runs! Looks like someone’s ready to hit lead off again (hint hint).  I honestly thought we’d see him back in the lead off spot on Friday, but Francona elected to go with Coco, as he had good numbers against Buhrle.  I can’t say for sure if he’ll be there today, but definitely expect to see him batting lead off again soon.

Continue reading "Dice-K dominates, but Wakefield goes to the DL..."

Then there's Jacoby Ellsbury - the center fielder who made his statement at the end of last season and kept it up for the first couple months of this season. Then something happened and for no understandable reason, the young rookie quit hitting. He had hit such a skid, in fact, his batting average dropped to just .258. But then the team went west. And unlike every other away game this season the center fielder started hitting. He didn't play in the first game against the Royals. But he was present and accounted for in games two and three. And boy did he make his presence known.

Continue reading "Sox Take 2 out of 3 Thanks to Bay and Ellsbury"

stop the Red Sox, as Drew singled in another pair of runs.  That would be it for the 6th, but Jacoby Ellsbury put threw more runs on the board in the 7th with a shot over the centerfield fence.  This guy clearly wants to be back in the leadoff spot. 

Continue reading "Is Jason Bay ever going to cool down?- ..."

Once again, Francona surprises RSN with another lineup change: 

1) Drew RF

2) Lowrie SS

3) Ortiz DH

4) Youkilis 1B

5) Lowell  3B

6) Jason Bay LF

7) Ellsbury CF

8) Cash C

Continue reading "Pedroia gets the night off - Lowrie bats 2nd"

Mike Lowell all the way from first base.  The next inning the Sox picked up another run after Jacoby Ellsbury scored on a Dustin Pedroia single.  Ellbury had previously stolen second base, getting his first steal in over a month.  The Red Sox recorded another pair of runs in the 6th, and then had a three-run 7th inning. 

Continue reading "Now THAT'S the road game we've been waiting for!"

 

-Jacoby Ellsbury:  Jacoby is back in the lineup tonight.  I mentioned yesterday that Francona would like to see him back in the lead off spot.  If that doesn't work though, I wonder if Francona will consider placing Lowrie there.  However, the last thing we need is to put unnecessary pressure on on another rookie.  Ellsbury and Buccholz have enough of that going for them.

Continue reading "Ortiz's wrist "clicking" - nothing serious"

Rookie centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury spent the first few months of the season running circles around opposing pitches and catchers, disrupting the rhythm on the mound the minute he reached first base. I still remember a few instances where he'd swipe second and third - on consecutive pitches. Just nasty.

Continue reading "Stop Sign"

We all saw Coco Crisp soar through the air and crash into the centerfield wall in Anaheim the other day. We were all in awe of the catch he made - the latest in a long line of remarkable highlights - and we all shouted out loud in our living room even though nobody but family members and perhaps a dog or two were present. (It's OK to admit it. You know you did it).

Continue reading "Serving Coco at The Trading Deadline"

After yesterday’s game, the Yankees held a closed-door meeting among coaches and players—reportedly, manager Joe Girardi spoke, followed by Johnny Damon and captain Derek Jeter. In a postgame news conference, Girardi repeatedly (and sometimes heatedly) refused to reveal what was said in the meeting, although the gist of the discussion was obvious: the can’t-lose Yankees have been losing.

Continue reading "More Bad Yankee Luck"

Did you see that thing bubble up on poor Youk's face yesterday? What did it take, like, 15 seconds? He misplayed a throw and - BAM - his cheek blew up like a balloon. I wish I could describe the phenomenon with some sort of medical jargon, but I can't. Instead I found myself starting at the TV, mumbling outloud to nobody, repeatedly - Look at Youk's face! I thought maybe he and Manny had another sparring match between innings. What's perhaps most amusing is that the injury was suffered by our gold-glove first baseman, he of the longest errorless streak ever at the position, during warm-up tosses prior to the top of a frame. The dude handled everything hit and thrown at him for more than a full year - scorching liners and off-target throws alike - and lets one of his teammates tag him during break time. He looked like Rocky Balboa at the end of the first Rocky movie.

Continue reading "Kevin Youkilis is smuggling golf balls in his face"

And his name is Jacoby Ellsbury.Okay, so the rookie doesn't sit behind a steering wheel tearing up a race track.  But the speed with which he tears up the baseball diamond, he might as wel

Continue reading "There's a New Speed Racer in Town"

The Sox ended their road trip woes late last night as Jacoby Ellsbury made his major league debut in his hometown city; perhaps the cheers of all of his family & friends helped Bartolo Colon pitch seven innings of one run baseball. Dustin Pedroia ended the Sox offense slump with a 2-out ground rule double in the 8th inning followed by single from both Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell.

Continue reading "End to the road trip skid..."

e #3 spot for AL league leading hitters at 320.

The funniest thing I've read all week is how Jacoby Ellsbury dressed up as Johnny Damon for Halloween--though it didn't specify which Damo

Continue reading "Slugfest at Fenway!"

Both Lester and Masterson were prominent names in the trade talks, along with Jacoby Ellsbury and Jed Lowrie (Clay Buchholz was deemed completely off limits). There was much debate over whether or not Boston would be better off going with the proven All-World pitcher in Santana, or sticking with the young prospects on the belief that they would develop into the prominent pieces of a championship franchise that they were projected to be. So often both front offices as well as fans fall in love with prospects who have never even played a Major League game based solely on their advertised potential. Almost as often, this ends up being an irrational love affair that falls short just as it has in the past with the likes of Brian Rose, Dernell Stenson and Steve Lomasney (anyone remember these guys?). In this case, Boston’s decision to hang on to its young talent has so far worked out very well to start the season.

Continue reading "Looking In On The Players Involved ..."

been at the bottom of the League.

Most notably the team is led in this category by rookie phenom Jacoby Ellsbury who has been successful in all 14 of his stolen base attempts and is on pace to steal 63 bases this season. Ellsbury’s speed effects the game constantly when he is on base. Everyone remembers when he scored from second base on a wild pitch during his first stint with the team last summer. Last night, he tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly to Twins rightfielder Michael Cuddyer (last year’s AL leader in outfield assists) on a ball that was hit not all that deep and few other players would have attempted to score.

Continue reading "The Go Go . . . Red Sox?"

Struggles like Jacoby Ellsbury experienced to begin this season are a more likely scenario. Just as pitchers adjusted to find weaknesses in Ellsbury’s game, they will certainly do so with Lowrie. The fact that Lowrie has already struck out 6 times in only 16 at bats makes the probability of prolonged struggles even more likely.

Continue reading "Despite Hot Start, Lowrie Still Not ..."

           Whew! We got that out of the way.

           Papelbon is signed. I’m not sure I would have survived an entire season without a glimpse of him in red socks, doing the Funky Chicken again. If I’m dating myself with the archaic dance, so be it. I’m convinced that if he were in pinstripes and did one of those dances, or any other form of eccentric behavior for which he’s known, on a Yankee mound, George Steinbrenner would go into cardiac arrest.

Continue reading "Pap, the Funky Chicken and oh my ..."

Clay Buchholz pitched a no hitter in his second major league start, Jacoby Ellsbury stepped in when he was needed and became a vital part of the offense, and Jon Lester got the win in the World Series clincher. All are expected to be key contributors to the team this season. However, this influx of talent from the minors has not left this cupboard bare as Boston’s farm system still ranks in Baseball America’s top 5. Here are some of the next big prospects to keep an eye on in camp this spring and follow their progress this summer.

Continue reading "Boston Farm System Still Flush With Prospects"

Like the rest of Red Sox Nation, I really like what I saw in Jacoby Ellsbury's play last season and think he's the one to roam Fenway's center stage in 2008. But was it enough to turn Coco Crisp into Coco Crust?  I'm not sure about that yet.  Jacoby's a speedster with pretty good defensive skills, a so so arm, and an exciting bat, but did we see enough to anoint him to your everyday center fielder?

Continue reading "Coco vs Ellsbury: The Center Fielders of Attention"

ow?

Will Coco Crisp Still be in a Red Sox Uniform When the Season Starts?

With the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury and the re-signing of outfielder Bobby Kielty as a right handed bat off the bench, Coco Crisp has become expendable. Crisp has made it clear that he wants to start. With several teams still in need of a centerfielder, there is no lack of potential trade partners. Boston could always use reliable arms, especially in the bullpen, but they also need a young catcher to develop to eventually replace Jason Varitek, who is certainly not getting any younger. However, there does not appear to be any rush to trade Crisp and Theo Epstein seems content to wait for the right deal to come along, and it certainly will as one of these teams will eventually become desperate for a proven centerfielder. Will that happen before the Red Sox break camp or will they wait until during the season and they get a better sense of their pitching situation?

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox Spring Training Stories To Follow"

If you're using the fact that Spring Training begins less than two weeks from now as a way to get over that catastrophe of a football game last Sunday, I'm with you.

Pitchers and catchers voluntary report date is Valentine's day (awww), and it is a day that will hopefully help to mend the many broken hearts that the Giants walked all over.  No, Johan Santana will not be in the Sox rotation. No, A-rod didn't defect. Thank God.

Continue reading "Hope Springs Eternal"

at center field as management works at a decision between Coco Crisp and the new kid on the block, Jacoby Ellsbury.

There are pros and cons on each side of the equation. On the surface, Crisp has the experience; 6 major league seasons, four with the Indians and the last two, with the Sox. On the Ellsbury side, you have a rookie who batted .353 playing in about 20% of last year's games. Then, too, he did bat .438 in the World Series (.360 overall in the post-season).

Continue reading "Is Coco 'crisp' enough?"