The Red Sox website had a good article a few days ago on Jacoby Ellsbury. If you are a stat person, Ellsbury put up good stats in 2008. He hit .280, scored 100 runs & stole 50 bases. Why, then, is Red Sox Nation not 100% sure about him as their full-time center fielder in 2009?
Answer - because a Red Sox player is remembered for how he finishes the season. Look at JD Drew in 2007 with the big grand slam against Cleveland in the playoffs. His whole regular season of underperformance was forgiven because he got hot in the playoffs.
Ellsbury worked out with Dustin Pedroia in Arizona during the off-season. He added muscle mass to his frame & looks ready for the rigors of a 162-game season, plus playoffs. Moving Coco Crisp to Kansas City sent a clear message to Ellsbury about his role for 2009.
I look for Jacoby to be a major force on both sides of the ball this year.
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