It was bound to happen in August or at the very least September, but let’s be honest, the leadoff position has been a gorilla on the Red Sox backs and apparently it’s time to see if Jacoby Ellsbury is ready.
The Sox announced earlier today that Ellsbury was being called up from Pawtucket to fill the void left by Joel Pineiro’s ankle sprain (wink! … wink!).
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder lefthanded batter — I didn’t realize he was that big — has combined to hit .323 (90-for-279) with 29 stolen bases in 67 games at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket this season.
The Julio Lugo mess has yet to be resolved, though we’ve tried with help for you guys through this blog, and there really isn’t a true leadoff hitter in this current lineup.
Enter Ellsbury.
Though, the Red Sox will start Ellsbury in centerfield tonight, filling in for Coco Crisp, who injured his finger on Wednesday night, and bat him ninth, the inference is obvious.
If he performs, he will find himself at the top of the order.
The 23rd overall pick in 2005, out of Oregon State, has not been ripping the cover off the ball in Pawtucket (.277), but he has been steady, which means he is the best leadoff hitter in the organization right now.
He reminds people of Johnny Damon (I haven’t seen enough to say, other than a couple of recent TV games from Pawtucket), with speed and pop.
Stay tuned. We will follow his progress tonight and report further.
I like this move.
The Red Sox have nothing to lose. And who knows, maybe he is ready to take an important role with this team the next three-plus months.
It catches a lot of people off guard with talk of bringing up David Murphy, another outfielder in Pawtucket, appearing to be more likely.
Oh yes, in case you didn’t hear the Yankees lost again, 7-0, to the A’s at the Bronx. A win by the Sox tonight, with Josh Beckett (11-1, 3.07 ERA) leading the way, puts them 12 behind. Amazing.
Also, for a short bio on Ellsbury, click here for Wikipedia verson.
