Archived News 2008 June 29, 2008 Jacoby Ellsbury's current stats: AVG . 272 , HR 5 , RBI 24 , SB 34. Game Final June 29th: Astros 3- Red Sox 2. Game Final June 28th: Astros 11- Red Sox 10.
June 27, 2008 Game Final: Red Sox 6- Astros 1.
June 25, 2008 Game Final: Red Sox 5- Diamondbacks 0.
June 24, 2008 June 24th Game Final: Red Sox 5- Diamondbacks 4. June 23rd Game Final: Diamondbacks 2- Red Sox 1.
June 22, 2008 June 22nd Game Final: Red Sox 5- Cardinals 3. June 21st Game Final: Cardinals 9- Red Sox 3. June 20th Game Final: Cardinals 5- Red Sox 4. Ellsbury singled to left in the seventh inning. Ramirez grounded into a double play which scored Ellsbury. Ellsbury lined to right in the ninth.
June 18, 2008 June 18th Game Final: Red Sox 7- Phillies 4. June 17th Game Final: Red Sox 3- Phillies 0.
June 16, 2008 Game Final Phillies 8- Red Sox 2.
June 15, 2008 Ellsbury Sets Rookie Steals Record Mike Petraglia Special to MLB.com Jacoby Ellsbury is considered the fastest player on the Red Sox. It didn't take him long to set the club's rookie stolen-base record on Sunday. Ellsbury slapped a single to left field in the first inning and stole second base on the first pitch from Homer Bailey to Dustin Pedroia, giving Ellsbury 32 steals, one more than Amby McConnell had in 1908. Showing he's not about to sit on the total, the 24-year-old speedster took off for third and made it easily, giving him a Major League-best 33. Ellsbury scored the first Red Sox run on Pedroia's sacrifice fly to right.
With the two successful attempts, Ellsbury improved to 33-for-36 on the season.
Game Updates: June 15th: Red Sox 9- Reds 0. Jacoby Ellsbury had two more stolen bases today. Ellsbury singled in the first inning. He stole second base and then third. He scored on Pedroia's sacrifice. He hit a solo home run (his 5th of the season) in the third inning. June 14th: Red Sox 6- Reds 4. Ellsbury singled to center in the first. Ellsbury went to second on a wild pitch. Ellsbury stole third (his 31st steal); on catcher Bako's throwing error, Ellsbury scored. June 13th: Reds 3- Red Sox 1. Jacoby scored on Manny's RBI in the fourth inning.
June 12, 2008 Game Update June 12th: Red Sox 9- Orioles 2. Game Update June 11th: Red Sox 6- Orioles 3.
June 10, 2008 Game Final: Orioles 10- Red Sox 6. Jacoby Ellsbury was back in the line up leading off and playing left field. Ellsbury singled to center. He went to third on Pedroia's double and scored on Ramirez's double play.
June 8, 2008 June 8th Game Final: Red Sox 2- Mariners 1. Game Update June 7th: Red Sox 11- Mariners 3. Jacoby pinch ran for Manny in the 8th inning. He scored on a double by Youkilis.
June 7, 2008 Injury Cast In A Good Light Ellsbury's Strained Wrist Is Not Serious By Gordon Edes and Amalie Benjamin Globe Staff In the midst of the gloom, some good news: Jacoby Ellsbury wasn't fitted for a Papi-like cast for his strained right wrist. No cast at all, in fact, for the Red Sox outfielder, even though he bent his right wrist backward while making a diving catch Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. "He had a good day," manager Terry Francona said, "probably not the funnest day for him. He got up early, was examined, had an MRI. Everything's come back really clean. I think he's excited, relieved. So are we." Team medical director Thomas Gill suggested to Francona that Ellsbury might be available to pinch run, but the manager said he was not inclined to use Ellsbury in that capacity unless he was ready to hit. Ellsbury did not take batting practice on the field. "I don't think this will be very long," Francona said. "I told him, 'Tell me when you're ready to play.' " The Sox have a 28-15 record in games in which Ellsbury has batted leadoff. They are 10-11 in games in which he doesn't. With Coco Crisp, who batted leadoff last night in the 8-0 loss to the Mariners, the Sox are 5-5. "The best thing is there's nothing torn, nothing broke," said Ellsbury, who admitted he was alarmed when he rolled over on the wrist. Asked when he might start swinging a bat, he said, "It's hard to say. There was a big improvement from yesterday to today, so hopefully [there will be] the same improvement tomorrow." Ellsbury jammed his right wrist near the end of the 2005 season, his first in pro ball, and the Sox were still limiting his baseball activities in spring training the following year. Game Final June 6th: Mariners 8- Red Sox 0.
June 6, 2008 Posted by Gordon Edes (Globe Staff): Sox manager Terry Francona said that outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury had an MRI this morning that came back negative, a huge relief to the player and organization. Ellsbury is not in the lineup, but he may be available to pinch-run, the manager said, It's doubtful that he'll take any BP. The injury is still being called a strained right wrist.
June 5, 2008 June 5th Game Final Red Sox 7- Rays 1. June 4th Game Final Red Sox 5- Rays 1. Ellsbury singled to center in the third. He took second on a throwing error and scored on Drew's double.
June 3, 2008 Game Final: Red Sox 7- Rays 4. Ellsbury walked in the 3rd and then stole second base (his 28th steal of the season).
June 2, 2008 June 2nd Game Final: Orioles 6- Red Sox 3.
June 1, 2008 Ellsbury's Speed Kills By John Tomase Boston Herald.com Prior to last night’s 6-3 victory over the Orioles, Terry Francona was asked if he could envision Jacoby Ellsbury executing a straight steal of home. “Uh, yeah . . . probably not,” the risk-averse Red Sox manager deadpanned. But after watching what Ellsbury did to the Orioles, maybe it’s time to reconsider. If Ellsbury isn’t the most exciting player in the game, he’s rocketing up the list with the same blinding speed it takes him to go from first to third. Last night he was disruptive with a capital D, wreaking the havoc reserved for the likes of Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman and Ichiro. Sound like hyperbole? Guess again. For the second straight night, Ellsbury stole three bases. He also tripled on what should have been a double to right center, forced an errant pickoff throw, and scored on a shallow sacrifice fly to left despite a picture-perfect throw from Jay Payton. “It would probably behoove us and everyone else,” said Orioles manager Dave Trembley, “to keep him off base.” Tommy Harper should enjoy his 35-year-old franchise record of 54 steals, because its days are numbered. Ellsbury last night matched Harper’s team record of 18 stolen bases in a month, improving to 26-for-28 on the year. But mere steals don’t even begin to describe how dynamic he was. He led off the game with a walk. O’s starter Garrett Olson appeared intent on keeping him close, a wise course of action given the way he had run wild a night earlier.cw-0 But Olson’s pickoff attempt skipped into foul territory and Ellsbury took second. “He can be disruptive,” Olson said. “You try not to let it take away too much from your pitches, but you do change your game a little bit.” Ellsbury was at it again in the fifth. He walked and stole second despite a textbook laser from catcher Ramon Hernandez to the front of the bag. “It’s not about the throw. It’s about timing the pitcher,” Hernandez said. “It doesn’t matter how good the throw is. If he gets that kind of jump, he’s fast and he’s going to beat any throw.” Ellsbury saved his most electrifying work for the seventh. He led off with a hustling triple to right center. Then with one out, the Orioles got what they wanted. David Ortiz lofted a shallow fly to left. The strong-armed Payton played the ball perfectly. He caught it with his momentum moving forward and fired a one-hop strike home. But Ellsbury beat the tag of Hernandez, who lost the ball. Had Hernandez held on, Trembley and Payton believe Ellsbury would have been out. Replays suggested otherwise. Either way, he had no business being anything other than gunned down by 15 feet. “Him and Coco (Crisp) are the only guys on their team that have a chance of scoring on that play,” Payton said. “If I make that same throw on anybody else, nobody over there scores.” That’s because there’s no one else like Ellsbury on the Red Sox. And there may not be anyone in the rest of baseball like him, either.
Coming into today’s action, Jacoby Ellsbury was leading the majors with 27 stolen bases. He stole another one during the game today. Ellsbury had 18 steals in May, tying Ichiro Suzuki for the most in the majors for the month. Game Updates: June 1st: Red Sox 9- Orioles 4. David Ortiz stuck around long enough yesterday to watch Manny Ramirez hit his 501st home run, one of three homers the Sox hit in a 9-4 spanking of the Baltimore Orioles. May 31st: Red Sox 6- Orioles 3. For the 500th time in his career, Sox slugger Manny Ramírez admired his home run handiwork, in the seventh inning last night off Chad Bradford.
May 30, 2008 Game Updates May 30th: Red Sox 5- Orioles 3 (13 innings!!) Mike Lowell singled in the tie breaking run during a 13th inning in which the Orioles made three errors, and the Red Sox turned the miscues into a 5-2 victory. Ellsbury doubled to left in the first and went to third on Pedroia's sacrifice. He scored on Ortiz's single to right. Ellsbury had 3 stolen bases. May 28th: Mariners 1- Red Sox 0. The Sox' poor offense was enough to spoil a splendid performance by Tim Wakefield, who allowed only five hits in eight innings, and to reward the Mariners' Erik Bedard, who shackled the Sox on two fourth-inning singles for seven innings in their 1-0 loss.
May 27th: Mariners 4- Red Sox 3. Jose Lopez smashed a ball down the left-field line to bring Wladimir Balentien home and give the Mariners a 4-3 win. Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (above) left the game at the start of the fifth because of an injury. The Sox were identifying his problem as right shoulder fatigue.
May 26th: Red Sox 5- Mariners 3. Bartolo Colon showed flashes of his Cy Young days, shutting down the Seattle Mariners for seven innings in the Sox' 5-3 win.
May 26, 2008 Game Updates May 25th: Game final A's 6- Red Sox 3. May 24th: A's 3- Red Sox 0. May 23rd: A's 8- Red Sox 3 Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer to stake Rich Harden to an early lead and Mark Ellis added a three-run shot in the Athletics' 8-3 victory Friday night that snapped Boston's seven-game winning streak.
May 23, 2008
May 22nd Game: Red Sox 11- Royals 8 J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell hit grand slams to help Daisuke Matsuzaka remain unbeaten, and the Red Sox completed a sweep of their seven-game homestand with an 11-8 win over the Royals.
May 21, 2008 Speedy, Studious Ellsbury Adds New Dimension To Red Sox By Sean McAdam Special to ESPN.com In their long, storied history, the Red Sox have been known for their great hitters (Ted Williams, Wade Boggs, Carl Yastzemski, Manny Ramirez), great sluggers (Jimmie Foxx, Jim Rice, David Ortiz) and even, on occasion, some great pitchers (Cy Young, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez). Never before, however, have they been known for their base stealers. But like the team's October fortunes, that might be changing, too. Not until he had played his 73rd game in the big leagues Sunday against Milwaukee had Jacoby Ellsbury been caught stealing, having swiped successfully in each of his first 25 tries. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has 27 steals in 28 career attempts, a success rate of 96.4 percent. The 25 straight steals without being caught to begin a career were a club record and fell just two short of the major league record, set by Tim Raines during 1979-1981. "Even then," said teammate Jason Varitek, "it took a pitchout and a perfect throw to get him." Ellsbury joked that he was so unaccustomed to being caught, he was momentarily unsure of what to do. Accustomed to standing up and dusting himself off, he instead had to make the long, lonely trot into the dugout. But the Red Sox know exactly what to do with Ellsbury's speed: utilize it. In the past, Red Sox managers have been reluctant to green-light the few good base stealers the franchise has boasted, for fear that an ill-timed out on the bases would rob the lineup's big boppers of run-producing opportunities. But, then, this Red Sox lineup is more athletic than most, featuring Julio Lugo and, at times, Coco Crisp. All three possess enough speed and base-stealing know-how that the risk of running into outs is minimal. Through Tuesday, the trio had combined to go 30-for-33 this season. Of course, Ellsbury is the fastest of three and the best pure base stealer. Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills recently timed the outfielder at 3.75 seconds from home to first on a drag bunt; anything less than 4.0 seconds is considered spectacular.
The Red Sox have given him nearly free rein. "Like most guys, he's a better base stealer when he's on his own," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He's proven his intelligence [on the basepaths] to us at an early stage. We trust him." Asked to highlight Ellsbury's strongest suit as a base stealer, Francona cited the 24-year-old outfielder's "explosive first step. He gets it going in a hurry." Mills, meanwhile, zeroed in on the way Ellsbury "finishes off and slides through the bag." Clearly, he's got both ends covered. Ellsbury's preparation begins not in the batter's box or on base, but in the Red Sox video room, where he researches the opposing starter. "I usually try to look at some film and get an understanding of his move to first," said Ellsbury, "not necessarily his time, but what he does with his body when he goes home."
"I'll know if have a base stolen within the first two or three steps." --Jacoby Ellsbury Ellsbury is looking for patterns, something he can use to give him the smallest advantage, the most minuscule edge since, as he notes, almost every stolen base attempt "is bang-bang -- a fraction of a second can make the difference [between being safe or out]." The work pays dividends. "A lot of little factors play into it," he said of his approach. "A lot of times, being new, I'm seeing guys for the first time, so it's important to find out whatever you can. I'm talking about subtle things: the first step, eliminating any unnecessary movement. I've always been a student of the game, so I talk to a lot of people." His list of confidants includes Lugo -- who stole 39 of 50 in the American League in 2005, Crisp and Red Sox instructor Tommy Harper, who holds the franchise's single-season mark of 54 steals in 1973. Technique is critical. "That's what has allowed me to get into my starting position as fast as I can," Ellsbury said. "Where I have my hands, how far my feet are spread apart, how I take a lead, how I get back to the bag on [pickoff attempts]." To save wear-and-tear on his body, he's been working on a crossover step that enables him to get back to first without diving into the bag on a pickoff attempt. That helps conserve energy and reduces nagging aches and pains. But for all the study and talk of technique, there's a certain utilitarian approach to baserunning. "The biggest thing is to find what works best for you," Ellsbury said. "How fast can you get down to second -- that's what it comes down to. I may have tweaked a few things over the year, but I could probably look back at high school footage and my basic form would be pretty much the same." Blessed with natural speed, Ellsbury has lately concentrated on understanding situations. Harper and minor league coach Lou Frazier helped ease the learning curve. "You have to be able to read different situations," Ellsbury said. "If there's a lefty at the plate, different relievers have different pickoff moves. There's no one formula for every pitcher. You just have to be able to make adjustments pitch to pitch, quickly. Some people don't make those adjustments. But in reality, pitchers are different all the time. They hold runners differently. They might pause longer in certain situations. There's a lot to be aware of. "You'll see me talking to [Red Sox first base coach Luis Alicea] after every pitch, asking, 'Hey, did you see that?' [In the dugout], I'll watch Coco -- and what the pitcher's trying to do -- or Julio. I don't pay much attention when the big guys who aren't much of a threat are on base because then the pitcher's not using his slide step. Things are different. It's work, but it's well worth it. Especially when the game is on the line and you get in scoring position. It can be the difference between a win and a loss." Should Ellsbury or a member of the coaching staff miss something, chances are Matt James won't. James has been Ellsbury's personal trainer for years and watches most Red Sox games in his native Oregon. He knows Ellsbury well enough that the slightest fundamental flaw -- feet spread too far apart; body leaning too far one way -- can be detected from across the country. The two talk often. But Ellsbury has been doing this long enough and well enough that he's capable of instant self-inspection. "I'll know if have a base stolen within the first two or three steps," he said. "The other day against Milwaukee, I got a great jump and peeked in [toward the plate]. I always look in. People tell you not to, but I always do, real quick. As soon as I saw [Brewers catcher Jason Kendall] pop up, I knew my chances weren't very good. It's timing. Most guys would agree -- for me it's all about start. The first two or three steps, those are the most important. That's the difference. "I worked on improving that this spring training -- my first-step quickness. As an outfielder, going after a ball, it's the same thing. Once you get going, a lot of guys are fast. But those first couple steps are going to give you the advantage." Speed counts when it comes to learning, too. "I think the biggest improvement I've made is making adjustments more quickly," Ellsbury said. "It used to take a whole at-bat to see a flaw or pitcher giving something away. Now, I recognize pitch to pitch. It doesn't take as long for me to pick up something that I can use to help myself." Ellsbury knows just enough about Red Sox history to know his is a unique skill. "This team is normally built around power and driving in runs," said Ellsbury, "and we still are. But base stealing is very important when you're not scoring a lot of runs and not swinging the bats well. When things aren't going well, getting into scoring position and with the great hitters behind me -- I couldn't ask for better guys. "And who doesn't like hitting with guys in scoring position. It makes their job a little easier. It gives us a chance to score and puts a little stress on the defense. When you have a guy who can run, you have to pay more attention. Even when you don't go, just the threat of you going means opening a hole [in the infield], making them throw over, sometimes they don't their full attention on the batter. Maybe instead of being fully focused, instead of throwing something on the black, they leave something over the plate." Speed kills and thrills. Who knew? In Boston, some lessons take a while to learn.
AP Photo/Mary Schwalm Jacoby Ellsbury's current stats: AVG .290, HR 4, RBI 17, SB 19. May 21st Game: Red Sox 6- Royals 3. The Sox got on the board first with the leadoff home run by Ellsbury. The homer was his fourth of the year. An Ellsbury single chased Tomko in favor of Ron Mahay who gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia to load the bases. David Ortiz would fly out to center to score Lugo to make it 4-2 and move Ellsbury to third. With Manny Ramirez batting, Mahay would throw the ball to screen and Ellsbury score to make it 5-2. Boston tacked on a run in the 7th when Ellsbury singled and stole second and scored on a Pedroia single to give the Sox a 6-2 lead. May 20th Game: Red Sox 2- Royals 1. Justin Masterson, who held the Angels to two hits and a run in his first start April 24, held the Royals to three hits and a run in 6 1/3 innings last night in the Sox 2-1 win.
May 19, 2008 Game Update: Jon Lester Pitches a No Hitter! Final score Red Sox 7- Royals 0. Jacoby had an amazing catch in center field plus two stolen bases.
May 18, 2008 Game Updates: May 18th- Red Sox 11, Brewers 7 The bad news is that Jacoby was caught stealing for the first time in his career today. After 25 straight steals, Ellsbury was caught stealing second base in the fourth. Brewers Swipe Ellsbury's History Attempt by Maureen Mullen MLB.com A few weeks ago, a clubhouse visitor informed Jacoby Ellsbury that he was second all time to Tim Raines in consecutive stolen bases to start a Major League career, catching the young Red Sox speedster by surprise. "Oh, really?" Ellsbury said at the time. "Oh, Major League? All time? I did not know. Now the pressure's on me to get that." While he was joking about the pressure, any focus on Raines' record is now off as Ellsbury was caught stealing on Sunday for the first time in his young career. Since making his big league debut, Ellsbury had recorded 25 consecutive stolen bases -- 16 this season -- until he was caught trying to steal second base in the fourth inning of the Sox's 11-7 victory. After a throw over to first base by Brewers starter Carlos Villanueva, who was attempting to hold Ellsbury at first, catcher Jason Kendall called a pitchout with a 1-1 count to Dustin Pedroia. Kendall's perfect throw to second baseman Rickie Weeks caught Ellsbury near his ankles before he slid into the base. "At some point, if you're a base stealer, you're going to get thrown out," said Sox manager Terry Francona. "We talk a lot about not running into outs. "But we don't want to take his aggressiveness away. He's been phenomenal. They picked the right pitch and got him. That'll happen from time to time. He's the type of runner that's making teams alter their approach, and we're OK with that." While Ellsbury remains second all time to Raines, his 25 swipes are the Sox's record for consecutive stolen bases to start a career since caught stealing became an official statistic in 1920. Ellsbury, who has the green light most of the time, admitted that it was strange to be caught. In three Minor League seasons, he recorded 105 stolen bases, getting caught 27 times for a 80 percent success rate. "Yeah, I didn't know what to do," Ellsbury said of being caught. "It would have been nice to continue it. But if you steal enough, you're going to get caught. "I knew I hadn't been caught. I wasn't sure how many I had up to that point. It was just a matter of time." But if all good things must come to an end, there's always tomorrow. "I guess if you're stealing enough, you're going to be caught eventually," Ellsbury said. "So I'll start a new one tomorrow." May 17th Second Game of Double Header- Red Sox 7, Brewers 6 Ellsbury reached on an error by Craig Counsell to start the 5th inning. He stole second base and then headed to third on the sacrifice bunt by Pedroia. Ellsbury scored on Youk's hit to make it 5-0, Sox. Ellsbury reached to start the 7th inning and was safe at second when Hall threw the ball away. May 17th First Game of Double Header- Red Sox 5, Brewers 3 Jacoby Ellsbury added 2 hits and an RBI. Ellsbury laid down a perfect bunt single in the second, putting runners on first and second. Pedroia couldn’t move the runners over as he flew out to right for the second out. Not to worry though as Big Papi hit a Suppan offering into the Green Monster seats to clear the bases and give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.
May 14, 2008 May 14th game- Baltimore 6, Red Sox 3. May 13th game- Sox hit a skid with 5-4 loss to the Orioles. May 12th game- Clay Buchholz was roughed up by the Twins, giving up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings to send his season ERA to 5.53. Manny Ramirez smacked his 498th homer run in the 7-3 loss. Sox lose, 7-3 May 11th game- Ninth-inning rally falls short as Twins top Sox, 9-8
May 10, 2008 Game Final Red Sox 5- Twins 2.
May 9, 2008 Jacoby Ellsbury's current stats: AVG .288, HR 3, RBI 13, SB 14. May 9th Game Final- Twins 7, Red Sox 6. May 8th game final- Red Sox 5- Tigers 1. May 7th game final- Tigers 10, Red Sox 9. Ellsbury stole second base in the fifth, and then scored on Ortiz's single. Ellsbury singled in the seventh and then stole second base. Ellsbury scored on Lowell's homerun.
May 8, 2008 Jacoby Ellsbury Still Perfect By Rob Bradford Boston Herald There is a good reason why Jacoby Ellsbury would have no recollection of being caught stealing in a Red Sox uniform: It hasn’t happened. With a pair of steals last night at Comerica Park, Ellsbury improved to 22-for-22 in the majors. He is tied with Minnesota’s Carlos Gomez and Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki for the AL lead this season, with 13. Close calls? Only one attempt, from last season, stood out in his mind. Nothing really,” Ellsbury said before the Sox’ 10-9 loss to the Detroit Tigers. “I went on Andy Pettitte last year. I think that was the closest one.” Just hours after the declaration, the center fielder was forced to amend the assessment. He came dangerously close to being thrown out by Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez on steal No. 2. “That one,” Ellsbury said, “takes over as the closest.” Other than the swipe against the New York Yankees’ Pettitte, which is one of three steals the rookie has against lefties, there is one lifetime attempt that stands out. Playing for Madras (Ore.) High, Ellsbury was caught stealing for the only time in his high school career against rival Culver. “I still think I was safe,” he said. The out call evidently was such an aberration that a photo of the play was plastered on the front of the local sports page, with those who witnessed the moment, such as Jim Ellsbury, the player’s father, able to analyze the failed execution. “Our field was like cement, so the coach always had to remind the kids to slide because it would just tear you up,” Jim Ellsbury said. “That might have factored into it.”
May 6, 2008 Check out the new article, Boston Phenom Ellsbury Too Good Not To Be An Everyday Player. Red Sox win against the Tigers. Final score Sox 5- Tigers 0. Game final on May 5th: Red Sox 6- Tigers 3.
May 5, 2008 Check out the latest article, Sox' Ellsbury Stealing Spotlight. Jacoby now has 11 stolen bases, and is 20-for-20 lifetime. Current stats: AVG .291, HR 3, RBI 12, SB 11.
May 4, 2008 Sox sweep the Rays!! May 4th against Tampa, final score Red Sox 7- Rays 3. Jacoby Ellsbury led off the first with an infield single and went to second base when Kazmir issued a walk to Pedroia. With Youk at the plate, Ellsbury and Pedroia executed a perfect double steal. Ellsbury then came home on a Youk sacrifice fly. The Red Sox added two more runs in the 8th when Youk doubled in Lugo and Ellsbury, who earlier in the inning executed the second double steal of the day. May 3rd against Tampa, final score Red Sox 12- Rays 4. Jacoby Ellsbury led off the first inning with a single to center. Dustin Pedroia followed with a single to left. David Ortiz doubled off the wall to score Ellsbury. In the second, Ellsbury walked and went to second on a wild pitch by Shields. Pedroia then punched a single into right to score Ellsbury and give Boston a 4-2 lead. Ellsbury grounded out to end the third inning.
May 3, 2008 May 1st game against Toronto. Final score Blue Jays 3- Red Sox 0. May 2nd game against Tampa. Final score Red Sox 7- Rays 3. Ellsbury singled to center in the fourth inning scoring Varitek. He stole second base (his ninth of the season) and then scored on Pedroia's single.
May 1, 2008 Don't forget to vote for your favorite Red Sox players for the 2008 All- Star Game. Make sure you write in Jacoby's name at the bottom of the page! Also, "Jacoby Ellsbury Takes The Field For owater" Boston Outfielder Partners With Upstart Beverage Brand owater, maker of healthy enhanced waters, today announced it has signed Boston baseball player Jacoby Ellsbury to endorse its infused owater line of all-natural sports drinks. The two-year partnership links the fast-rising player with the up and coming beverage brand. Ellsbury will be featured in the Massachusetts-based company's radio advertising campaign as well as point of sale and other marketing campaigns.
"I first tried infused owater at spring training and I was so excited to finally find a sports drink that doesn't taste too sweet," said Jacoby Ellsbury. "I think about everything I put in my body when I am training, so I want a drink that's tasty, healthy and functional, not something loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. infused owater is a better sports drink, and I am glad to help get the word out about it." The deal with owater is Ellsbury's first partnership with a beverage company. Ellsbury's exciting debut and bright future in professional baseball and his intense approach to fitness and training in the off-season make him an obvious fit for the two-year-old beverage brand. "Jacoby is the perfect match for owater. He is an incredible athlete, he's authentic and he is one of the most exciting guys in baseball," said Tom First, founder of owater. "The parallel between where Jacoby is in his career and where we are as a brand is not lost on us. owater is a young upstart competing against some big leaguers in beverage, and like Jacoby, we are on the rise." The owater/Jacoby radio ads, which will air on New England radio stations starting this spring, will feature First talking with Ellsbury about training with infused owater. Ellsbury will also appear in point of sale materials posted at stores where owater is sold as well as in other marketing campaigns. owater makes three lines of healthy enhanced water: infused owater, unsweetened owater and sport owater. owater drinks are made from purified water, natural flavor and functional enhancements; they do not contain fake sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup or artificial coloring. infused owater, the company's all-natural, water alternative to high-sugar sports drinks, is available in seven flavors including black raspberry, lime/lemon, peach/mango, pineapple/orange/banana, blueberry, coconut and strawberry. owater products are produced regionally and distributed nationally in chain and independent stores. owater was founded by Tom First, who also co-founded Nantucket Nectars, which was sold to Cadbury-Schweppes in 2002. Based in Concord, Massachusetts, the company is backed by Lexington, MA-based Highland Consumer Fund and also counts Chef Ming Tsai, Kevin Garnett, Tiki Barber, Steve Young and Chad Gifford among its investors. More information about owater can be found at http://www.owater.com.
April 30, 2008 Update on Jacoby's injury: Jacoby Ellsbury said he tweaked his groin on the Evan Longoria home run over the weekend, so clearly that shot hurt the Red Sox in more than one way. Ellsbury said he felt much better today, so he's hoping this won't keep him out too long. Final Score of the game tonight, Red Sox 2- Blue Jays 1. Jason Varitek hit a walk- off single to score Manny!
April 29, 2008 Jacoby Ellsbury is not in the line up tonight. He will be sitting out with a slight groin injury. Sox Win!! ! Final Score 1-0.
April 27, 2008 Game at 1:40 pm against Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, the Sox lost another. Final score TB 3- Red Sox 0.
April 26, 2008 Game Updates: April 23- Red Sox lose to Angels. Final score 6-4 April 24- Red Sox lose to Angles. Final score 7-5 April 25- Red Sox lose to Rays, Final score 5-4 April 26- Red Sox lose to Rays. Final score 2-1
April 22, 2008 Ellsbury leads off with his second home run of the season!! And then hit his third home run in the sixth inning! Ellsbury bunted his way onto first base in the eighth inning. He scored on the double by Pedroia to put the Red Sox ahead 7-6. Final Red Sox 7, Angels 6.
April 21, 2008 Red Sox 8, Rangers 3 Ellsbury singled to short in the fourth inning. He stole second, then scored on Pedroia's double. Ellsbury singled to center in the fifth. He scored on Ortiz's double.
* Congratulations to Kelsey Hawkins! She ran the Boston Marathon today in 5:05:38.
April 20, 2008 Red Sox 6, Rangers 5
April 19, 2008 Game Update- Red Sox 5, Rangers 3 A big win for the Sox tonight! Ellsbury had a double in the first, then took third. He scored on Ortiz's double play ball. Ellsbury popped to shortstop in the eighth inning.
April 18, 2008 Red Sox 11, Rangers 3 Ellsbury walked in the third. Ellsbury's triple in the 4th drove in Sean Casey. Ellsbury walked in the eighth. He took third on Ortiz's single. He scored on Bott's error at first. More updates to come on the articles page!
April 8, 2008 Opening Day Ring Ceremony!
March 29, 2008 From the Boston Globe's "5 Things You Didn't Know About Jacoby Ellsbury" slide show: Globe Magazine staff writer Neil Swidey has unearthed five things you didn't know about Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.
He was raised a Mormon. His mom grew up attending Mormon schools. Jacoby and his brothers stopped going to services regularly when Jacoby was a teenager. "I try not to get Him too involved in baseball," he says. "What I wish for is good health." (The Oregonian Photo / Ross William Hamilton)
He ate five meals a day in the off-season. It was part of a regimen that included yoga, weights, shoulder "pre-hab" (to prevent injury), and tubing, as well as sleeping 10 hours a night. He gained 12 pounds, to 187. One of those meals came courtesy of Taco Bell, in honor of Ellsbury's stolen base in the World Series. (Globe Staff Photo / Pat Greenhouse)
He digs sword-and-sandal flicks. Favorite movies: "Gladiator" (left), "Troy," "Dumb & Dumber." Favorite TV shows: "Prison Break," "Deal or No Deal," and "Little People, Big World." His favorite music ranges from country to rap, especially Tupac and 50 Cent.
Jacoby Ellsbury stretches his back before taking batting practice today at Dodger Stadium.
From the March 31st cover of Sports Illustrated
March 20, 2008 From The Providence Journal Jacoby Ellsbury greets fans as he heads towards the bus for departure.
March 18, 2008 From Men's Health Magazine, April 2008 Fast muscle secrets from an overnight sensation
March 6, 2008 Jacoby is on page 24 in the new issue of Sports Illustrated (March 10th) as the subject of their "First Person" interview segment titled "The big leagues' first Navajo is a World Series hero. Will he become a fixture in Boston?"
March 4, 2008 Check out the slide show of Jacoby Ellsbury on Boston.com!
February 29, 2008 More screen caps from Erin- thanks! These are from the Walter Reed Army Hospital visit. Check out her Jason Varitek website too!
February 28, 2008 Thanks to Erin for the following pics from the game today!
And another from the White House-
February 27, 2008 On The Way To The White House!
February 26, 2008 Red Sox Expect Much from D.C. Trip From MLB.com By Ian Browne
This plane ride the Red Sox are taking on Wednesday following an abbreviated workout is not your average field trip. The defending World Series champions will be honored in unison for the first time since their championship parade when they go to the White House for a visit with President George W. Bush. The remaining members of the Boston's 2004 World Series champions still remember well the thrill of standing on the lawn at the White House. They also recall the chills they got from visiting with the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. "It will be fun to go to the White House again," said Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "It's always a trip you like to make because you know you won. But going to Walter Reed Hospital, that was interesting, seeing some of those soldiers who were coming back from the war and injured, and it's definitely something that puts your life in perspective. You realize that you get to play baseball for a living, while other guys are giving up their bodies and lives to be able to play." For many members of the 2007 Red Sox, this will be the first visit to the White House and Walter Reed. The way center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury looks at it, this visit to Washington, D.C., is just another example of how surreal his life has been since his rise from September callup to World Series hero. "I'm definitely excited to go," said Ellsbury. "It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not many people get to go and meet the president. This should be fun." Ellsbury has heard enough from his veteran teammates to get an idea of what to expect at Walter Reed. "Eye-opener," said Ellsbury. "That will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I just have a lot of respect and am very grateful for what they've done. It will be a good trip. Without baseball, I wouldn't have had the opportunity." For the injured Curt Schilling, the trip to the White House figures to be the highlight of Spring Training. Schilling has long been a supporter of President Bush, and he's also deeply interested in military matters. The right-hander can still recall the trip to Walter Reed back in 2005 in vivid detail. "You always hear 'hero' or 'superstar,' all those words people use for athletes, then you stand in a room of heroes and superstars," Schilling told the Hartford Courant. "They're double-amputees, 19-, 20-year-old kids, and it's just another perspective-giving event in life that you never, ever forget." Sox center fielder Coco Crisp hardly fashions himself as a photographer. But he realizes the need to make Wednesday's field trip a keepsake afternoon. What will Crisp say to Mr. President? "I'm not going to say anything except maybe, 'Can I take a picture?'" Crisp said. "Just enjoy it -- it's going to be exciting. A couple of people called me yesterday. My cousin and my grandfather said, 'Have a safe trip and have fun.' My dad said, 'Take some pictures.'" Though manager Terry Francona is a creature of habit -- conducting even the most minor drill of Spring Training isn't something he typically enjoys -- he has an appreciation of what will occur on Wednesday. "It was humbling, and it was an honor to be there," Francona said of the last trip to Walter Reed. "You're talking about the end of a day, we're moving, we're getting on a plane, and I didn't hear one person say, 'Hey, let's go.' Everyone wanted to stay and talk. It was an interesting experience. I've heard a lot of the veteran guys telling the younger guys, 'Hey, this is what you'll remember about this trip.'" As for the White House, this will be Francona's second visit in the past five weeks. Francona and World Series Most Valuable Player Mike Lowell were recently guests of President Bush at a dinner. "That was a fun night -- that was a really fun night," Francona said. "We had dinner, we had conversation [with President Bush]. That was really cool. Got to go to the Oval Office." This trip will have too large a traveling party to get such access, but the Red Sox are nonetheless looking forward to the day. "I'm extremely excited," said Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "It's a great opportunity for the guys that didn't go there in '05. I'm thrilled, and I can't wait to see what's going on over there."
and... Thanks to Erin for these screen caps of Ellsbury being sized for his World Series Ring!
February 24, 2008 New pictures added to the Ellsbury at Camp Gallery! From The Miami Herald By Mike Phillips
Everything about Jacoby Ellsbury is speedy, including his startling rise with the Red Sox. Funny thing about Jacoby Ellsbury, he can't buy a meal in Boston. ''Every time I'm in a restaurant and I go to pay the bill they tell me someone has already paid it,'' said Ellsbury, who not only stole Boston's heart but is a heartthrob as well. He can't run onto the practice fields in spring training without hundreds of Red Sox fans shouting his name. The women seem to shout the loudest. During Boston's post-World Series parade, signs lined the parade route for Ellsbury. ``I Love You Jacoby.'' ``Marry Me, Jacoby.'' ``Jacoby, I want to be Your Baby-Momma.'' ''They were everywhere, and some of them were really creative and pretty funny,'' Ellsbury said with a smile. ``It was crazy.'' So was Ellsbury's rise. It seemed one minute he was playing for the Portland Sea Dogs, and the next he was bathing in the limelight of the World Series. The only thing faster than Ellsbury's rise to stardom is Ellsbury going from first to second. ''What amazes people about him is the speed factor,'' said Boston third baseman and former Marlin Mike Lowell. ``That speed translates into a soft groundball to short, and it's a hit. Then he steals second. He can create a lot of things without executing perfectly at the plate. And he can run down balls in the outfield.'' INSTANT SUCCESS Speed helps, but how can anyone explain a player, who had never been in the big leagues, showing up in Boston and becoming an immediate success? ''What's impressive is that he comes in here, big market with all those expectations, and he fits in from Day 1,'' Lowell said. ``He wasn't fazed by everything, and he goes about his business with confidence. He has belief in his own ability.'' Ellsbury didn't just succeed. He landed in the middle of a heated drive for the playoffs and hit .353 in September while going 9 for 9 in stolen bases. Then, when he replaced Coco Crisp in center field in the postseason, Ellsbury hit .438 in the Series, slapping three doubles in Game 3 after stealing a Taco for America in Game 2. Taco Bell's bizarre promotion of promising a taco for everyone in America if someone stole a base landed Ellsbury in market-heaven when he swiped second in the fourth inning of Game 2. Ellsbury even showed up at a Taco Bell on the Boston University campus the next week when the tacos were distributed. Hundreds of fans waited outside more than an hour, including women screaming, ''I love you.'' Ellsbury was there with his girlfriend. It has been a hectic and surreal offseason, and Ellsbury, who even did a photo spread for Vogue, said it was the first time in his life that ``I needed a calendar to know where I was.'' When Ellsbury got back to tiny Madras, Ore., where he was born and raised, he was welcomed with a parade and ceremony at the high school, where more people showed up than the population of Madras. Madras is east of Mt. Hood, a few miles from the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where Jacoby's roots run deep. He is the first Native American of Navajo descent to reach the majors. His mother, Margie, can trace her roots to a 19th-century Navajo chief. His father Jim Ellsbury is a non-Native American who works as a surveyor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. ''It's very important to me,'' said Ellsbury of his heritage. ``I try to do the right thing on and off the field to represent Native Americans and Navajos. It's pretty special.'' VERSATILE ATHLETE Back in Madras, Ellsbury was a two-way star in football, an all-state basketball player and a phenom in baseball. ''I begged them for years to let me run track and they wouldn't because it was the same time as baseball,'' said the speedster. Instead, he ran the bases, hit the ball everywhere at Oregon State, and became a first-round pick of the Red Sox, who quickly dubbed him the best prospect in their system. He was a nonroster invitee last spring and had just 12 at-bats before making the climb from Double A Portland, where he hit .452, to Triple A Pawtucket before getting the call to join the Sox on Sept. 1. A year ago Ellsbury couldn't imagine being a World Series hero. ''Last year I came to spring training with the goal of getting ready to play in the minor leagues.'' he said. ``It was a dream season. I dream pretty big, but it was beyond my dreams.''
February 23, 2008
Ellsbury Centered By Rob Duca Cape Cod Times He only has 39 games on his big league resume, and a mere 33 in the regular season. But most fans figure (and perhaps assume) that Jacoby Ellsbury will be the starting center fielder when the Red Sox open the season against the Oakland A's in Japan on March 25. Ellsbury, despite that limited playing time, is hoping they're right, although he's not taking anything for granted. "I prepared the whole off-season to be a starter," he said yesterday before the Red Sox headed onto the field for their second day of full workouts. "That's why everybody plays, to be a starter. It will play itself out, and I'll respect whoever makes that decision, whether it's (manager) Terry (Francona) or (general manager) Theo (Epstein) or whoever." The battle for center between Ellsbury and incumbent Coco Crisp is considered the lone true competition at this spring's camp. At the still tender age of 24, the flashy Ellsbury is certainly the people's choice after he hit .360 in the postseason last October and .438 in the World Series. He said yesterday that he's still shaking his head over his postseason performance. "It's still unbelievable to think about, even after all this time," he said. But it remains to be seen if he will be the Red Sox' choice. "I think we start at square one," he said of his competition with Crisp. "It's a new season. I'm ready to go. We'll see what happens." Make no mistake; Ellsbury believes he's prepared to assume the role. "I know what it takes to endure a full season," he said. "I just want to continue to improve every year. That's what it's all about, especially when you're a young player. "I'm just looking to get better as a player in spring training, and the competition is going to make us both better. Competition doesn't bother me at all." Ellsbury credits his time spent in the Cape League playing for the Falmouth Commodores for helping him turn into the player he is today. "I learned a lot. For a college league it's really competitive, and there are a lot of great players," he said. "I feel like I developed a lot. It wasn't my first year using the wood bat, but the competition gave me a chance to see where I stood."
February 22, 2008 Out In Center Field.com has posted the pictures from the Men's Vogue Article! Plus, click here for the Decision 2008: Ellsbury vs Crisp slideshow. Make sure you cast your vote at the end!
February 20, 2008 New pictures from Boston.com of Jacoby Ellsbury at camp! Also, go here to vote for Ellsbury as Boston's starting center fielder (scroll to the bottom of the page). Go here to check out the entire Men's Vogue Magazine article. and From The Concord Monitor By Dave D'Onofrio Not your typical Major League rookie After a fast and furious whirlwind - which in six months saw him go from a minor leaguer in Portland, Maine, to a World Series hero being paraded through his hometown - Jacoby Ellsbury's sudden celebrity forced him this winter to do something he'd never done. "For the first time in my life," he said, "I had to have a calendar to know where I'm at." There were cards shows and autograph signings, magazine photo shoots and the celebration that wheeled through streets of the Oregon town where he grew up. But now that things are back to normal, and Ellsbury has returned to the Red Sox by reporting early to spring training, the only meaningful appointment is that which is listed on baseball's ultimate planner. That'd be the lineup card, and with the rest of the club's position players due to report today, camp's most pressing question seems to be where the one submitted by Terry Francona will tell Ellsbury to be when the Sox open their season next month. It could command him to center field, as it did during six of the seven straight wins that gave Boston last year's world title. Or it could be on the bench, with incumbent Coco Crisp taking his gifted glove and patrolling the expanses once again. "That's their decision to make," Ellsbury said, "but I went into the offseason and worked hard to be the center fielder. It's their decision, and I'll respect it either way." The 24-year-old answers question with the know-your-place response expected of a player with just 116 major league at-bats, and who's still eligible this season to be the American League's rookie of the year. It's only proper, given that Crisp is a veteran of six big-league seasons, and has been respectful and supportive of Ellsbury since this time last year. But based on his breathtaking debut in 2007, most among Red Sox Nation believe Ellsbury has arrived - and is ready to blossom. He's been nothing but magic in a Boston uniform, bringing an impactful energy from his very first game, when he sizzled down the first-base line to collect his first career hit on a routine grounder to short. Two nights later he scored from second on a wild pitch, and although sent back to the farm soon after, he returned in time to make the Sox' postseason roster. And that's when the fans really fell in love with him. Taking over for Crisp to start Game 6 of the AL Championship Series, with Boston on the brink of elimination, he provided an immediate spark. He scored three times in the two games that helped the Sox come back against Cleveland, and proceeded to get better as the stage got bigger. He terrorized Colorado pitching in the World Series, reaching base in nine of 18 plate appearances, hitting .438, and - had it not been for Mike Lowell's timely production - easily putting himself in position to be named the series' most valuable player. "He was fun to watch," said right fielder J.D. Drew. "He definitely energized us in spots where we needed him last year. He came up with key hits, and it'll be an interesting spring training to see those guys compete, and see how the situation works itself out." Ellsbury, too, is eager for the competition. He says he proved to himself last year that he's capable of playing at baseball's top level, so he plans to take that confidence and do what he's done at each rung of the ladder en route. He's going to fight for his chance to play, just as he did as a freshman in both high school and college, as well as in the minors. Every time the battle has made both combatants better, and because he's got the "utmost respect" for Crisp, he's anticipating the duel to be healthy.
February 19, 2008 The Providence Journal By Sean McAdam From Fort Myers: Jacoby Ellsbury spoke about his busy offseason and sudden celebrity status and was asked about his job his job competition with Coco Crisp. ''I have the utmost respect for him,'' said Ellsbury. ''He's definitely a great teammate. We're all fighting for jobs. It's the best players in the world and you just have to be ready (for the competition).''
February 18, 2008 From The Boston Globe Keeping his eye on the ball
By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan Red Sox rookie phenom Jacoby Ellsbury (above) had the kind of season little boys dream about and the kind of World Series Red Sox Nation will be bragging about for years to come. And the man who stole a base and won the country a free taco seems to be adjusting to life as a big leaguer. "As a Little Leaguer, you put yourself in those situations, this ultimate state," the 24-year-old says in a several-page spread in the new edition of Men's Vogue, which hits stands tomorrow. "It was a dream come true," No. 46 says of hitting .438 in the Series. For a guy who started out his season in Double A, it isn't lost on Ellsbury that he needed to spend this off-season working out and getting ready to report to camp later this week. "I don't want to get lackadaisical," Ellsbury, the first Navajo to play major league ball, tells writer Hudson Morgan. "I'm going to get better, and the awards and the individual aspects will take care of themselves." The Oregon-bred player's grace under fire isn't lost on Sox skipper Terry Francona. "We put him in some pretty important situations, and he competed, and he didn't back down," Francona tells the magazine. "Usually we can live and die by the home run, but he brought speed that we hadn't seen. He can fly." Ellsbury and his girl- friend, 23-year-old Kelsey Hawkins, have allowed a few trappings of success. He drives a new blue Escalade, uses an iPhone, and has a closet packed with new sneakers. As for what he would be doing if he wasn't gearing up for baseball: "The NFL," he says. "Wide receiver." Seriously? "Or the NBA." It was also reported that Jacoby Ellsbury reported to spring training today!
February 8, 2008 Keep Voting for Jacoby! Which Sox player are you most looking forward to seeing at spring training? Check out the slideshow on Boston.com (Gordon Edes 10 Red Sox Spring Training Storylines). Jacoby Ellsbury has a strong lead with over 50% of the votes. Let's keep him in the lead!!!
Januray 30, 2008 Ian Browne MLB.com Ellsbury Glad To Be Staying Put After months of seeing and hearing his name on the rumor mill in a proposed deal for two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is now all but certain that he won't have to pack his bags for Minneapolis. The Twins and Mets reached agreement on a deal that will send Santana to New York, assuming the lefty agrees to a contract extension and passes a physical. "I think when you have a pitcher of Johan's caliber, pretty much every prospect is going to be mentioned in a trade at some point in the talks," Ellsbury told MLB.com in a telephone interview. "It was pretty flattering to be even considered in the trade, but I'm happy with what happened. I'm happy to be a Red Sock. I'm happy that I wasn't traded at his expense, and it's nice to know where I'm going heading into the season." Red Sox fans -- be it in chat rooms or talk radio -- were openly distraught at the prospect of Ellsbury being moved, even in a deal for a pitcher as talented as Santana. Ellsbury, who began the 2007 season at Double-A, filled in for an injured Manny Ramirez in September and instantly won over fans and teammates with his exciting style of play. And starting with Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, Ellsbury took over center field from Coco Crisp for the rest of the postseason and thrived. In the World Series sweep of the Rockies, Ellsbury went 7-for-16 with four doubles and scored four runs. The Red Sox, Mets and Yankees had been the most frequently mentioned suitors when it came to the Santana sweepstakes. The Red Sox spent quite a bit of time talking with Twins general manager Bill Smith during the Winter Meetings and multiple proposals were made, but a deal was never struck. The Red Sox were believed to have one package that involved Ellsbury and another that was headlined by lefty Jon Lester and Crisp. Though a Josh Beckett-Santana 1-2 punch would have been downright scary for opposing teams, the Red Sox can take heart in the fact that they will have just about every key member back from the team that won the 2007 World Series. "We have everybody back. That's a great sign," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia from his Arizona home. "I know we would have had to give up a ton to get [Santana] and plus trying to sign him to a long-term deal. Obviously that would have been a tough challenge. We have everybody back. Obviously, everybody is excited and ready to go. We're all familiar with each other and hopefully we can repeat the same thing we did last year. It's going to be a tough challenge but it's going to be exciting for us." Pedroia -- fresh off winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award -- is pleased that fellow talented youngsters like Ellsbury and Lester aren't going anywhere. "It definitely would have been tough," Pedroia said. "You build a strong relationship with your teammates. And it's not just those guys, if anybody else would have gone ... you build a bond with them, you trust them and it kind of brings home the point that the game is a business, and when you see guys get traded, you wish them the best except for when you play against them. But for this situation, for our case, I'm kind of happy that we have all of our guys and we're going to move forward."
Ellsbury said that he never lost focus, despite all the rumors. "I talked to [manager] Terry Francona. He basically knew I was working hard in the offseason and he knew I wasn't really letting it get to me," Ellsbury said. "I'm just going out and getting ready for Spring Training. I knew wherever I was going to end up, I'd give them 100 percent, but definitely I'm happy to be with the Boston Red Sox." If Crisp is not traded by Spring Training, an intriguing position battle with Ellsbury will unfold. "It's fine with me," Ellsbury said. "Coco is a great player. Everybody wants that starting spot, and I think it will just make us that much better. Me, personally, going into the offseason, I knew I had to continue to get better and continue to improve. Any kind of ballplayer, you have to be willing to continue to get better. "I'm sure Coco was doing the same thing, working hard and getting ready for Spring Training and the season. Whatever happens, whoever gets the starting nod, [the other guy] will be very respectful and just willing to help the team any way possible." And the other side benefit for the Red Sox is that Santana appears headed to the National League side of New York instead of the Bronx. "I think everybody is going to be happy all the way across. I think the Yankees are happy with what they have, with their young pitching, and we are as well," Ellsbury said. "I think the Mets will be very happy with Johan." Even an ultimate competitor like Pedroia won't miss the challenge of trying to catch up to the nasty offerings of Santana. In fact, Pedroia was working out with several Major League players at the Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., when word started to leak out about the deal to the Mets. "I was working out, and I said to a bunch of the guys I was working out with, 'I'm glad that guy is out of the American League.' And everyone started laughing except for the guys that are in the National League," said Pedroia. "That's definitely my first thought. That's great. Get him out of the American League. Obviously he's one of the best in the game."
January 24, 2008 From Keep ME Current.com by Carl Pepin Ellsbury's Visit A Breakfast treat Thursday morning was anything but ordinary at the Dunkin' Donuts on County Road in Westbrook. A police car in the street outside, television news crews both inside and out of the store and a parking lot filled to capacity meant something or someone special was making an appearance at the local establishment. On this particular occasion, it was both.
Not only did Boston Red Sox representatives bring the World Series trophy for all to see, but Dunkin’ Donuts - in conjunction with the Red Sox - was pleased to host a member of the winning team from last fall’s October Classic. Jacoby Ellsbury, the former Portland Sea Dog and current first year phenom of the Red Sox made an appearance to meet fans and help promote a new menu item for the national food chain.
“It’s always great to have someone like Jacoby Ellsbury or another member of the Red Sox here,” said Dunkin Donuts Director of Operations Mike DaRosa. “It was a natural to have him come up here and re-kindle his old stomping grounds. It’s great for business and it’s great for publicity.” A large crowd packed the restaurant and the overflow of fans waited outside the doors for Ellsbury to say hello. Just after 9 a.m., the Red Sox outfielder found himself behind the counter handing out food while being deluged by a hundred or so well wishers seemingly all armed with digital cameras. Ellsbury enjoyed his short stint as a Dunkin’ Donuts staffer-even donning a head set and waiting on several drive-up customers. Many of the fans were disappointed to hear that because of a lack of time, he would be unable to sign autographs. Nonetheless, Ellsbury’s visit pleased everyone who had waited to see one of Boston’s World Series heroes in person. Ellsbury played in 17 games for the Sea Dogs early last year before getting called up to Class AAA Pawtucket. He batted .452 with 33 hits in 78 at bats in his brief stay with Portland. (In 2006, he played in 50 games for the Sea Dogs.) The 24-year-old Oregon native played in 11 games during the post-season finishing with a .360 average while providing a spark for the club both offensively and defensively. Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 15. Position players are scheduled to report Feb. 20. The Sox will open the 2008 campaign with a series of two games against Oakland in Tokyo in late March. The Red Sox home opener is against Detroit on Tuesday, April 8.
January 22, 2008 From Bend Bulletin.com Three Locals Are Awards Finalists Three Central Oregonians are finalists for honors at the 2008 Oregon Sports Awards ceremony. The 56th annual event, honoring the state’s top athletes and coaches from the prep, college, amateur and professional levels, is scheduled to take place Sunday, Jan. 27, at the Nike World Campus in Beaverton. Among the finalists for Harry Glickman professional athlete of the year for men is Jacoby Ellsbury. The baseball standout from Madras and Oregon State University climbed to the major leagues in 2007 and starred as an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox in their run to the World Series championship. Other finalists for the Glickman honor include two former OSU football standouts now shining in the NFL: Derek Anderson, a quarterback with the Cleveland Browns, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a wide receiver with the Cincinnati Bengals. Also on the Glickman finalist list are ultimate fighter Randy Couture and Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy.
January 18, 2008 From the East Oregonian Baseball Star Makes Stealth Visit To Pendleton A high-profile Oregon dignitary made a low-profile visit to Pendleton last week. World Series star Jacoby Ellsbury, a native of Madras, spent several days visiting with the Tim Hawkins family.
January 11, 2008 From Sparq Training.com Who Says You Can't Teach Speed (Jacoby Ellsbury speaks to SPARQ about speed and training): “You can’t teach speed.” Oh, and earning us free tacos with every stolen base. Now that’s fast. This is the kid who got called up to the majors and stole home from second base on a wild pitch. He didn’t do it by settling for being one of the fastest men on the field. He wants to be THE fastest man on the field. Working with SPARQ master trainer Matt James, Ellsbury uses biometric and resistance training to hone his overall technique, adding an explosive first step to his blazing speed that makes him a monster in the outfield, lightning-quick out of the box, and a constant threat to steal and score once on base. Whether on offense or defense, he is the opposing team’s worst nightmare. Speed is vital to every athlete in every sport at every level, and it has been proven that, yes, you can “teach” speed. If a guy as fast as Jacoby Ellsbury can use the right training techniques to improve his speed, what are you waiting for? Millions of free tacos can’t be wrong. Watch Jacoby Ellsbury talk to SPARQ about speed and training here.
January 10, 2008 Ellsbury Does Oregon Proud Tom Melton East Oregonian.com 1/9/08 Finding Jacoby Ellsbury in a crowd is not as easy as one would think. Ellsbury in street clothes looks like hundreds of other college kids, or even a high-school age youngster.
January 7, 2008 From an article on Sportsnet.ca, "10 Things To Look Forward To" by Jamie Campbell: 3. Jacoby Ellsbury. If we’re to appoint a current player as the beacon of a new, drug-free era, this kid is a worthy choice: good glove, excellent bat, runs like a deer, and skinnier than Tara Reid. And the only thing he’ll test positive for is Flintstone vitamins. You’ll see Ellsbury patrolling centre for the Red Sox from now on. You can read the other 9 reasons here.
January 4, 2008 Top Ten Sox Prospects Baseball America.com By Jim Callis Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.
Read the rest of the article here.
January 2, 2008 Happy New Year! Thanks to Erin from Jason-Varitek.com for these screen shots from the 2007 World Series Highlights: Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox DVD.
From Bend Bulletin Reader's Choices: The Top Local News Stories of 2007 Sheila G. Miller 1/1/2008 Madras native Jacoby Ellsbury helps Boston Red Sox win the 2007 World Series. Madras native and Oregon State University baseball standout Jacoby Ellsbury, 24, got his chance in the big show when he was called up from the minor leagues to play for the Boston Red Sox in September. The speedy rookie started in centerfield in key games, including throughout the playoffs and World Series, and served as the leadoff hitter as the Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies to win the world championship. Ellsbury made his debut on the big stage with style, racki |
