Jacoby Ellsbury Interview
We talk to the Red Sox center fielder about the new World Series DVD...and applesauce waffles?
Bill Barnwell
December 11, 2007
When we last saw Jacoby Ellsbury, he was celebrating in the middle of Coors Field as the Red Sox won their second championship in four seasons. It was a tumultuous season for the 24-year-old Ellsbury, who started the 2004 campaign in AA-ball Portland (Maine) and ended it as the starting center fielder on the World Series champions. He earned the role by hitting .353 in 116 at-bats on the major league level, while providing game-changing speed as the team's fastest player.
Since the title win, though, talk has turned to next year and what might be in store for the Red Sox: Johan Santana. The star Twins pitcher is very publicly on the trade block, and Ellsbury's name has naturally come up as a player the Twins would be interested in acquiring as part of the Santana haul.
We spoke to Ellsbury during the Winter Meetings and discussed the trade rumors, playing in Fenway, his favorite meal, and what it was like to play on a championship-winning team, as documented on the 2007 Red Sox World Series Collector's Edition DVD, available today.
IGN: Obviously, trade talk has been whirling around Johan Santana and a possible move to the Red Sox. Some of that trade discussion has involved you. What's that like for you?
Ellsbury: It's tough. I'm not thinking about it, but when your friends and family are texting you asking for the inside scoop, it's hard. It's tough just because I have no control over it whatsoever. I'd like to be a Red Sox player, going through the minor league system and having the familiarity with the coaches. Luis Alicea was my first coach coming up in Lowell and he's the Red Sox first base coach now, you get a sense of comfort, it's pretty important to me. It's not as important to a veteran player, but to a young guy like myself, it's definitely important.
I haven't heard really too much from the Sox. It's a situation where I don't want to hear every little detail and what-not of it. I wanna hear a little bit, but I have no control over it.
IGN: Even if the package doesn't include you, if it were up to you, would you rather have kept the team that won last year together, or is the lure of adding a star like Santana too strong?
Ellsbury: It's hard to say. With me being for the team for such a short period of time, I know Jon, but it's hard to argue Johan's talent. Jon's a great pitcher as well, and we have a lot of good minor leagues so, I mean…it's hard to say.
IGN: You had sort of a whirlwind 2007, obviously, going across three levels to end up in Boston as the team's starting center fielder in the World Series. Was there any part of you that saw that happening this year, or was it totally unexpected?
Ellsbury: Well, I was just trying to get to AAA when I started in AA, and then I was trying to get a callup in September and get some at-bats, get my feet wet. For me to get called up earlier and show them my abilities, it wasn't going to be overwhelming for me. I wasn't expecting to get on the postseason roster, but I worked hard for it, and I wanted to be ready for anything possible. I've dreamed of playing in the World Series since I was a little kid, but I never would've expected it, not yet.
Mike Lowell said it best: I'm spoiled!
IGN: How hard was it to adjust from level to level?
Ellsbury: It's getting familiar with your teammates, that's the biggest thing, getting yourself comfortable, and then just going out to play. It's a little challenging, but it wasn't that tough. Being a professional, you have to adapt. AA has a lot of younger guys, and AAA has guys who have bounced up and down from the big leagues. They helped out quite a bit on what to expect at the big league level. Once you're there, you want to respect everybody and not become the focal point of the clubhouse.
IGN: Was there a point during the season, either on the field or off, where it really hit home that you were in the major leagues?
Ellsbury: It's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, for it to be a reality is still pretty unbelievable, because I've dreamt about it for so long. It's a great feeling. All that work, time in the gym, it meant a lot for it to finally happen.
IGN: When you took over in the playoffs, that came at the expense of Coco Crisp, who's also been the subject of trade rumors with your arrival on the scene. What's your relationship like with Coco?
Ellsbury: He's been great from Day One in spring training, showing me the ropes, obviously, I'm kinda attracted to him with questions, being another centerfielder, but when I got called up, he helped me out with the Green Monster, and allowed me to go out there and compete at a high level. He's a great teammate.
IGN: Which is harder to play in Fenway Park, left or center?
Ellsbury: I would say center, it's a little bit tougher with the different angles; left, if it's hit over your head, it's coming off the Monster, but the tough ones are where it's gonna hit a little off the wall. The ones that are high off the wall are a little bit easier, but playing center, you don't see those different angles anywhere else. They both can be tough, but for me, center's more challenging.
IGN: How would you compare the atmosphere in the clubhouse to other ones that you've played in?
Ellsbury: Unbelievable, relaxed, full of true professionals. The guys know when it's time to mess around and have fun and when to flip on the switch and get serious. I learned a lot in the Cleveland series when we were down 3-1; we had a team meeting and they said, "Go out there and play", and if you had came in that locker room, you would have thought we were up 3-1. I learned a lot from the guys on how to win on the ultimate stage. It's a fun locker room.
IGN: How are you looking to progress as a player next year?
Ellsbury: The biggest thing is to not be stagnant, not be happy with where you're at. I learned a lot on what I needed to improve on this offseason, working out, getting ready for the season, everybody wants to get back to the Series, and we showed in the postseason, it's going to take everybody. As a young player, that's really important to me.
I've been working very hard out here in Oregon to get ready for the season, and it's a business, but wherever I go, I'm gonna give 100%
IGN: What's the weirdest thing you got in the mail from a fan this year?
Ellsbury: I got a Christmas ornament, I got some homemade cards that sing, there are different things like that. The fans cheer me great and they've been supportive from Day One, that's why you go out there and give it 100% night in, night out: For the fans. The Boston fans being so knowledgeable makes it fun to be out there.
IGN: What's the strangest or most difficult handshake that you've seen on the Red Sox?
Ellsbury: Oh, man. There's been so many. I like the one with Manny [Ramirez] and Alex Cora, that's long and funny. It's on film, I'm sure, probably on the DVD. They have a long handshake before the game starts. They kick each other's legs! There's some weird ones. That's just our team. Each guy has a different handshake for each person.
IGN: How do you remember them all?
Ellsbury: It's tough for me, playing so few games, that I really remember those. That's what makes our team so fun, though, we've all got different personalities and different backgrounds. It's omething little that keeps us relaxed.
IGN: Have you ordered waffles and applesauce in Boston yet? Are you going to introduce that to the Boston culinary scene?
Ellsbury: I have not ordered it, but that's something I'll make at home in the kitchen. I think someone would give me a weird look if I ordered it.
IGN: Well, maybe you have to introduce it to the city. Go to Game On and ask for it twice and I bet they start calling it "The Ellsbury".
Ellsbury: Yeah, that's a good point! I might have to do that and give you props for it.