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July 13, 2008

Game Final Red Sox 2- Orioles 1.

July 12th Game Final Red Sox 12- Orioles 1.

July 11, 2008

Game Final Orioles 7- Red Sox 3.

July 9, 2008

Current Stats AVG .278 , HR 5 , RBI 27 , SB 35 .

Game Final Red Sox 18- Twins 5.

Ellsbury singled to left in the seventh. He scored on Pedroia's double.

July 8, 2008

Game Final Red Sox 6- Twins 5.

Ellsbury singled to right and scored on Drew's double in the first. He doubled to left in the eighth. Drew grounded to second scoring Ellsbury.

July 7, 2008

Game Final Red Sox 1- Twins 0.

July 6, 2008

Game Final Yankees 5- Red Sox 4.

July 5th Game Final: Yankees 2- Red Sox 1.

July 4, 2008

Game Final Red Sox 6- Yankees 4.

Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-for-5 today with 2 bunt singles, a run and a great sliding catch in the 4th inning.

July 3, 2008

Game Final Red Sox 7- Yankees 0.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a 2 run double in the second.

July 2, 2008

Game Final Rays 7- Red Sox 6.

July 1, 2008

Game Final July 1st: Rays 3- Red Sox 1.

Jacoby stole his 34th base tonight.

In the fourth, Ellsbury ran out a swinging bunt. He made it all the way to third when Navarro's throw to first sailed down the right field line, and he would score on a sacrifice fly to left by J.D. Drew.

Game Final June 30th: Rays 5- Red Sox 4.

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!