When Jacoby Ellsbury is Healthy, Does He Hit Leadoff for the Red Sox?
by Randy Booth on May 18, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
in News
Email
PrintJacoby Ellsbury made his first step back to joining the Red Sox on Monday with a start for Triple-A Pawtucket. Ellsbury did all right, going 1 for 3 with a walk. I'll take that.
This means he's close. Barring any setbacks, Ellsbury should be back within a week. And with Mike Cameron right on pretty much the same schedule, this means no more Jeremy Hermida, Bill Hall or Jonathan Van Every in the lineup every day (I won't mention Darnell McDonald, because I like Darnell McDonald).
When Ellsbury does come back, though, do the Red Sox slide him back to the leadoff spot or does Marco Scutaro stick there for at least a little bit?
There's a few factors to all of this. Will Ellsbury be completely healthy? Will he have the same speed right off the bat? How will he hit in his rehab starts?
The other factor is this: do the Sox really need to throw Ellsbury back into the leadoff spot already?
Scutaro's numbers in the leadoff spot aren't amazing, but he's certainly doing the job (stats prior to Monday's game):
| AB | R | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135 | 21 | 18 | 15 | .267 | .357 | .348 |
What really pops out at me is his BB/K and his on-base percentage -- two very important things for a leadoff hitter. While Scutaro is hitting just .267, his OBP is a 90 points higher. It sits at a pretty solid number. Ellsbury got on base at a .347 clip as the leadoff hitter for the Red Sox last season.
We also know that Scutaro is a fighter at the plate. He has walked three more times than he has struck out, which is something you always like to see. With Scutaro's ability to fight off pitches, work counts and get on base, he's an attractive option at the leadoff spot.
As nice as it will be to have Ellsbury and Cameron back in the bigs for the Red Sox, the lineup hasn't really been the problem. The Red Sox have the second-most home runs in baseball and other numbers typically sit top five in the American League. So why mess with a good thing?
I think the Sox should leave Scutaro at the leadoff spot and let Ellsbury hit toward the bottom of the order. It will allow Ellsbury to become comfortable again at the plate. Instead of coming back and being the first guy at the plate, he can come in and hit in a non-pressure situation. He doesn't have to worry about getting on base in front of Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew. He just has to worry about getting on base.
What are your thoughts, Red Sox Nation? Has Scutaro been good enough to stay in the leadoff spot, or do you think the Red Sox need Ellsbury's spark at the top of the lineup?
52 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I can't wait.
But I like Hermida as well as McDonald in the lineup from time to time. I say we just cut Bill Hall and send JVE back down to AAA.
While I don’t think the Sox will do that (They will probably make a mistake and try to slip McDonald back through to the minors, and fail just to have him claimed) it’s just a wish.
Once Ellsbury comes back he must most definitely go back to leadoff. He is just simply the fastest player on this team, and among the fastest in the majors. Scutaro has been nice, but he’s so good, we need him in the 9 hole for us. He is the Sox third leadoff man, behind Jacoby and Dustin. By having Scutaro on base, it makes it that much easier for us to score because of Jacoby’s .300 batting average (using last year’s average). If this holds up, the Sox will most certainly get back to dominating.
Have to keep Hall
…for now. He is our backup middle infielder. Unfortunately JVE and DMc will have to go to bring Ells and Cameron back. I agree that Hall should be the first to go, but it just can’t happen yet. Unfortunately that means we probably lose DMc, but hopefully someone picks him up and gives him playing time.
I agree with easing Ellsbury back into the lineup by putting him lower in the order for a little while.
suggestion
Couldn’t we label someone as “injured” like someone say of the DMc variety? This would give us an extra roster space and allow us to keep McDonald too
or we could just let him go
I understand everyone got really attached to him from those two good games he had, but he’s really just not good.
At the very least
Ells needs to be eased in, and Scutaro has been solid. Don’t mess with a good thing.
Is the real underlying problem the coaching/mamagement??
Not looking for a fight here so I will only say that I am thinking out load on this one.
When so much promise on many levels goes bad at the same time, look for a systematic reason! That reason must eventually lead one to the management/coaching aspect of this team. I mean even if it is the “water”, it is management’s responsibility to find that out eventually! No matter what the publicity line by some is concerning Francona’s management style and skills, the systematic unexplained problems that the Sox have consistently been showing this year must fall on his watch and shoulders. Maybe it is time for a management change!
I understand you're not really looking for a fight
but you seem to be posting this in about every thread, and it’s really not at all related to the topic of this one. Maybe a fanpost explaining your thoughts?
Please stay on topic.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
Come on!
You could make almost any subject fit any thread-line. What about saying if Francona does or does not use Ellsbury first, he is incompetent. Then yada, yada!
yes but why not just create a place to discuss it
rather than posting it in every single thread? It gets irritating to see in every thread and personally at least, if I see it everywhere, I’m less likely to join the discussion of any of them.
If you want to start with that, then at least it addresses the topic at hand.
There are plenty of opportunities around OTM to talk about general issues surrounding the Red Sox. This is a very specific post about one particular line-up spot.
If your comment doesn’t at least touch on that then basically your comment is just squawk.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
if your not looking for a fight
what did you call my mama?
Is the real underlying problem the coaching/mamagement??
duh
Join the NLL community at http://www.nationallacrosseleagueblog.blogspot.com/
Talk about Boston sports at http://www.bestbostonsports.com/
by bestbostonsports on May 18, 2010 9:47 AM EDT reply actions
The 2010 Red Sox...
It could have been a great year.
There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.
by return2greatness on May 18, 2010 10:08 AM EDT reply actions
Ellsbury is definitely leadoff
There might be more of a question if Scutaro was posting an OBP of around .370 or so, but right now his numbers don’t look better than Ells in leadoff. I think it’s just disrespect to pop Ellsbury out of the leadoff spot because he was injured when his replacement isn’t performing any better than he would. It is nice to know though that if Ells struggles leading off, we have a solid replacement available.
I don’t know, Scutaro has been extremely patient at the plate and maybe he hasn’t walked more but I have to believe that he sees many more pitches per AB than Ellsbury usually does. He is also making great contact, what is it 97% now?
He’s doing fine in leadoff, my mantra is if it ain’ broke, don’t fix it. Ellsbury can bat 9th and hack away down there if he wants.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
well he does walk more than Ells
but balances it out by hitting less. It’s hard to compare 2010 numbers since Ells has played so little, but career-wise, they strike out about the same. They seem to be on base close to the same amount, K about the same amount. Ellsbury has a bit more power and while I know nobody here loves base-stealing, I do believe that his base-stealing is worth something right before our 2-3-4 hitters. I think Scoot’s done a fine job, but I think Ells should have a chance there when he gets back.
Scutaro does see more pitches per at bat, but that’s just as useful at the bottom of the order. We already know the top of our order will see a ton of pitches between Pedroia, Youk, and Drew (if he stays there). Scutaro at the bottom helps prevent quick innings better than Ellsbury at the bottom does.
I think all polls from now on...
…should have a “who cares” option.
Wait 'til next year...
by nuthinboutnuthin on May 18, 2010 12:09 PM EDT reply actions
Are you going to bother to explain why you don't feel who hits first isn't important
or just say “who cares”? Because, um, yeah. Why not just sit on your hands if not.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I'd assume the idea is "season over, who cares"?
USG
by Ben Buchanan on May 18, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
a.k.a.
“I think I’ll wait until the fair weather returns”
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
that's not fair, things are really bad this season
You can be a fan and still think the season is a loss.
Let's talk some baseball
It is fair. Absolutely it is.
You can think the season is a loss all you want, of course.
But “who cares” means…they don’t care. And if you don’t care about the team when the team is not doing well then you are a FAIR WEATHER FAN. And Bloggy will call you out on it.
I’m not convinced that this season will end with us in the playoffs, that’s for damn sure. But I still care about winning some GD games.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
I don't think the season's lost.
Remember last year’s Yankees? I hate to use them as an example, but they only had a slightly better record at this point in the season.
Guess which finger I'm holding up
Wait 'til next year...
by nuthinboutnuthin on May 18, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
* sigh *
Thanks (and honestly, thanks) for taking the high road.
Wait 'til next year...
by nuthinboutnuthin on May 18, 2010 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I care a whole bunch, in fact too much
and I am not convinced this season is not a loss
Let's talk some baseball
I'm sorry
But your authority to judge my fandom is not recognized inside Fort Kickass
Wait 'til next year...
by nuthinboutnuthin on May 18, 2010 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with having Drew in the 3 spot.
But I think the lead off spot matters, too.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
no, he definitely does have problems with plate discipline
but still gets on base about as much as Scutaro because he hits for a higher average. I think Scutaro works well there, but I think Ellsbury works just about as well and has the speed on top of that.
plate discipline is waiting for everyone to sit down before you start eating
as far as plate discipline in baseball goes – touching the plate before you are tagged out, is plate discipline.
winning the world series is the only discipline that counts. everything else is a tool and a measuring system to achieve your objective.
Disagree
If you voted for Ellsbury it’s because you KNOW who he is. Ellsbury has always been a top hitter out of the top of the order. If nothing else, let Scutaro bat leadoff for the rest of the week. We need Scutaro on base fo Ellsbury to drive in.
Ellsbury should probably never be confused with top hitter. Scutaro is a more patient hitter and wears down pitchers much more effectively than Ellsbury does which I would rather have at the top of the order.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
I dunno, I'd rather have it at the bottom
like I said above, we already have it at the top, with Pedroia and Youk. Having Scutaro at the bottom helps avoid any quick innings (and also allows Drew to move higher as that’s always been Tito’s main justification for hitting Drew so low)
I like having Scutaro at the bottom, too
But I don’t see the need to put Ellsbury in there right away. Let Ells get a few games into him, and then you can transition him up there.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
lefty / righty platoon
until one stands out or both suck
if management knows so much about plate discipline and sabermetrics – then why do we suck with a $170m payroll?
all of the stats are correct when you are winning – but……..
silly to do any kind of platoon
with two batters whose splits are almost exactly equal against lefties and righties. Might as well just say switch them both off.
Either way, regardless of what we all think
I think we all know Tito well enough to know that Ellsbury is almost definitely going back to leadoff when he’s back.
Personally, I don’t think it’s that big a deal either way. Both will do a fine but unexceptional job at leading off. As I said, I prefer Ells a bit, but either way…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Over the Monster
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
- Giancarlo Stanton misses cutoff man, and Logan Morrison is thankful he did (Video)
- Snoop Dogg delivers memorable first pitch at U.S. Cellular Field
