Leadoff Is Taking The Lead!
Red Sox Nation has not felt totally comfortable over the last month, in large part because of injuries (Bailey, Hanrahan, Ross, Middlebrooks, Victorino, Buchholz, etc), even though their beloved Beantown team has regained the division lead over the Yankees. But part of that uncomfortable feeling was also due to some key contributors getting off to slow starts. Namely, Will Middlebrooks and leadoff hitter, Jacoby Ellsbury.
Timeout!
Pictured: A Young Jimmy Derochea
Let me take a moment to interject here, I understand the trepidation of the Nation, after all I am a card carrying Member, however, I view this a different way…when they do start hitting, WATCH OUT!
Consider this, the team has been at or near the top of the division for the first third of the season, without the expected contributions from those guys, but, my gut and instincts tell me that they will produce and with all things being equal, that’s a great thing for the Red Sox hopes for a playoff berth! Sure, some guys got off to hot starts (i.e. Napoli & Ortiz) and conversely, they will likely come back down to earth (slightly, I hope), but when you are talking about offsetting their ‘settling back down’ with both a hot RBI guy in the middle of your order and one of the most dynamic leadoff hitters in the game, those are impact players that can carry a team and make a huge difference.
Will Middlebrooks was just starting to show signs of breaking out before he strained his lower back. (He is expected to return the second week of June) Middlebrooks was putting together more consistent at bats while being more selective at the plate while driving the ball to all fields and the hope is that he will pick up where he left off upon his return and will continue his offensive ascent. As far as Jacoby Ellsbury is concerned, he has been the focus of media and fans alike for his slow start at the top of the order. In recent weeks, there has been growing whispers from Red Sox Nation and media alike that perhaps it’s time to drop Jacoby out of the leadoff spot. And in the past week, Jacoby Ellsbury has responded, loud and clear! Shhhhhhhh…
On May 21st, Ellsbury was barely hitting .240 with a .307 OBP, though he did have 14 steals. By May 25th, “Ells”(EDITORS NOTE: Would Girardi call him Ellie? Jakey? ) had started to show signs of life, bumping his average to .245 and OBP to .317 but over the last week since then has been on fire. Over the last 5 games, he has hit .478 (11 for 23) with 4 RBI, 4 Runs scored and 7 Stolen Bases. Talk about heating up!!!! In fact, he set a Red Sox record on Thursday night in Philadelphia when he swiped (5), yes FIVE Bases, keying a 9-2 Sox win over the Phillies! Ellsbury now leads the AL in steals with 21, going into this weekend.
The Guy Is Fast
In less than 2 weeks, Ellsbury has raised his average 26 points (to .268) while adding over 30 points to both his OBP and Slugging percentage…and his OPS has risen almost 70 points to .710 during that stretch. His season totals may not be gaudy, but they are at least respectable. What’s exciting is that Jacoby has recently been playing with the passion and the fire that we have seen from him in past years. Past years like in 2011 in particular when he hit .321 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI and was in the MVP discussion! That may have been his “career season” and he may never approach those power numbers again, but we know what this guy can do when he plays with confidence and uses all of his natural tools! He is one of, if not the most electric leadoff hitter in the game today and he adds a dynamic to the Red Sox offense that goes beyond the numbers.
The Red Sox need that fire, that bat, that speed from Ellsbury, because it sets the tone for the rest of the lineup, not to mention that it puts tremendous pressure on the opposing pitcher from the first pitch of the game on. With Pedroia (and sometimes Victorino, when healthy) batting behind him, getting on base and pressuring the defense is a recipe for success and opposing pitching mistakes. Mistakes that, historically, guys like David Ortiz, Will Middlebrooks and Mike Napoli in the middle of the order, have feasted on in the past. (Albeit, Napoli feasted on Red Sox pitching in years past!) That’s a huge element that has been missing from this year’s offense, at least up until recently and when you are in a tough division like the AL East where divisional games tend to be tight, that pressure, that potential extra run, can make a huge difference. It all begins at the top of the order and the Red Sox are a very dangerous team when Ellsbury is taking the lead by consistently generating pressure on the opposition by getting on base. And believe me, Red Sox Nation tends to be a happier place when Jacoby is getting on base and taking the lead, pun intended!
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