He has gone from a kid with star potential to a difference-maker with superstar ability.
In 2009, his second full season in the majors, Ellsbury had a breakout year for Boston. The 26-year-old center fielder hit .301, led the AL with 10 triples, finished 12 hits shy of 200, and led the majors with a Red Sox franchise-record 70 stolen bases. Although he went through a midseason skid where he could do nothing right in the leadoff role, he finished the season unable to do anything wrong.
Now Ellsbury is one of the best in the business at the No. 1 spot — and he’s gaining on Ichiro Suzuki for the unanimous title. For the Red Sox to be the last team standing in November, Ellsbury needs to continue producing at the plate.
It starts with getting on base against the Angels — by hit, bunt, walk, error, taking a pitch for the team, any means necessary. Starting a rally is impossible while sitting on the bench, and the only base Ellsbury can’t steal is first.
Once he gets on base, just call him the director, because action follows him.
Ellsbury can set the table for the rest of the Red Sox lineup, and the pressure will be on the Angels' starters to hit their spots. Pitching to Boston’s bats is tough enough without a greyhound on the base paths. If John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir or Joe Saunders becomes too preoccupied with Ellsbury — and with preventing him from swiping a base — he'll be more prone to throw a meatball to Victor Martinez or Kevin Youkilis or Jason Bay or David Ortiz or somebody else. And Red Sox hitters know what to do with mistakes.
The more mistakes L.A. starters make, the sooner they’ll hit the showers. The sooner they hit the showers, the quicker Boston can get to the Halos’ bullpen. And the quicker the Red Sox get to L.A.’s bullpen, the better Boston’s chances of winning the game and the series.
Ellsbury is ready to be the catalyst for this chain reaction. This is his third postseason, and he’s no stranger to success.
In 2007, he made his playoff debut against the Angels in the ALDS. He scored a run as a pinch runner and grounded into a double play in his only at-bat. It wasn’t the Ride of Valkyries from Apocalypse Now, but the Red Sox still swept the series.
In the ALCS against the Indians, Ellsbury became a bona fide contributor — going 2-for-8 with three runs, one RBI and a stolen base in five games. The Red Sox won in seven to advance to the World Series.
In the Fall Classic against the Rockies, the rookie became a hero in New England and a household name everywhere else. Ellsbury started all four games, hit .438 (7-for-16), had a .500 on-base percentage, slugged .688, scored four runs, drove in three and stole a base as the Red Sox captured their second world championship in four seasons.
Last October, Ellsbury picked up where he left off and hit .333 with three doubles, six RBIs, three stolen bases and three runs against the Angels in the ALDS. The Red Sox advanced without issue.
Then, the wheels fell off for Ellsbury in the ALCS against the Rays. He went 0-for-14 in the first four games of the series and was benched for the final three. The music stopped for Boston in seven games.
It’s no coincidence the Red Sox do well when Ellsbury plays well. He can start more trouble than a crocodile in a bathtub. But when he’s off his game, there’s no joy in Boston.
This postseason, the Red Sox are counting on him to get them off on the right foot.
