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October 20, 2007
By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- As expected, Jacoby Ellsbury is in the starting lineup, replacing slumping Coco Crisp in center field and in the number eight spot in the batting order.
Crisp is batting only .143 (3 for 21) in the series, and was 0 for 12 in the three games in Cleveland, including an inability to drop down a sacrifice bunt.
Boston manager Terry Francona is loyal to his players, maybe to a fault in some eyes, but he finally had to make the move, which he told Crisp about after the team's optional workout at Fenway Park on Friday.
''You get to the point where . . . I always talk about doing the right thing, and I felt like this was in the best interest of our ballclub,'' said Francona this afternoon. ''I don't enjoy (giving someone such news), but we always try to do the right the thing in the right way. I didn't expect Coco to jump up and hug me. If I was him, I wouldn't either.''
Francona said he was concerned about Ellsbury because he has played so sparingly in the postseason -- 0 at-bats versus the Indians -- but the rookie outfielder has a dimension to his game that prompted the manager to make the switch while opting not to make a switch at shortstop, with Alex Cora replacing Julio Lugo (.167, 3 for 18). Ellsbury has great speed.
''A.C. hasn't really played at all,'' said Francona. ''I think (if you put a guy like that in), you're putting a guy in an unfair position. I think with Ellsbury, even if he makes soft contact, there's always the ability to use the wheels (speed) to get hits.''
Ellsbury has only 33 games of big-league experience under his belt, but they have been 33 impressive games. He batted .353 (41 for 116) with 3 homers, 18 RBI and 9 stolen bases.
''He's got a chance to be a great player,'' said Francona. ''But I think the biggest thing of all, (special assistant to the general manager) Allard Baird said in one of our meetings, 'This kid has survival skills.' I think what he meant by that is kind of like (rookie Dustin) Pedroia. He's not up here for the ride, he's up here to win. When you get a young player like that, that's pretty special. When you get a young kid that seems to understand Boston, what every game means, that has a chance to make him even a better player.''
Francona said he didn't think tonight's starting assignment would rattle Ellsbury, 24, a first-round draft pick in 2005.
''I didn't ask him if he was nervous,'' said Francona. ''I just told him he was playing. If we thought there was going to be an adverse reaction, we wouldn't have played him. I don't see hives or anything. I think he'll be okay.''
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 5:41 PM | Permalink
