"Jacoby Ellsbury is a very good center fielder who is going to be a great center fielder,'' general manager Theo Epstein told Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. "[This move] doesn't have anything to do with how he plays center field. We're happy with his center-field defense. It's more to do with Cameron's experience, and Ellsbury's ability to play a dynamic left field. This is not necessarily a permanent arrangement, or a long-term arrangement. But we think Cameron is still an elite center fielder … and that's the best way to go for now.''
Francona admits that the decision was a tough one based on Ellsbury's quickness in the middle of the outfield, but he feels that Ellsbury can learn a lot from the veteran Cameron.
"I knew how I felt about it, and all of our opinions concurred,'' Francona said. "This is how I feel we can put our best ballclub in the best light, but I wanted [Ellsbury] to hear it from me. He was probably a little disappointed, which is what I expected, but with Cameron's long strides and Jacoby's quickness, we have a chance to have a real dynamic outfield here.''
Ellsbury played all of his 153 games last season in center, but he is no stranger to left field. In 2008, he played 58 games in left, a year after playing 22 games in there in 2007. In 326 games over three seasons in center, Ellsbury has committed just two errors in 774 chances for a .997 fielding percentage.
Cameron has played 1,699 career games in center, where he earned three Gold Gloves (2001, 2003, 2006). The former White Sox, Reds, Mariners, Mets, Padres, and Brewers ball hawk has played just three games in left field in and 139 in right field (as well as seven games at designated hitter) among the 1,806 games he has played over his 15-year career. Cameron, who turns 37 on Jan. 8, has a lifetime .987 fielding percentage in center field.
