When manager Terry Francona broke the news that he was pulling the trigger and displacing Ellsbury and adding newcomer Mike Cameron to center, reactions were numerous and heated.
But believe it or not, Ellsbury isn't the defensive juggernaut in center field most fans think he is — not yet, anyway. And the advanced defensive metrics on Ellsbury tell this unbiased story that the naked eye isn't reading. But Ellsbury certainly has the natural gifts to get there: the speed, the quickness, the reaction.
Cameron is the answer. He's experienced, he's proven, he's one of the best in the game. He has the three Gold Gloves and the stats to prove it. Frankly, this choice was a no-brainer. the vet is one of the game's elites in center field, and denying him the Red Sox' starting job would have been criminal.
Left field will be a cake-walk for Ellsbury. There's less range for him to cover, as there's no shallower left field wall than the Green Monster at friendly Fenway. There will be no complicated triangle behind him to configure and no long throws to make. If the Fenway Park outfield is a bike ride, left field is the training wheels.
Those wheels will come off someday and eventually Ellsbury will win the center field job back. But until then, he can be the apprentice to a very accomplished master.
Ellsbury's potential is evident but he has weaknesses now — including routes and arm strength — but down the road, he's capable of being one of the best. Even Theo Epstein, who often steers clear of passing judgments publicly, told the media last week that Ellsbury "is going to be a great center fielder."
But this is about right now and in 2010, the Red Sox have found their formula for the best possible outfield defensively.
Cameron will be a wizard in center. Ellsbury will hone his skills with a turn in left. And J.D. Drew will be reliable as always in right field. And on the bench, there's newcomers Jeremy Hermida and super-utility man Bill Hall to be called upon when needed.
The Red Sox are all set — and their outfield plays into a broader team philosophy that should guide them through next season. From now on, the Sox are all about run prevention.
They brought in John Lackey and numerous bullpen arms to bolster their pitching staff. They have Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro to shore up the left side of their infield. And with Cameron and Ellsbury assuming their rightful places in the outfield, the defensive upgrade has transformed this club.
The Red Sox were one of the worst defensive teams in baseball last season. They converted just 67.7 percent of batted balls into outs — only the Royals (67.3) were worse in the American League.
Epstein and the Red Sox' front office have taken steps to combat this problem, and Cameron is indeed one of those steps. Moving Ellsbury is another one, even though fans — the casual and the diehard alike — may not like it. But if the Sox' improved outfield can keep some runs off the scoreboard next season, everyone will grow to like it pretty fast.
