Jacoby Ellsbury Surrounded by Support Systems in Return to Center Field

The Red Sox will break camp with 25 players heading north to Boston. We begin a daily look at each position on the club, from the projected starters to their backups. Our latest installment examines center field.

Call it a wash: Several Red Sox players have used the phrase “I’m not looking back,” or some variation, several times in camp already. Not many are choosing to dwell on what 2010 meant to them, especially with so much excitement surrounding the new year.

The one guy who stressed it more than any was Jacoby Ellsbury, and who could blame him? Ellsbury, the team’s starting center fielder throughout 2009 and for a good chunk of 2008, opened last season in left. As we all know, he broke multiple ribs in a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre just a handful of games into the year and ended up playing in only 18 overall.

It was virtually a wasted season for Ellsbury, who hit .301 and stole a franchise-record 70 bases the year before. There are no red flags in his ability to bounce back, no health issues, but even if there were, all that has happened since Ellsbury was hurt has put him in a perfect situation to wash away the memories of 2010.

In acquiring Carl Crawford, one of the best defensive left fielders in the game, Boston has taken some of the pressure off Ellsbury to track everything down in center, which he called his “natural position” in camp this week. Having a speedy and smart left fielder will allow Ellsbury to cheat a bit more toward the triangle in Fenway Park, which in turn gives right fielder J.D. Drew the ability to shade toward the line.

It has the chance to be a special outfield from a defensive standpoint, and Ellsbury won’t need to run through a wall to prove to everyone he is back.
 
“Anytime you put speed out there, it makes my job easier,” Ellsbury said.

That same may be said about what the additions do for the other portion of Ellsbury’s game.

In acquiring Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, Boston’s lineup is stretched out to the point where there is no heavy degree of pressure on anyone to perform. Sure, there will be slumps, but there are enough good hitters to pick up the slack. That should allow Ellsbury to narrow his focus. Once again, he need not hit the cover off the ball, but rather just find ways to get on base at a steady rate. As long as he does that, he’ll serve as a fantastic leadoff hitter ahead of such thunder. If not, manager Terry Francona has made it clear he could use Ellsbury as the No. 9 hitter, a spot that will alleviate some pressure if the 27-year-old is feeling any, and also act as a second leadoff guy once the lineup is turned over a bit.

In addition, there have been no indications that the presence of Crawford in the lineup will cause Ellsbury to be slowed down at all on the paths. On the contrary, the two figure to help one another in the running game, both through a friendly competition in terms of stolen bases and through the club’s sheer desire to keep constant pressure on opponents.

“He’s a guy that is kind of like myself, so if I can, I want to help him and encourage him and try to get him as many stolen bases as possible,” Crawford said of Ellsbury. “We can run together. I want him to do as good as he can because I think the better he does it’s going to help everybody out.”

Jacoby Ellsbury is being welcomed back after a lost season, and he’s being welcomed back by a very supportive group.

Other options: They are pretty good ones to have. Mike Cameron and Darnell McDonald will patrol center from time to time and rather often if Ellsbury goes down. Those itching to see the speedy Crawford get his chance out there should know he has played exactly one game in center since 2006. He is a left fielder, a darn good one and the Red Sox intend on keeping it that way.

If all else fails: There wouldn’t be a lot of failure if Ryan Kalish takes over in center field. He showed he can track down balls in the gap and he has a rifle of an arm, not to mention the ability to handle major league pitching. Kalish would only get that call if it was to be on a regular basis. No need to have him in a time-share while he’s still developing his game.