Red Sox fans, is Ellsbury starting?

[TheChamp24]

Well, I'm in a keeper baseball league, and I want to know if Jacoby Ellsbury will be starting for the Red Sox this year, and what everybody predicts he'll do this year. I know he won't come close to what he did at the end of last year and the playoffs, but what would be reasonable to expect from him?
And the reason I ask is, I need speed and average, and am looking at picking up Ellsbury to man an OF spot for me.
Thanks everyone!

[PatsWin2002]

We don't know yet. Coco isn't interested in being a bench guy and stated today "play me or trade me".

The Sox will probably trade him, but nobody knows yet. Consensus is that his trade value is highest now.

My advice is to follow Boston.com for updates.

[-Slap-]

Consider Michael Bourn if you need speed.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2836/bournxk6.jpg

Bourn probably won't hit for a high average, but it's unlikely Ellsbury will, either. Bourn's stolen base potential is through the roof. He was successful in 18 of 19 attempts for Philly last year. Even more impressive was he stole many of them as a pinch runner, so everybody in the stadium knew he was going.

The new Houston manager, Cecil Cooper, says they're going to run this year and he has Bourn penciled in as his centerfielder and leadoff hitter. If this kid gets 500 plate appearances, he could be good for 50 bags.

[MileHighMagic]

Looking for a semi-sleeper outfielder? Keep an eye on a young bad ass by the name of, Cameron Maybin. Five tool kid that is the next Willie Mays. I've been watching him since he was 16. He played for a select team that always made it to the Connie Mack WS here in NM.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1113/1149820703_17b37f8a5b.jpg

It may have seemed surprising when Maybin, after just 20 at-bats above Class A ball, was called to the big leagues in 2007. But that's a testament to how the Tigers, and most around baseball, felt about the young center fielder's maturity and makeup. He's not too bad on the field, either. He can do everything well and he's still improving. Even at his age and with time lost to injury, he's not far from bringing his five-tool talent to the big-league stage full-time. He didn't do much in his first taste, but he will assuredly be one of the most exciting players in baseball for a long time. It just won't be in Detroit. He was sent, along with five other players, to the Marlins in return for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Florida does have an opening in center field, one that the 21-year-old Maybin might step into.

[MileHighMagic]

USA Today-top 100 names you need to know

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-02-06-names-to-know_N.htm




5. Cameron Maybin, OF, Marlins

Cameron Maybin opened the 2007 season living in cramped hotel rooms, riding the buses and eating fast food along with most of his young minor league teammates in the Detroit Tigers organization.

But in a three-month span, his life became a whirlwind:

•He opened the season at Class A Lakeland in the Florida State League.

•He spent six games at Class AA Erie (Pa.).

•He was promoted to the big leagues in August.

•He hit a home run off Roger Clemens in his second major league game.

•He struggled and was benched.

•And, finally, he was the key acquisition by the Florida Marlins in a December trade that sent third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis to Detroit.

"It was pretty wild, but it was a great learning experience for me," Maybin says. "I was surprised I was traded, because I was always one of those guys people said that was untouchable. But from a business standpoint, this might be the best thing that could have happened to me."

Maybin, 20, will be competing this spring to be the Marlins' center fielder and is considered an elite prospect.

Tigers general manager David Dombrowski says Maybin is the finest young position player he's seen in 29 years. Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield says Maybin reminds him of a young Eric Davis and wouldn't be surprised one day to see him hit 30 homers and steal 60 or 70 bases.

He reminds several scouts of Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andruw Jones, with slightly less power but more speed.

Maybin, who has been working out vigorously this offseason, is eagerly looking forward to being an everyday player in the big leagues.

Yet no matter what transpires in his career, he says he will always remember that first home run off Clemens. Maybin didn't even crack a smile when he homered, he says, remembering what his father preached to him.

It turned out to be the highlight of Maybin's big-league stint. He struggled, hitting .143 with 21 strikeouts in 49 at-bats, and was benched in September. Maybin realizes he has to prove this spring that he's ready to be a full-time player.

"This is a really, really good opportunity for me to establish myself early in my career," he says. "I learned so much last year. The biggest thing was that I learned to cope. I never really struggled before, but now I know how to handle adversity. That will make me a better player in the future.

"I can't wait to get started, and play with all of these young guys around my same age. Hopefully, one day we can be a team like Detroit where you're expected to win a championship."

[MileHighMagic]

According to David Kaplan & Bruce Levine the Cubs and BoSox are talking Jason Marquis going to BeanTown in exchange for Coco Crisp. As a Cubs fan, I would love for this to go down. :thumbsup:

The fact that it is even rumored, makes me believe Ellsbury has the edge.

[Bronco LB 59]

Looking for a semi-sleeper outfielder? Keep an eye on a young bad ass by the name of, Cameron Maybin. Five tool kid that is the next Willie Mays.

The next Willie Mays?!!!!! Maybin might not even be the best HS center fielder from his own '05 draft class (Justin Upton, Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus).

[OrangeShadow]

The sox wont say it publicly but they want Jacoby starting

[elsid13]

At this point it still unknown, but even he starts Ellsbury most likely will be hitting at the bottom of the order, to start. Reasonably expectation for him - .270 to .280, 12-15 HR and 25 to 30 steals.

[Drek]

According to David Kaplan & Bruce Levine the Cubs and BoSox are talking Jason Marquis going to BeanTown in exchange for Coco Crisp. As a Cubs fan, I would love for this to go down. :thumbsup:

The fact that it is even rumored, makes me believe Ellsbury has the edge.

Sounds a lot like all the trade rumors so far this off-season, where teams expect the Sox to give him away and don't offer crap.

Marquis isn't a very good pitcher in the NL Central, he'd be worthless in the AL East.

I'd expect the Sox to have Ellsbury down in Pawtucket for all of April and part of May, if he's down in the minors through May 15th or so he won't accrue a full year of service time this season. Important because it delays his arbitration and free agency points by a full year.

The only real benefit trading for someone like Marquis would get them is that they could then do the same with Clay Buchholz, but it'd cost them the ability to do that with Ellsbury.

I'm expecting a fringe starter signing or a trade that gets someone of that ilk and doesn't cost a current member of the 25 man roster. If not don't be surprised if Julian Tavarez starts to open the season. Its just smart business to try and keep both Buchholz and Ellsbury back for a few months, getting that extra year and saving them the grind of a full season.

[MileHighMagic]

The next Willie Mays?!!!!! Maybin might not even be the best HS center fielder from his own '05 draft class (Justin Upton, Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus).

Yes. That is who many compare him to. He also may flame out... who knows? He is surely an incredible talent though. We will just have to wait and see.

[Ramathorn]

I am a HUGE sox fan. Ellsbury will be the starter on opening day and will play the entire year. He is going to be awesome. Think about this, Johan Santana, arguably one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball was a lock to the red sox if they would give the twins ellsbury and the red sox BALKED at that. So what does that say about ellsbury?!!! I believe he will flirts with .300, 20+ taters and 40+ stolen bases. What he did in the playoffs is just a tiny glimpse of what he can do.

[-Slap-]

I am a HUGE sox fan. Ellsbury will be the starter on opening day and will play the entire year. He is going to be awesome. Think about this, Johan Santana, arguably one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball was a lock to the red sox if they would give the twins ellsbury and the red sox BALKED at that. So what does that say about ellsbury?!!! I believe he will flirts with .300, 20+ taters and 40+ stolen bases. What he did in the playoffs is just a tiny glimpse of what he can do.

It's going to take him five years to hit 20+ taters.

He's a punch and judy hitter with 10 home runs in over 1000 minor league at bats.

[TheChamp24]

See, I was expecting, if he started from day 1, something like this from Ellsbury this year:
.285 average, 8 homeruns, 50 RBI's, 90 runs and like 40 stolen bases.
I like him a lot as being a sort of "Ichiro" type guy without that high of an average.
And I thought the Sox balked at the trade because the Twins also wanted Lester or Bucholz?

[Smelvin]

I am a HUGE sox fan. Ellsbury will be the starter on opening day and will play the entire year. He is going to be awesome. Think about this, Johan Santana, arguably one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball was a lock to the red sox if they would give the twins ellsbury and the red sox BALKED at that. So what does that say about ellsbury?!!! I believe he will flirts with .300, 20+ taters and 40+ stolen bases. What he did in the playoffs is just a tiny glimpse of what he can do.

Sox should have made the deal when they could. Ellsbury's value will never be any higher than it is now. A nice player, but the comparisons to Grady Sizemore are silly. Doesn't have near the power. Doesn't have the power Johnny Damon has.

I see a Mark Kotsay type career, albeit with more SB's...

[smalltowngrll]

Hopefully it's Ellsbury!! But, all the info I've read says that the job is up for grabs by either.

But, I'll be there opening day and I'd LOVE to see our hometown kid starting at CF!!

[elsid13]

Sox should have made the deal when they could. Ellsbury's value will never be any higher than it is now. A nice player, but the comparisons to Grady Sizemore are silly. Doesn't have near the power. Doesn't have the power Johnny Damon has.

I see a Mark Kotsay type career, albeit with more SB's...

You are really undervalueing the kid, a better comparison would be to Lofton but he does have more power. Add into the fact that he will benefit from playing in Fenway and have solid protection in the line up to hit from.

[elsid13]

Hopefully it's Ellsbury!! But, all the info I've read says that the job is up for grabs by either.

But, I'll be there opening day and I'd LOVE to see our hometown kid starting at CF!!

Most likely it will be the kid, Boston is waiting for the right offer to move Crisp

[MechanicalBull]

Right now from what I've heard the past week or so is that Ellsbury is the starter come opening day and they are trying to get Crisp to platoon and be on the bench but he is pretty stead fast on wanting to start.

So what I take from that is Ellsbury starts and Crisp is on the bench or Ellsbury starts and Crisp isn't on the team. Unless he has a horrible spring and Coco is playing great which I don't think will happen.

[Ramathorn]

Ellsbury is the starting CF for the red sox on MLB 08 the show if that helps!!!!