Let’s take a close look at center field today. As it stands today, the Red Sox have four people who could play center for the Red Sox over the course of the 2007 season. Working from least chance of the most at-bats to most chance, we start with Jacoby Ellsbury, who was the topic of the poll these past several days.
When will Jacoby Ellsbury make his major league debut?
Opening Day. One of the outfielders will be traded or hurt. 1% of all votes Sometime in the summer, due to injury/ineffectiveness. 20% of all votes September, cutting his teeth like Pedroia did last year. 60% of all votes 2008. 19% of all votes
An overwhelming 60 percent of people believe that Ellsbury will not make his major league debut until September. While I ultimately voted in this category, I had a hard time believing that Ellsbury would not be up sometime during the summer. Injuries happen, and Ellsbury has to be the first option behind David Murphy to be recalled to the majors.
Ellsbury is a dynamic leadoff hitter who hit .308/.387/.434 in 198 at-bats for Double-A Portland after being called up from Single-A Wilmington, where he batted .299/.379/.418. He also stole a combined 23 bases, but needs to refine his stealing prowess as he was also caught 11 times. There is no question that at this point, Ellsbury is the centerfielder of the future for the Red Sox, but his time is probably one or even two years off. It is a pretty foregone conclusion the Red Sox will at least let Ellsbury gain some major league experience in September, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the 23-year old isn’t looked at seriously until 2009, even though 2008 remains very much the prevailing opinion.
David Murphy is also another option in center field and right now stands as the fifth outfielder for the Red Sox. After witnessing David Murphy in action in 2005 (“I am a fan of … David Murphy