Ellsbury's Fielding

[Wells]

I hope so.. I really do

[example1]

The hope is that he does put it together as a leadoff hitter, and the only way he will learn is to get comfortable with the role on this team. Consistently setting the table is a hard thing to do, a definite skill.

 

Ellsbury was clearly more comfortable with most MLB pitching as the season wore on. I think predictions for a .370 OBP as he approaches his prime years iarereasonable and something Theo will gladly build a lineup around.

[jacksonianmarch]

Ellsbury seems to be caught in a transition offensively. I think he is a solid player right now, but he is actually worth less than he was during the first 2 months of 2008. I dont think teams fear him enough to try and get him to chase, so it has changed his mindset to being aggressive rather than waiting for his pitch. He has really good plate coverage, but his aggressiveness at the dish would actually be a detriment to him. If he can get to the .370OBP range regardless of his power or his BA, he will be a serious asset

[Dojji]

He's a pretty decent asset with a .350 OBP and 70 steals IMHO. There ain't a lot of teams around that have that in their leadoff position.

[jacksonianmarch]

Right, but the .350OBP is solid and all, but a leadoff hitter should get on base more than that. The steals are really nice, but you cannot steal first. Gotta get on to be a pest. The sooner Ellsbury learns the the better.

[Dojji]

Look around the league. There aren't a lot of leadoff hitters much higher than .350. It's a pretty respectable mark from the 1 hole. throw in Ellsbury's speed and you go very quickly from "pretty respectabie" to "elite."

[Dipre]

Look around the league. There aren't a lot of leadoff hitters much higher than .350. It's a pretty respectable mark from the 1 hole. throw in Ellsbury's speed and you go very quickly from "pretty respectabie" to "elite."

 

I'm an Ellsbury supporter, but you know that's not true.

[Dojji]

OK then, what do we have in the leadoff spot around the league with a clearly higher OBP than Ellsbury? I concede Jeter, Ichiro, and Span, who else though? Figgins' contract year notwithstanding, he's only a .360 or so career OBP guy himself. Bourn is about on par with Ellsbury. There's a lot of teams that don't even have one guy.

 

Ellsbury is above average in the leadoff spot on his OBP alone. Throw his league-best speed into the equation and you're already talking about an elite leadoff man.

[Dipre]

OK then, what do we have in the leadoff spot around the league with a clearly higher OBP than Ellsbury? I concede Jeter, Ichiro, and Span, who else though? Figgins' contract year notwithstanding, he's only a .360 or so career OBP guy himself. Bourn is about on par with Ellsbury. There's a lot of teams that don't even have one guy.

 

Ellsbury is above average in the leadoff spot on his OBP alone. Throw his league-best speed into the equation and you're already talking about an elite leadoff man.

 

What i mean is he's not elite.

 

There's a lot of guys who can get on base as much as he can, maybe not steal as many bases, but double his power output, look at Roberts, Scutaro had him by so much in OBP it's not even funny, Bartlett too.

 

The word "Elite" should not be thrown around with such leniency.

 

Ellsbury is very good, but until he raises that OBP to the next level, and develops a bit more power (he should manage both) you shouldn't categorize him as "elite".

[Dojji]

Alright, I don't agree with the argument, but I see the sense of it.

[Tyler Durden]

I always always under the impression he was a great fielder, guess not. His value really drops if he moves to LF or RF.