Ellsbury still in pain

[mvp 78]

I remember listening to WEEI and one of the sports writers compared his swing to Ted Williams... Sometimes Sox fans just go a little overboard in projecting what a prospect will turn into. A healthy above average CF would be fine by me.

[example1]

We expected too much of Ellsbury. He's not going to steal 70 every year' date=' much less hit for power or get on base at .400. As long as he gets on base average to above average, flashes his speed when it's important, and plays solid defense we really need to be OK with him being more "really fine bread-and-butter CF" and less "awesome superstar."[/quote']

 

He's not far from being a really superior player. I worry about the Sox potentially trading him because he's shown extended flashes of being the player we all think he could be. With his speed he just needs to be hitting doubles and spraying the ball. Unfortunately, he also seems to have extended periods of really bad ABs.

 

You're right though, his skill set creates a valuable player even without a lot of power or OBP. My hopes for him are that he will become a good veteran hitter who can get on-base at a .365 clip every year, while either improving his consistency in CF or taking a leap and trying to be a valuable LF.

 

I like what I have seen from Kalish, especially the arm. A CF with a good arm is a dangerous weapon defensively.