Ellsbury Bashing Has Become a Sport

Jun 10, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (2) doubles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jacoby Ellsbury has gotten a hit in his last nine games straight as lead-off hitter. Just let that stat sink in for a moment. His job as lead off hitter is to get hits and get on, and lately he has been doing just that. He’s gotten a hit in nine of his last ten games. He’s currently batting .279 with .348 OBP. After a slow start, he’s  on a decidedly positive upswing.

Jacoby is an asset to the Sox and yet there are doubts, at least among some Sox fans. After he legged out a triple in yesterday’s game, his sixth of the season, someone tweeted “Great. Now he’ll be out for a week.” This isn’t the first negative comment on social media regarding Jacoby.

It is true that he has been out for a few games this season, but aren’t injuries a part of the game? While Jacoby was out center field was manned by Jackie Bradley Jr. Every Bradley hit produced tweets to the effect of “Jacoby who?” Many tweeters implied that they would rather see Bradley in Jacoby’s place. Really? Bradley is batting all of .154 with hits in only three of his last ten games. What’s with the Ellsbury hate? It’s baffling, especially when you consider he’s leading the AL with 24 stolen bases.