Summer Bromance: The Jacoby Diaries

4/26/09

Dear Diary,

It’s a crush, officially a crush. I turned on ESPN today to catch some of the Red Sox/Yanks game, and there he was: #46 Jacoby Ellsbury. I sat up to watch the replays over and over as he stole home off lefty Andy Pettitte. I can’t wait to see him again…

5/5/09

Dear Diary,

After two weeks of solid negotiation, I finally did it. I got Jacoby on my keeper fantasy team. I gave up Aaron Harang, future ace Rick Porcello and Mets top prospect Fernando Martinez. He’s mine, all mine. I’ll follow his every move, count every stolen base, every hit, every swing. Where should I put my #46 tattoo? I’m thinking right over my heart…

5/28/09

Dear Diary,

I’m so proud of my Ellsy-poo. A 22-game hit streak. My hero! The streak came to an end tonight, but he’s done such good things for the Red Sox. And such good things for me…

This crush has lasted all summer and with Boston’s 2-game lead in the Wild Card, I’m hoping for a few extra weeks with Ells in October. Very few things make me burst into Boys II Men song: Jim from The Office, Giada De Laurentiis, Joe Gibbs, and now, Jacoby Ellsbury.

Centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury blasted off in Sox Nation as a September call-up in 2007, hitting .353 in the regular season. Ellsbury helped lead the Red Sox through the postseason en route to a World Series title, but only after Manager Terry Francona yanked Coco Crisp from centerfield midway through the ALCS.  In 25 postseason at-bats, Ellsbury hit .360 with 4 stolen bases and 4 RBI, as he catalyzed Boston to 6 straight victories and a world championship. An instant phenom in the city of Boston.

In 2008, Ellsbury continued to show his promise and, most notably, his speed. The rookie spent the majority of the season atop the Red Sox lineup accumulating a .336 OBP and 50 steals. He finised the season with a .280 average, 98 runs scored and 38 extra-base hits. That was good enough for 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Tampa’s Evan Longoria and Chicago’s Alexei Ramirez.

His progression has hit new heights this year, as Ellsbury has truly come into his own in ’09. In 132 games thus far, Jacoby Ellsbury is batting a crisp .300, a level he’s hovered around all season long. As the Red Sox leadoff hitter, he focused his attention on raising his on-base percentage, now up to .350 on the season. That’s opened the door for a record setting year.

Boston has never been known for their threats on the base paths. Coming into the season, the Tommy Harper’s 54 steals in 1973 were still the most in franchise history for a single season. That all changed on August 25th when Ellsbury stole third base for his 55th theft of 2009 in a game against the Chicago White Sox. After the game, Ellsbury recognized the historical significance:

“It’s pretty exciting. You think about all the great Red Sox players that have played before me. To be on top of the leaders in one of the categories is unbelievable. It really hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure after the season, you look back and it’ll be something that I’m proud of.”

As promising as that feat was for the the second year speedster, the most memorable Ellsbury moment of 2009 came on a much smaller level. During an ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game in late April, Ellsbury found himself on third base as the Red Sox squared off against Andy Pettitte and the Yankees. The eruption of cheers from 38,154 Red Sox fans at Fenway Park that night told the story of what took place next.

With Pettitte pitching out of the wind-up, Ellsbury got a great jump down the third base line. Like The Sandlot‘s Benny the Jet and his PF Flyers, Ellsbury took off. In his bolt for home, he was about 15 feet from the plate by the time the ball left Pettitte’s hand. Ellsbury dove for the plate in a not-s0-graceful headfirst slide, just beating the tag of Yankee catcher Jorge Posada.

What ensued was beautiful: a standing ovation for Ellsbury, a grimace of disgust for Pettitte.

In what turned out to be a sidenote, the Red Sox went on to win the game 4-1 as part of their 8 straight wins against New York to start the season.  Ellsbury’s gutsy move headlined the show that night on national television.

He captured the hearts of many Red Sox fans with his steal of home, mine included. A future perennial All-Star, Ellsbury is projected to hit well for average throughout his career, with the ability to establish a power stroke as he matures. His skills are still raw at such a young age. He turns 26 years old tomorrow, September 11. The Ellsbury hype will grow and my crush will too.

Let’s put it this way: my first born son will be named Jacoby.