I expect Yankee fans will be quite disappointed in Ellbury's defense after they get an extended look at him in the Bronx.
geoduck no quahog said:It's very remarkable that Cashman almost refuses to mention Ellsbury's name.
I've never been a big fan of Ellsbury's defense. I've always thought he was overrated. In particular, I used to point out that he sucks at coming in on pop flies and texas leaguers. He always seemed to break back first. And the numbers from the Fielding Bible used to agree with me. They said he was good at going back but kind of sucked at going toward the infield to catch a ball. But the last couple years his numbers coming in have gotten a lot better, going from worse than average to better than average. And I have to admit that I was reluctant to admit it but this generally fits my recollections of this past season or so.Harry Hooper said:I expect Yankee fans will be quite disappointed in Ellbury's defense after they get an extended look at him in the Bronx.
Harry Hooper said:I expect Yankee fans will be quite disappointed in Ellbury's defense after they get an extended look at him in the Bronx.
glennhoffmania said:
You're assuming that they'll pay attention to the evidence. I wouldn't be so sure. Some of them have been telling me since the Beltran signing that they may have the best defensive OF in baseball now because Beltran is a great defender.
Harry Hooper said:I expect Yankee fans will be quite disappointed in Ellbury's defense after they get an extended look at him in the Bronx.
I thought people around here jumped all over that aspect of Ellsbury's fielding, but ignored the fact that most outfielders' first reaction is to the swing of the bat and who's swinging. IOW, if M. Cabrera takes a full swing and the ball heads to center, the vast majority of CFers will break back first, then read the ball and react accordingly. People here just liked to trash Ellsbury's fielding in general. Having said that, I am looking forward to watching a lot of JBJ's heralded read the ball, run to the spot and catch the ball without looking again.Rough Carrigan said:I've never been a big fan of Ellsbury's defense. I've always thought he was overrated. In particular, I used to point out that he sucks at coming in on pop flies and texas leaguers. He always seemed to break back first. And the numbers from the Fielding Bible used to agree with me. They said he was good at going back but kind of sucked at going toward the infield to catch a ball. But the last couple years his numbers coming in have gotten a lot better, going from worse than average to better than average. And I have to admit that I was reluctant to admit it but this generally fits my recollections of this past season or so.
If they expect a great centerfielder, yeah, they'll be disappointed. If they ratched down their expectations below that I think they'll be satisfied.
foulkehampshire said:
Why? This is the same fanbase that thinks Jeter is a great defensive SS.
Al Zarilla said:I thought people around here jumped all over that aspect of Ellsbury's fielding, but ignored the fact that most outfielders' first reaction is to the swing of the bat and who's swinging. IOW, if M. Cabrera takes a full swing and the ball heads to center, the vast majority of CFers will break back first, then read the ball and react accordingly. People here just liked to trash Ellsbury's fielding in general. Having said that, I am looking forward to watching a lot of JBJ's heralded read the ball, run to the spot and catch the ball without looking again.
foulkehampshire said:
Why? This is the same fanbase that thinks Jeter is a great defensive SS.
It carried on the Damon/Crisp tradition well.Brickowski said:Is Ellsbury's arm really that bad?
Jake is more masculine than Ells, which seemed a bit weak to me.jon abbey said:Jake? Did you make that up?
And yeah, Ellsbury is playing CF. Not because that will help the team more, just because he's used to doing it, same as with Granderson and Gardner. I really hate this franchise lately.
That is past history. Jeter will name him in February. The Incredible Mr. Ellsbury might work.InsideTheParker said:I've heard members of the Red Sox call him Jake, so I guess that's his name.
terrynever said:Screw Ellsbury and his candy-ass arm. Damon, too. You telling me I have to sit thru this shit again?
terrynever said:Back to Ellsbury's defense. I agree with Rough's assessment. Jake never had the natural instinct, the radar, that somebody like Jackie Bradley has. But he has gotten better over the years. Half of me wants to see the Yankees keep Gardner and put him in left, where he was fantastic two years ago, and leave Jake in center. They are probably interchangeable but Yanks will go with Jake in center because of his contract and the desire to turn him into the kind of star New York seems to demand.
terrisus said:Would be interesting if Rodriguez and Ellsbury ran into each other, a la Beltre.
Mick had a quick release and got to stuff pretty fast, unless he was filling out his racing form in between pitches. Bernie's arm was better than Damon's, even on a bad day. I wonder if Ellsbury will put on weight the way Damon did and become a liability even catching the ball? Damon was a skinny kid in KC but he started getting bigger in Oakland. He was a linebacker in NY. Maybe a strong safety in Boston.Montana Fan said:
Are you and Abbey longing for the good old days when Mickey Rivers was firing it in from CF?
He only switched to 24 because Clemens came and after that he stuck with 24.jsinger121 said:Cano was 24
When he goes 0-for-24 in a playoff series.PaulinMyrBch said:Jacoby should state that he's going to try to make Jeter a deal for #2 just to get things off on the right foot.
Serious question, what is the over/under on when the fans start calling him a "true Yankee"? If ever.