Once again the Boston Red Sox will not go away easily. For the second time in the last five games the Sox have roughed up potential American league Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia. Post season stats are not supposed to have any baring on regular season awards, however it seems highly likely that voters may reconsider Josh Beckett as the American League Cy winner after he dominated Sabathia twice in one series, and also had a shutout in the ALDS. Regardless of who has the better ace, the Red Sox/Indians series now rests on the arms of the secondary starters. Grizzled playoff veteran versus upstart youngster, and perhaps shaky former ace against struggling international sensation.

Despite the best efforts of the Indians, the series is heading back to Boston, where white towels will not be flying. Fenway Park may be one of the most difficult places to play for opponents, and one of the most difficult places in terms of ground rules. That is bad news for this crew of umps, who seemed to have weekend plans that didn’t involve a trip to New England. (Just out of curiosity, has anyone made sure that Tim Donaghy is not part of this umpiring crew?)

All joking aside, Sox skipper Terry Francona will decide this series. His reluctance to make necessary changes will either help or doom the Sox. Dustin Pedroia has shown he can play (as he will likely win the Rookie of the Year) but has struggled as a leadoff hitter. Jacoby Ellsbury has shown during the regular season that he is the best outfielder on the Sox next to Manny Ramirez, however Coco Crisp and JD Drew have been sucking the life out of the bottom of the Sox order. While you can understand the rational of the “dance with who brought you” philosophy, Ellsbury as a leadoff hitter was the fuel that carried the Sox down the playoff stretch. If the Sox miss the World Series due to a manager sitting on his hands (paging Grady Little) Francona may find himself looking for a job. Joe Torre in the Boston Red Sox dougout next year? Stranger things have happened, just look at whom the Indians or Red Sox will be playing in the World Series, the powerhouse Colorado Rockies.

Thanks to the Dropkick Murphy's for the column title, hopefully the band will bring us some luck like in 2004. 

Coco Crisp has been a major disappointment in replacing Johnny Damon, except on defense. Crisp went from a star in Cleveland capable of .300 20+HR 20+SB, to a guy who is lucky to have a job in Boston. Recenly hitting coach Dave Magadan has reconstructed Crisp at the plate and the results have been amazing. Here is just a taste of a recent interview with Magadan about Crisp's changes...

"He's standing a little taller," hitting coach Dave Magadan said. "A little less stride. And getting the feeling like he's above the ball instead of like landing with that front leg bent.

"Just trying to get him taller, both ways. If he's not going to load, at least keep him where he holds his position instead of leaning toward the baseball.

"You don't want to swing around your body. If you get all spread out, with your legs and the weight of your upper body, you swing around it, which slows up your bat and you hit a lot of balls weakly. It gets him in a better position where he can generate some bat speed. He's done a real good job, both sides.

"I think it's easier for him to get a load, righthanded. Lefthanded, he's a little more still in his load, so we just try to get him to stand up taller."

 
I take special note of the last line of the interview, as it came as a great shock. Apparently Coco hasn't hit in Boston due to issues with his load. I guess a year and a half being constipated will hurt your production. All I can say to Coco is go, go, go!
 

The better Coco does now, the more value he will have when Jacoby Ellsbury proves why he is the best leadoff hitter not in the Majors and the 2008 AL Rookie of the year.

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Jacoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox is a phenom. He is the throwback 1970-1980’s leadoff hitter (speed, average, defense, OBP, and no power) that has always been my favorite type of player. Ellsbury has been the Red Sox center fielder of the future for the last two seasons, and even had a stellar spring training while playing with the Red Sox starters this year. There was no chance he would make the opening day team, so he was sent to minor league camp despite outplaying other outfielders on the team. The Sox have a glut of prospects in AAA Pawtucket that play in the outfield (David Murphy and Brandon Moss could be starters or fourth outfielders on most major league teams), so Jacoby was send to the AA Portland Sea Dogs. Well now Ellsbury is taking a trip down Route-95 from Maine to Rhode Island to play in Pawtucket. Why the promotion after only a month in AA? The stats don’t lie.

Ellsbury was leading all of minor league baseball with a .452 batting average (including a current 15 game hitting streak). Throw in an on-base percentage of .512, and a slugging percentage of .653 (with no home runs!) and you have a great hitter. He has also stolen eight bases so far this year. The Red Sox need to be on alert with this guy. By next year he won’t be able to be sent to the minors, he has too much talent. Brandon Moss will be ready to be a Brian Giles clone by next season (if not sooner) and David Murphy had a job as the Marlins starting CF this year if the teams could have pulled off a trade. JD Drew will be the Boston RF for the rest of the decade as long as his body doesn’t fall apart, and he is actually surprising everyone by becoming a fan favorite. Manny Ramirez will be in LF unless the Sox move him to DH and put Big Papi David Ortiz at first base. Coco Crisp and Willy Mo Pena have talent to be a notch below All-Stars, but they will soon have no place to play. Their days in Boston appear numbered. It feels good to see Boston with homegrown talent that may actually shine in Boston instead of another city. Start the Jacoby Ellsbury for 2008 Rookie of the Year campaign now.