'08 Outlook for Jacoby Ellsbury

'07 Season: Jacoby Ellsbury only played in 6 games for the Red Sox before the All Star Game. He was not a major part of the team until injuries forced his permanent call up in September. During the last month of the season he hit .361 with 3 HR's and 17 RBI's. He became an instant fan favorite and demands for him to replace Coco or Drew grew louder. He replaced Coco in the ALCS and in the World Series and became the lead off hitter for the Sox. He hit .360 in the post-season with 3 stolen bases (including the free taco steal).

'08 Outlook: Jacoby's speed and bat bring some excitement to the top of the Red Sox order. He can be a game changer when he gets on base. Ellsbury's defense still has room for improvement but he does cover a lot of range. The Red Sox have been changing their lead off hitter constantly for the last few years looking for a good solution; Jacoby is the solution. He has a good bat and can beat out a few infield singles. The biggest area that Ellsbury need to improve is becoming a more patient hitter, he only had 8 walks in 116 AB's last season. The Red Sox are very good at helping batters become more selective at the plate so Jacoby should improve in this area. He will face pressure from being labeled as the second comining of Tony C. by Red Sox Nation, but he proved he can handle it. The sky is the limit for Ellsbury in '08.