At the beginning of the baseball season, my favorite player Jacoby Ellsbury walked onto the field with a new number. I didn't like it. I wasn't happy about it. I had no particular attachment to his old number in and of itself, but something inside me said switching your number is a terrible plan.
With number 2 on his back Ellsbury has spent almost the entire season on the disabled list due to broken ribs sustained while colliding with another player on an attempt to catch a ball in foul territory. Neither of them caught the ball. That's about all that can be said for the new number.
With number 46 on his back Ellsbury walked onto the field a baby player and quickly became one of my favs. Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS, with very little experience in the Majors, Ells was thrown into a high pressure postseason position as starting center fielder. He performed so well that he started every remaining postseason game, up through the Red Sox's 2nd World Series win since the curse was broken.
With number 46 on his back Ells earned the lead-off spot in the Red Sox batting order. He became a king of stolen bases, even stealing home against the Yankees! And he caught many seemingly uncatchable balls as they sank a little too quickly in center field. Ells was electric for the Red Sox.
But now with number 2 on his back, tomorrow we will likely find out if Ellsbury will be out for the remainder of the season. I hope not. But regardless of when Ells walks back on the field, I'd love for him to be in his old jersey.
Typically I try not to buy into sports superstitions, but I think the facts speak for themselves in this case.
With number 2 on his back Ellsbury has spent almost the entire season on the disabled list due to broken ribs sustained while colliding with another player on an attempt to catch a ball in foul territory. Neither of them caught the ball. That's about all that can be said for the new number.
With number 46 on his back Ellsbury walked onto the field a baby player and quickly became one of my favs. Game 6 of the 2007 ALCS, with very little experience in the Majors, Ells was thrown into a high pressure postseason position as starting center fielder. He performed so well that he started every remaining postseason game, up through the Red Sox's 2nd World Series win since the curse was broken.
With number 46 on his back Ells earned the lead-off spot in the Red Sox batting order. He became a king of stolen bases, even stealing home against the Yankees! And he caught many seemingly uncatchable balls as they sank a little too quickly in center field. Ells was electric for the Red Sox.
But now with number 2 on his back, tomorrow we will likely find out if Ellsbury will be out for the remainder of the season. I hope not. But regardless of when Ells walks back on the field, I'd love for him to be in his old jersey.
Typically I try not to buy into sports superstitions, but I think the facts speak for themselves in this case.
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