Ellsbury Loss Significant But Red Sox Will Survive

Jacoby Ellsbury jumping to the Evil Empire is not the same as Johnny Damon going to Yankees in 2005.

This one hurts more.

Sure, I loved watching Damon play center field for the Red Sox.  He was "King Idiot" and his fun loving approach to the game was just as much as a factor in liberating Red Sox Nation from that ridiculous "Curse" as was his his hitting, base running, and defense.

The thing is, Damon was a hired gun.  Originally a Royal, Kansas City traded Damon to the Athletics before he could bolt the Midwest as a free agent and when his contract expired he followed the money to Boston, leaving the cash strapped A's in his dust.

That doesn't make Damon a bad guy.  He was, and always will be, one of my favorite guys to pull on a Red Sox uniform.

The same goes for Ellsbury.

Ellsbury stings a little more because unlike Damon, he was our guy from the start.  Yes, his association with super agent Scott Boras was evidence that once he could become a free agent that he would immediately chase the most lucrative contract that was put in front of him but as a born optimist (also known as a sucker), I always held out hope he would stay in Boston for his entire career.

I don't blame Ellsbury for leaving, even for the Yankees.  The Yankees offered him a lot more money than the Red Sox did and he did the right thing for himself and his family by taking the dollars.  Whether or not it's the right move baseball wise won't be determined until 2021.

Let's not be bitter as he leaves, even though it's for that team in the Bronx.  Ellsbury significantly contributed to two World Series championship teams.  Yes, he was hurt a lot but I question all of you as to how much work you would miss if Adrian Beltre landed on you and crushed your ribs or if you suffered a serious separation to your shoulder?  Anyone who questions his toughness is conveniently forgetting he played through the playoffs on a cracked foot and swollen hand.

When Ellsbury returns in April with the Yankees let's all right a serious wrong from Damon's Fenway return in 2006.  Ellsbury should be greeted with a standing ovation at his first plate appearance while the video board pays tribute to his many great moments in a Red Sox uniform.  Then, and only then, can we start to treat him as a villain during his Yankee years.

Finally, let's hope Jackie Bradley Jr. out does both Damon and Ellsbury and wins three World Series titles with the Red Sox before joining the Yanks.