Behold, Your 2011 Comeback Players of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury and Lance Berkman

The 2011 Comeback Players of the year have officially been awarded to Jacoby Ellsbury and Lance Berkman.

After struggling through an injury-plagued 2010 season, the 35-year-old Berkman has gotten back on track and helped to bring his Wild-Card winning St. Louis Cardinals deep into the postseason. The switch-hitting outfielder batted .301 with 31 homers and 94 RBI to win the National League award. After dropping 20 pounds over the offseason, Fat Elvis ranked in the top 10 in the NL in homers, walks (92), slugging percentage .547) and on-base percentage (.412) this season. Way to go, buddy.

It wasn't that tough for Ellsbury, the recipient of the American League honors, to earn the comeback award. He participated in just 18 games last season due to injuries and hit only .192. However, he did set career highs with the Boston Red Sox in most of the offensive categories this year, batting .321 with 32 bombs, 105 RBI, 46 doubles, five triples, 119 runs scored, and 39 stolen bases. That's 30-30 baby.

The 28-year-old outfielder became the first Boston player to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season, but unfortunately his Red Sox totally blew it in September and failed miserably at joining the fun in October.

[ESPN]

Jacoby Ellsbury Makes His Mark

Jacoby Ellsbury has made Beantown history this evening, becoming the first Boston Red Sox player ever to steal 55 bases in a single season.

The centerfielder doubled and stole third in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox to pass Tommy Harper, who snagged 54 bags back in 1973. This should come as no surprise, since Ellsbury swiped 50 bases last season, when he was still a big league baby.

Let us not forget he was also responsible for giving everyone in the country a free taco during the 2007 World Series. Way to go, buddy!

[Boston Globe]

Ellsbury Runs Like He's Being Chased

... by the cops. Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury makes stealing home -- hands down the most exciting play in baseball -- against a shocked Andy Pettite look easy.

MLB Advanced Media are a bunch of party poopers. View the video over at SOX & Dawgs if you haven't had the chance!

[Boston Dirt Dogs] | [RandBall] | [Red Sox Reality Check]

Rookies Make it Happen for Boston

Sitting one game within a World Series sweep of the Colorado Rockies, the Boston Red Sox are more than a force to be reckoned with... it seems they simply can't be stopped.

Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out five through 5.1 innings of shutout baseball, behind the hot bats of rookies Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, who went a combined 7-for-10 with 2 RBIs a piece at the top of the order.

Ellsbury became the first rookie in 61 years to have four hits in a Series game, nailing three of Boston's seven doubles. Pedroia's three hits included the bunt single that sparked a six-run third against Rockies starter Josh Fogg, who lasted just 2 outs into the inning.

Fogg was tagged for 6 runs and 2 walks, and allowed 12 of the 19 batters he faced to reach. Ouch... not the performance you'd like to see from your starter.

Down 6-0, Colorado came back with two runs in the sixth and got within a run when Matt Holliday -- who can only do so much -- hit a three-run bomb in the seventh on Hideki Okajima's first pitch.

However, they were unable to make a full recovery. Ellsbury fisted an RBI double down the right-field line in the eighth and Pedroia followed with a two-run double to made it 9-5. Jason Varitek added a sacrifice fly for good measure in the ninth for a final score of 10-5.

The game took 4 hours and 19 minutes; the longest nine-inning game in Series history. The Rockies will get one more shot at Coors Field Sunday night behind right-hander Aaron Cook against lefty Jon Lester and the surging Sox, who are aiming for their seventh Championship and second in three years.

All 22 previous teams, including the Red Sox, that took a 3-0 World Series lead went on to win, with 19 of them sweeping. Can the Rockies overcome the odds, or is there a "There's Always Next Year" post in their future?

[ESPN]

Hey Ladies!

Jacoby Ellsbury, the new Grady Sizemore, will replace Coco Crisp in the Boston Red Sox starting lineup Saturday night for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

This should come as no surprise, as Crisp failed to get a hit in all three games in Cleveland against the Indians, including the inability to lay down a sac bunt.

Ellsbury, who the ladies apparently think is cat's meow, will bat eighth.

[Providence Journal]