New York Yankees: Should the MLB Honor Another Bombers Legend?

New York Yankees, Jacoby Ellsbury
Sep 8, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury looks on from the dugout during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

What do you consider the true start of baseball season? Is it when New York Yankees pitchers and catchers first report? Is it reading about those first BP sessions or the manager’s platitudes on the upcoming season? For me it’s none of the above, it’s an annual announcement that happens every spring that lets me know it’s time for baseball.

This year it was announced in a 2-word diagnosis….. plantar fasciitis. That’s right, Jacoby Ellsbury is injured again. PLAY BALL!!!!

MLB makes a change:

I’ve been reading about the “disabled list” being replaced by the injured list, and I understand some people being upset about the change, breaking years of tradition. There have been some legends who spent their careers on the DL, Bob Horner, Nick Johnson, Rickey Henderson, JD Drew, and my personal favorite Carl Pavano.

Carl was a master of always getting injured right before he had to actually play but none of these guys compare to my man Jacoby Ellsbury.  Ellsbury has become so synonymous with the DL that I have a proposal, instead of the DL or the UL let’s call it the Ellsbury.

Let’s change the name for good:

Think about it, you come check out Empire Sports Media or some other site and see a headline…”Paxton will be on the Ellsbury for two weeks”. You’d know exactly what it meant, and there’s no debate about the appropriateness of the term disabled. It also would honor a true artist, and ensure his ability to collect a paycheck while not performing any of the tasks he’s being paid for would be remembered for generations to come.

We call long home runs Ruthian, should not we call constant injury streaks Ellsburian? (I’m looking at you Yoenis Cespedes). I think if we get enough people behind this we can make it happen.

I see all the stories about how Ellsbury is hard at work to return and wants to be a part of the Yankees outfield this season, and all I can say is PASS. The team already has more outfielders than they need, and the relationship between the organization and the player is already shot.

Nobody wants to watch him sit as a 5th outfielder and hear how he’s being paid 22 million dollars to sit. Although I do like the idea of him coming up to bat with “been caught stealing” or “money for nothing” as his music. It’s better for all parties if he just stays hurt the next two seasons or until a trade can occur.

So this year whenever a player is going to be out with an injury let’s all agree he’s on the Ellsbury. If enough people say it for enough time we can override Manfreds UL tag, and forever cement Elllsbury into baseball history.  It’s a fitting end to a broken down career.