Even historically bad Red Sox OF doesn't miss powerless Ellsbury

There is no way Boston will stand for an outfield continuing to hit .215 without doing something by the end of July. Whether the answer is promoting Mookie

Tom Verducci | Jun 3, 2014

Even historically bad Red Sox OF doesn't miss powerless Ellsbury /

Jacoby Ellsbury has two home runs this year and 67 in his career, 32 of which came in 2011. — Jacoby Ellsbury has two home runs this year and 67 in his career, 32 of which came in 2011 :: David Bnks/Getty Images

There is no way Boston will stand for an outfield continuing to hit .215 without doing something by the end of July. Whether the answer is promoting Mookie Betts from its minor league system or trading for free-agents-to-be such as Seth Smith or Josh Willingham, or one of the surplus outfielders in St. Louis (Allen Craig?), the Red Sox will have to start considering options if Gomes, Bradley, Sizemore and Victorino don't improve in the next 30 games.

Published Jun 3, 2014

TOM VERDUCCI

Tom Verducci is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who has covered Major League Baseball since 1981. He also serves as an analyst for FOX Sports and the MLB Network; is a New York Times best-selling author; and cohosts The Book of Joe podcast with Joe Maddon. A five-time Emmy Award winner across three categories (studio analyst, reporter, short form writing) and nominated in a fourth (game analyst), he is a three-time National Sportswriter of the Year winner, two-time National Magazine Award finalist, and a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. Verducci is a member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Baseball Writers Association of America (including past New York chapter chairman) and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 1993. He also is the only writer to be a game analyst for World Series telecasts. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, with whom he has two children.