While Crisp warmed, Ellsbury stayed cool

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - DeMarlo Hale sidled up to Jacoby Ellsbury before Saturday night's Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field, trying to gauge Ellsbury emotions. Hale, the Red Sox outfielders coach, knows Ellsbury better than anyone on the coaching staff.

"How you doing?" Hale asked. "You all right?"

"I'm cool," Ellsbury said.

Ellsbury streaked through the postseason like a comet last season, usurping Coco Crisp in center field after spending the majority of the season in the minor leagues. Ellsbury and Crisp underwent a surprising and swift role reversal this season: Crisp's bat heated while Ellsbury's cooled, giving Crisp the leadoff spot and Ellsbury a seat on the bench.

Manager Terry Francona left Ellsbury out of the lineup again last night for Game 7 but did not discount him altogether. "I wouldn't be surprised if Jacoby had something to say about the outcome of tonight's game," Francona said, smiling from behind his desk beforehand.

Francona never got the chance. Ellsbury remained on the bench for the duration of the Red Sox' season-ending 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

Crisp went 1 for 4, his one hit was a single in the eighth off Dan Wheeler to put two men on with no outs.

Still, the decision to bench Ellsbury showed how far he had fallen - he was 6 for 13 in his career against Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza, but his slump - 0 for his last 20 - forced Francona to switch to Crisp, who entered last night 9 for 20 this postseason, with two doubles and five walks.

Ellsbury, who has gone from postseason hero to dispensable starter, has accepted his diminished role, knowing Crisp is the better option at the moment.

"We're winning," Ellsbury said. "So as long as we're winning, everything is good."

"He understands," Hale said. "It's about winning right now, and what he can do to help this team if a situation arrives. It's simple as that. He's grown into a very good major league player. He understands where he's at right now."

Ellsbury said he approaches each game the same now as he did when he started. He still reviews with Hale the opposing batters for defensive positioning. He takes the same batting practice.

"I'm very pleased with that," said Hale. "He's continued to come out and get his work. We still go over what might happen defensively just in case he's thrown out there for whatever reason."

When Francona demoted Ellsbury, he trusted Hale to spend time with the player, make sure he didn't get down.

Ellsbury maintained a steady approach, which Hale sees during his talks with the outfielder.

"The conversation is two-fold in a way," Hale said. "It's player-coach, like what we're preparing to do. And then also, it's individual. I kind of get a reaction from him knowing where he's at. He's been outstanding. He really has."

Ellsbury's success during last year's playoffs - and at the beginning of this year's - makes his benching difficult to fathom. He supplanted Crisp last season with his electric style and offensive production. Ellsbury, after playing steadily as a major leaguer for less than two months, went 9 for 25 in the '07 postseason with four doubles, four RBIs, and three walks. He began the playoffs behind Crisp, who batted 6 for 33 in the '07 postseason and had to replaced.

This year, while Crisp surged, Ellsbury went 0 for 14 in the first three games of ALCS. It had seemed Ellsbury would continue his run of last October when he smacked six hits and drove in six runs in just four games in this season's AL Division Series.

"He understands it's a different year," Hale said. "Sometimes, other people try to make the past into what's happening now. I think athletes are in the moment now. I try to [get] those guys that I deal with on a personal basis to stay in the moment right now."

Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com