It's the spring training field, they're still trying to get their routines down.I LOVE this ad, but, yeah, the home team won 4-2 in 9.
It's the spring training field, they're still trying to get their routines down.I LOVE this ad, but, yeah, the home team won 4-2 in 9.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/16371518/david-ortiz-boston-red-sox-says-regrets-season-long-celebration-come-planned-retirementBoston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz regrets announcing that this will be his last season in the majors. The Dominican star feels overwhelmed by all the attention he has received, which he says has affected his extended preparation time before each game.
"I'm too busy. I have too many things to do. I barely have time to do anything," Ortiz told ESPN Deportes at the end of the series against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. "It's very difficult for me. If I had even imagined that it would be so difficult, I wouldn't have announced anything. There are too many people I have to pay attention to, and on top of that I have to prepare for a game."
Yeah, it's finally starting to set in that he's nearly done. It won't be long before I'm wondering whether Ortiz's next home run will be his last. Here's hoping DD throws 30mm at him for another season; I'd be perfectly fine with that kind of overpay on a one year deal.I'm really, really, really going to miss Big Papi
I'd heard that story about Pedro helping David get to the Red Sox, but I enjoyed the hell out of reading that article. The way things twist and turn on the way to somebody becoming a great player. It's not always like a David Trout path. Thanks for posting it.Did this get posted here?
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/david-ortiz-pedro-martinez-red-sox-dominican-republic/
This sentiment is great and all, but its not happening. The dude can barely get out of bed, let alone run the bases, etc. His feet/ankles are a mess. If they weren't, he wouldn't be retiring. But he is and as much as it sucks, let's wrap our heads around it and deal with the disappointment.Yeah, it's finally starting to set in that he's nearly done. It won't be long before I'm wondering whether Ortiz's next home run will be his last. Here's hoping DD throws 30mm at him for another season; I'd be perfectly fine with that kind of overpay on a one year deal.
Fantastic article, which lead me to the older one from Ortiz on the best play I ever made, which provided this quote which I still just love. "I can’t believe Hollywood hasn’t made a movie about that season, but maybe people would think it was too unbelievable. They could call the movie The Idiots. We were either too dumb or having too much fun to know we were losing."Did this get posted here?
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/david-ortiz-pedro-martinez-red-sox-dominican-republic/
Yeah, thanks for this. Somehow I missed it when it came out. This quote is one for the ages:Another great story on how David came to be from many perspectives...
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/16656194/boston-red-sox-dh-david-ortiz-breakout-season
Right up there with "if you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." Absolutely classic.The baby doll head would dip and dive when you pitched it because it wasn’t totally round. You had to track it as it was coming in. Listen, bro: If you can hit a baby doll head with a broomstick, you can hit an inside cutter. You don’t need a batting cage in the Dominican. You just have to love the game. And you need to be able to fight off your sister when she comes looking for her baby doll.
Damn spell checker changed Mike to David!David Trout the kicker, or karaoke legend?
Love this comment from Ortiz' agent, in reference to the moment when the Sox traded Hillenbrand to the Diamondbacks and opened up a regular spot for Papi at DH:Another great story on how David came to be from many perspectives...
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/16656194/boston-red-sox-dh-david-ortiz-breakout-season
He was fighting for his life. People always ask, "Why is David Ortiz so great under pressure?" That's not pressure. Pressure is living in the Dominican with no income.
I didn't see a link to the video, which is worth a look.Did this get posted here?
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/david-ortiz-pedro-martinez-red-sox-dominican-republic/
I think this is basically like saying "you shouldn't have!" to someone who just gave you a present. You may mean it more or less sincerely, but it's a sincere sentiment, not a sincere proposal for action.Pete Abraham @PeteAbe 47s47 seconds ago
Unofficial roll call of “Ortiz should not retire” comments: Altuve, Machado, Betances, Trout, Perez, Encarnacion.
In that scenario, up by one would suffice...."What is the best possible ending..."
and ortiz's answer: " 2 out, bottom of the 9th, we are up by 10, last game of the world series, we are in Fenway park "
the interviewer interjects: . "up by 10 ? "
and ortiz answers: "yeah, so I don't have to panic!"
Yeah, seriously, bottom of the 9th, up by 10? How long has this guy been playing baseball?In that scenario, up by one would suffice....
Or closer to home, Game 7 2004 ALCS.....as partisan fans there is nothing better than just basking in the glory of blowout.
Celts 2008 vs Lakers the classic example!)
http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2016/07/david_ortiz_is_the_best_home_run_trotter_of_all_time_here_s_why.htmlSlate said:...What makes Ortiz a home run–trotting legend? How could he possibly have such a slow trot every single time? This trot from May 30—which, at 30.76 seconds, happens to be one of Big Papi’s slowest trots ever—is a great example of how Ortiz makes the magic happen...
Gaw, talk about being spoiled. Yeah, we have four super bowl crowns, but those Patriots made us wait until the end every single time!(one thing annoying about the pats sb wins is that one had wait until the last second. Great drama, but as partisan fans there is nothing better than just basking in the glory of blowout.!)
Just want to say what a great post this is. Perfectly said in bold (especially if you read it in a Knute Rockney voice).I think he wants to go out with the ability to walk, and is sick of year round training to be able to do so. I really think it is that simple. The guy is hurting, a lot. Have any of those guys above watched the poor man run? It's awful. He does not run like he is old and slow, he runs like he is IN PAIN with every step. One more year is not worth the pain and potential disability to him. Any of you guys have bad achilles? I do. It sucks. And I don't make my living with my lower body. I have come to look at this season as one of the great honors I have ever had as a Red Sox fan. We are witnessing history, witnessing one of the great seasons, by one of the great players, of one of the great franchises in the history of the game. David Ortiz is putting on a show one last time, for us. For US! The man has style. And he deserves to be able to hang 'em up when he's hurt, no matter his OPS or his WAR, without everyone second guessing him.
Yeah, it wasn't like he was dogging it . They're going to have to rest him quite a bit. The second half schedule is brutal. The Sox only have 5 days off for the rest of the season and one of them is Monday. They have 43 games in 44 days including an 11 day west coast trip.I've never thought he might come back, but whatever little bit of doubt there might have been was resolved tonight. He hit a gapper all the way to the wall and would have been out at second if he had tried. He really must be hurting.
Could not agree more. As much as I'd like to see him chase 521, he really looks like every step is agony.I've never thought he might come back, but whatever little bit of doubt there might have been was resolved tonight. He hit a gapper all the way to the wall and would have been out at second if he had tried. He really must be hurting.
To me that was a wall ball single last night. That was an absolute rocket last night to the short right center wall that came easily and quickly to the fielder. That said, his feet are a mess.I've never thought he might come back, but whatever little bit of doubt there might have been was resolved tonight. He hit a gapper all the way to the wall and would have been out at second if he had tried. He really must be hurting.
This is gonna make him breaking the all-time single season doubles record all the more amazing!I've never thought he might come back, but whatever little bit of doubt there might have been was resolved tonight. He hit a gapper all the way to the wall and would have been out at second if he had tried. He really must be hurting.
Earl Webb set the record in 1931 while playing for the Sox.This is gonna make him breaking the all-time single season doubles record all the more amazing!
Ok, I just double-checked (sorry). Doubles record is Earl Webb's 67, set in 1930, not likely reachable for Papi. But the Red Sox record is Nomar's 56. Ortiz has 34 now. His personal best is 52. Could get that and Nomar's. Also, most doubles by a 40 year old? Sam Rice's 35. Papi is one away from that! Amazing....
He is hitting like Orlando Cepeda c. 1963, but running like Cepeda c. 1973.Could not agree more. As much as I'd like to see him chase 521, he really looks like every step is agony.