Ortiz Wins AL's Outstanding Player

[yankeessuck013]

Ortiz named AL Outstanding Player

 

Red Sox designated hitter earns Players Choice Award

 

BOSTON-- Only time will tell if Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz gets the support of baseball writers when the American League Most Valuable Player is announced on Nov. 14. However, it is clear that Ortiz won over the respect of his peers with another monster year in 2005, as he was selected the AL's Outstanding Player in the Players Choice Awards on Thursday.

 

The left-handed masher seems to raise his game to a higher level each year.

 

In 2005, he was simply marvelous, establishing career highs in runs (119), hits (180), homers (47), RBIs (148), total bases (363), walks (102) and OPS (1.001).

 

The Players Choice Awards are the culmination of a unique process that annually allows players on all 30 teams to cast their votes.

 

This is just the latest honor for Ortiz, who was unveiled as the AL's Hank Aaron Award (best overall hitter) prior to Game 4 of the World Series.

 

The rise of Ortiz never gets old to Red Sox fans. He was released by the Twins following the 2002 season, then picked up by the Red Sox for a modest one-year contract (just more than $1 million).

 

In 2003, his first season with the Sox, Ortiz finished fifth in the AL MVP voting, bashing 31 homers and driving in 101 runs.

 

One-year wonder? Hardly. All Ortiz did in '04 was hit .301, smash 41 homers and drive in 139 runs.

 

But it was during the 2004 postseason that Ortiz truly became a household name.

 

In helping the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years, Ortiz produced a walk-off homer in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, then won Game 5 with an RBI single in the 14th inning, helping the surging Red Sox become the first team to rally back from a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series.

 

Again, Ortiz raised his game to another level in 2005, this time showing marked improvement in his plate discipline, while showing no apparent weakness at the plate.

 

Ortiz had a flair for the dramatic in 2005, winning games with walk-off homers on June 2 (against Orioles closer B.J. Ryan) and Sept. 6 (off Angels setup man Scot Shields).

 

Following that latter blast, Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry and president/CEO Larry Lucchino entered the clubhouse and presented Ortiz with a plaque that said, "The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, #34."

 

Who could argue?

 

"It's incredible how he does things the way he does them," veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield said in September. "He's Mr. Clutch."

 

"David's a special player," Sox catcher Jason Varitek said. "He has a great swing. He has a great approach. He has good mechanics. He's powerful. He thrives in that situation."

 

How does Ortiz always manage to rise to the challenge when the game is on the line?

 

"I always think about, 'OK, I got to get the job done.' I believe in myself," Ortiz said following his game-winner off Ryan. "I believe I can do it. That's all I put in my mind."

[Soxfan1]

He's winning all of these small awards. Hopefully it will lead to an MVP.

[riverside sluggers]

sorry about that "yankeessuck", i didnt realize you had put up the same post--my bad

[yankeessuck013]

great minds think alike

[Soxfan1]

great minds think alike

 

 

 

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