Only way to stop Papi is to hit him

[Beckett95]

NY Post (EDIT--not Times)...

May 9, 2006 -- THE Yankees have to droppy Papi. They need to brush the beast back. They need to pick out one of David Ortiz' chins and let a little music dance across the whiskers. And they need to do this immediately. Across the next three days, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina and Shawn Chacon will each get three or four shots to put Ortiz on notice that, on behalf of the entire Yankee pitching staff, they are mad as hell.

And they aren't going to take it any more.

 

It's been three-plus years now, and it's time. Look, Ortiz has battered and butchered American League pitching of every stripe, rank and pedigree, despite the 1 for his last 20 funk that he brings to Yankee Stadium tonight. He has emerged, for now and for the foreseeable future, as one of the four or five elite hitters on the planet, a scourge at any time, an absolute nightmare with men on base, and a calamity waiting to happen in the late innings of a close game.

 

And in The Bronx, he is otherworldly. In his career he's walked to the plate at Yankee Stadium 129 times. He's hit .326 with 11 homers and 21 RBIs; for kicks, if you pro-rate that over 162 games you're merely talking about 66 homers and 126 RBIs. It may be the House that Ruth Built, but it's now Papi's Place, belonging to the Red Sox star far more than any individual Yankee right now.

 

It's more than that, though. Ortiz is locked in against everybody at this stage in his career, but he's on another level, in another zone whenever he faces the Yankees. Part of that is sheer skill, of course. Part of that is confidence. Part of that is the nervous buzz that fills Yankee Stadium - a nice bookend to the electric jolt that consumes Fenway Park - whenever Ortiz digs in 60 feet, six inches away from a Yankee hurler.

 

And that's the problem. That's what's maddening. If Ortiz were any more comfortable at the plate, he'd bring a chaise lounge, a pitcher of Pina Coladas and a couple of Cuban cigars with him to the batter's box. If he were any more settled in, he'd hang a badminton net on the grass. Ortiz has splattered Yankees pitching for three-plus years, and he's never once had to face the flip side of all that prosperity.

 

Not once.

 

 

 

Eventually, that has to end. Way back when, on the July 4th weekend in 2003 when Ortiz first announced himself to the Yankees, hitting four homers in the first two games of a four-game series, a furious Roger Clemens fumed, "Ortiz has too much plate coverage. I am going to have to make adjustments the next time I face him."

 

Ortiz, still early in his legend, smiled knowingly at that oath and said, "I don't know what he means when he says that," although he knew precisely what Clemens meant. Clemens never did return the favor that year, because there was never an opportunity, and he was gone soon thereafter, just before David Ortiz, burgeoning slugger, officially morphed into Big Papi, Forever Fenway Folk Hero.

 

But you have to understand one thing, if you know anything at all about Clemens: if he were still here, at sometime in the last two years Ortiz would have gotten a mouthful of dirt. At least once.

 

At least.

 

Nobody else has done that. Not once. Look, no one is suggesting the Yankees aim at Ortiz' head, or his ribs, and nobody is suggesting they should be looking to injure Ortiz - or even give him a free base by plunking him in his posterior. But the Yankees have treated Papi as if it's suddenly against the law to move a man off the plate. Clemens called it "plate coverage." The rest of us lay men call it a "comfort zone."

 

It's been that way for three years. It remained that way last week when Ortiz smoked a scalding blast through the teeth of a billowing wind and into the Sox bullpen for a game-clinching three-run homer at Fenway - against Mike Myers, of all people, a submarining lefty who delivers the ball from just to the right side of the first-base coaching box and scares the bejeezus out of almost every other left-handed hitter in the United States of America.

 

All except one very comfortable left-handed hitter. Who's going to change that? When?

 

If Randy hits Ortiz tonight, Beckett will put a hole through A-rods helmet.

 

heres boston.com response to this http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/2006/05/09/hard_knock_response/index.html

[yeszir]

There is no way to stop David Ortiz. He'll step out of the way of pitches and hit them to the opposite field upper deck.

[Optimist]

I've always wondered why the Yankees have never hit Ortiz or at least come close so he wouldn't be so comfortable in the batter's box.

[Beckett95]

tonight wouldnt be the night to hit him, with Beckett pitching. If they really desperately need to, theyd be smart to do it in game 3.

[He Hate Me]

I've always advocated dusting him. I remember in 2004 when Matsui was going buckwild and then got dusted in game 3 or 4, and batted like .200 for the rest of the series.

 

It's a good and sound strategy to at least make the guy think twice about crowding the plate.

[He Hate Me]

NY Times---

 

 

If Randy hits Ortiz tonight, Beckett will put a hole through A-rods helmet.

 

heres boston.com response to this http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/2006/05/09/hard_knock_response/index.html

 

that's from the NY Post btw

[yeszir]

By the way, can you imagine Ortiz charging a frail Randy Johnson?

[Youk Of The Nation]

I doubt even getting hit a dozen times, let alone once, will discomfort him. Hurling baseballs at David Ortiz in an attempt to intimidate him is like charging at the President with a Nerf gun. Its not going to do anything, and you're still going to be crushed.

[yeszir]

I doubt even getting hit a dozen times, let alone once, will discomfort him. Hurling baseballs at David Ortiz in an attempt to intimidate him is like charging at the President with a Nerf gun. Its not going to do anything, and you're still going to be crushed.

I dub you king of analogies.

[americantrotter]

Ortiz doesnt crowd the plate. However, a little chin music is good baseball.

[He Hate Me]

Ortiz doesnt crowd the plate. However, a little chin music is good baseball.

 

I suppose a guy his size can't help looking like he's crowding the plate.

[NomahsHammSammich]

This is how stupid the Yankee Writers are..Why Hit Papi? If Ortiz has a weakness it is lefties like RJ. RJ has pretty much neutralized Ortiz..why put him on base by drilling him? Mussina has also owned him... Maybe Chacon should drill him? Idiot NY writers..I don't even understand how some of them actually have jobs.

 

That being said..if they do drill Ortiz tonight, you can GUARANTEE A-rod or Jeter gets Earholed immediately... And Beckett is a red-ass..he may just drill them both..

 

It won't happen. These guys are all about winning.

[GhostofMalzone]

I don't know about you guys, But, didn't that article sound like they might be a little (or a lot) afraid of "PAPI"? I don't know what you think?....but it sounds like fear to me.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I doubt even getting hit a dozen times, let alone once, will discomfort him. Hurling baseballs at David Ortiz in an attempt to intimidate him is like charging at the President with a Nerf gun. Its not going to do anything, and you're still going to be crushed.

 

That owns my current Youk sig quote.

[Youk Of The Nation]

That owns my current Youk sig quote.

 

 

Nice, thanks.

 

Ill try to say something charmingly witty or downright hilarious at least once a week so you can get some variety.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Although I never EVER condone throwing at a guy's head...pitchers have a right to do what they've gotta do to win back that inner half of the plate. Against Ortiz, against Bonds, against anyone. You've gotta put a guy on his ass sometimes, there's no two ways about it. IMO, we should do away with the freaking armor that hitters are allowed to wear and it would greatly remedy this problem.

 

Yea, I don't think Randy will hit Ortiz tonight, because everyone knows Beckett will go right after ARod, or Jeter, or whoever he gets the chance for. I guess there's a chance that they'll go after him in Game 3...seeing that, besides Paps, we don't have a real flamethrower in the 'Pen and getting hit with the Knuckler is hardly an even trade. Maybe Taveraz will retalliate, and then girly slappunch whoever charges. I'd love to see Taveraz cracked across the face, just saying...

 

I'll tell you what will irritate the HELL out of me, but could very well happen...someone plunks Ortiz, and then a warning is promptly issued to both teams. The last thing we need is Beckett getting tossed and having Rudy and July to carry us through a game at the Stadium.

[Youk Of The Nation]

By the way, can you imagine Ortiz charging a frail Randy Johnson?

 

 

http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/images/p-jokes/fav/rubber-chicken.jpg

[yeszir]

Hahaha, these pictures are getting ridiculous.

[Optimist]

I don't know about you guys, But, didn't that article sound like they might be a little (or a lot) afraid of "PAPI"? I don't know what you think?....but it sounds like fear to me.

 

Every team fears Ortiz.

[riverside sluggers]

I've always wondered why the Yankees have never hit Ortiz or at least come close so he wouldn't be so comfortable in the batter's box.

 

Just heard on the radio:

 

Ortiz & Pujols, 2 of the best hitters in baseball rank among the lowest in being hit for the past several seasons. Opposing teams fear & respect them at the same time

[Optimist]

Not to mention, he has Manny behind him. I mean, I don't know who'd want to put a runner on for free with Manny coming to the plate.

[schillingouttheks]

See my picture in the gamethread for tonight.

[mtbykr]

NY Post (EDIT--not Times)...

 

 

If Randy hits Ortiz tonight, Beckett will put a hole through A-rods helmet.

 

heres boston.com response to this http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/2006/05/09/hard_knock_response/index.html

 

 

I understand that brushing guys back is part of the game and that's fine--however with that said: if "the mullet" plunks ortiz tonight it would not surprise me to see (no matter if they have been warned or not) beckett earhole a-hole -- and then paps earhole jeter! With all of this swirling around though RJ would be stupid to do so, since he has such good numbers against ortiz. All of this changes though if RJ is getting shelled!

[schillingouttheks]

Please, if someone hit Papi, Papi would know it was intentional, ESPECIALLY if it came from Randy Johnson. You don't want to irritate Papi, I remember when he dropped out of the way of a ball thrown at his head last year at Tampa, and Toby Hall was trying to hold him back. Papi didn't do anything, but the pitcher looked like he was pissing his pants. Besides, if Papi really went wild, Toby Hall had no chance. Randy would sprint to and jump over the CF fence if Papi went after him.

 

Besides, you can't intimidate the man. You try to brush him back, he'll stand right back in there daring you to do it again. He's fearless.

[RedRuffing15]

lol, everytime David Ortiz steps up I muble 'Hit em, hit em, hit em," becuase he is the only player in the league who can get me nervours....and thats true. lol, and truth be told, if they hit, or even walked him every at bat..I bet that the Sox runs would drop a ten-spot.

 

I also always wanted Giambi to get hit when he was sucking last year, becuase it was the only way anything good could happen. Gimabi gets hit, we pinch-run Womak, he gets thrown out at 2nd, we lose 3-2....lol

[schillingouttheks]

Well, I don't think Papi will get hit. If he gets hit, Papi will know it's intentional. Especially from an ace pitcher like Randy. Randy can pitch strikes, and pitches don't really get away from him. However, if Papi got hit by Randy, it would be a bit too much of a coincidence that a pitch got away from him when Papi was up...

 

Please. Randy thinks he's God when he's on the mound. And while he is impressive, I would bet anything that when Papi gets up, he prays he doesn't get charged by Ortiz. Ortiz would have the last word, and it would be a harsh one at that.

[RedRuffing15]

he won't hit him(that being Randy)...especially when Randys been sucking in the last few starts, I doubt anyone will be hit thats a Sox by a Randy.

[Sizzlin22]

Not to mention, he has Manny behind him. I mean, I don't know who'd want to put a runner on for free with Manny coming to the plate.

Exactly let's be smart here and throw at the person hitting in front of Manny Ramirez.

[He Hate Me]

I don't know about you guys, But, didn't that article sound like they might be a little (or a lot) afraid of "PAPI"? I don't know what you think?....but it sounds like fear to me.

 

hell yeah I fear him. anyone who watches baseball would be pissing in their pants if this guy came up against your team in a key situation.

 

and I don't think it's necessary to hit Ortiz. I think the writer was advocating a brushback or two. There's a diff between dusting someone, and beaning them.

[SCM33]

Ortiz doesnt crowd the plate. However, a little chin music is good baseball.

 

 

A little "Sweet Chin Music" :thumbsup: