David Ortiz performance thread.

[Dojji]

"David's fine. He's one of our teammates. We believe in him. He's going to come out of it. He's had 60 at-bats. A couple of years ago I had 60 at-bats and it was me hitting .170 and everybody was ready to kill me' date=' too. Then what happened? 'Laser show.'" -- Red Sox captain Dustin Pedroia, who was batting .172 on May 1, 2007, but went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year[/i']

 

 

I'd be more hopeful about Ortiz if he was a 22 year old rookie with great defense at 2B. Even when he wasn't hitting, Pedroia was providing *something.* With David, it's hit or nothing, and right now, it's nothing.

[TedWilliams101]

As it has turned out' date=' Ortiz's bad start has crippled the team. I don't think anyone can dispute that. When they didn't acquire a big stick, a lot of us on this board knew that it would be critical for Ortiz to be productive and not get off to a slow start. I think the FO knew that too.[/quote']

 

While I agree that an unproductive Ortiz would cripple the team down the stretch, he ISN'T the reason they struggled out of the gate, it has been the pitching and defense that put us in this early hole.

[a700hitter]

All Ortiz does now is Ground Into Double Plays' he grounded into two last night' date=' and that is at least the 2nd time this year he has grounded into a DP will the bases loaded. He has to sit, he's become a big liability out there.[/quote']Beltre hit into the bases loaded DP in the rain delayed game.

[riverside sluggers]

I thought Ortiz bounced into the double play. Regardless, he came up with the bases loaded (0 Outs) and grounded out to first, runner getting thrown out at home

[Dojji]

Last year I was one of Papi's biggest defenders. He's actually come out of the gate even worse this year -- last year at least he was hitting a few singles, the problem was he wasn't HR'ing. This year he isn't even making half decent contact.

[rhet]

He should bunt every at bat.

Make them ditch the shift.

[Dojji]

That's really not a horrible idea at this point. Getting one down would be a huge boost to his confidence.

[VA Sox Fan]

Ortiz will remain in the lineup tonight

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff May 5, 2010 12:19 PM

 

Terry Francona just said on WEEI that David Ortiz would be the designated hitter tonight. They're sticking with him against the righthander.

 

Bill Hall will play center field. He's 3 for 9 against Joel Piniero with a home run

[ORS]

That's really not a horrible idea at this point. Getting one down would be a huge boost to his confidence.

One, it's doubtful that getting on via the bunt will do much for his confidence, not when they are giving it away. Two, screw his confidence.

 

Get on base if they make it that easy. When they stop making it easy, swing away. Some hits getting through the hole that is normally fielded by the 2B in shallow right will give him confidence, and bunting when they shift, like rhet says "every time", will make them play him straight up opening that hole.

 

I agree 100% with that strategery.

 

EDIT: In fact, screw with their heads, have him do nothing but bunt it up the 3B line during batting practice.

[MNSoxChief102]

EDIT: In fact' date=' screw with their heads, have him do nothing but bunt it up the 3B line during batting practice.[/quote']

 

:lol: Great idea!

[Dipre]

Read.

 

I said call up Nava to play defense in left field and switch Hermida to DH. Not to replace Ortiz' bat.

 

Papi to the DL is a move I could stomach too, if something's materially wrong that they think they can fix. But what they're doing now, it's painfully obvious it's not working.

 

My God, Doiji.

 

They have a ton of options they could use for limited time, but you advocate specifically for Nava because he's the guy you've been pining for?

[redsoxrules]

"David's fine. He's one of our teammates. We believe in him. He's going to come out of it. He's had 60 at-bats. A couple of years ago I had 60 at-bats and it was me hitting .170 and everybody was ready to kill me' date=' too. Then what happened? 'Laser show.'" -- Red Sox captain Dustin Pedroia, who was batting .172 on May 1, 2007, but went on to win the AL Rookie of the Year[/i']

 

 

Pedroia is obviously going to defend his teammate

[SCM33]

Ortiz will remain in the lineup tonight

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff May 5, 2010 12:19 PM

 

Terry Francona just said on WEEI that David Ortiz would be the designated hitter tonight. They're sticking with him against the righthander.

 

Bill Hall will play center field. He's 3 for 9 against Joel Piniero with a home run

 

When will it end. How many for 0 fers do we have to see. This is mind blowing. It could cost Tito his job in the end. His loyalty could be his downfall. In the past he cut ties with "his guys" earlier than this. There is no reason for Mike Lowell to sit on the bench.......none. Yeah, Pineiro is a righty, but Ortiz doesnt hit righty or lefty pitching so it doesnt matter.

[ORS]

Maybe the decision to see if he can pull out of it, like last year, is coming from above?

[rhet]

Bunt.

[Dipre]

Bunt.

 

I actually agree with this.

 

Beat the shift!

[rhet]

I actually agree with this.

 

Beat the shift!

 

Every time.

 

Every single at bat, until that shift is gone.

[redsoxrules]

Tito on Ortiz

 

"David needs to play tonight," Francona said, citing his impressive line against Pineiro. "We gotta give David chances where we think he can succeed, to put some good swings on the ball. It doesn't ensure it's going to happen. We certainly want it to happen. On a night like tonight David is going to DH. ... It's a long year and we've got to try to put guys in position where they're going to succeed."

 

 

In his career, Ortiz is batting .391 (9 for 29) with two home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.265 OPS against Pineiro

[Spudboy]

Tito on Ortiz

 

 

 

 

In his career, Ortiz is batting .391 (9 for 29) with two home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.265 OPS against Pineiro

 

Unfortunatly Ortiz has not faced Pineiro since 2006. Back when he was still very effective.

[yeszir]

Every time.

 

Every single at bat, until that shift is gone.

 

I would love to see this

[jacksonianmarch]

This is not the same Pineiro. He ditched the 95 mph heater and throws almost exclusively sinkers. He was dynamite one time vs NYY and not so for the other. also, this isn't the same Papi

[YeAuldBroade]

Go PAPI!

 

I think if he sucks tonight, that may be the end.

 

I really don't want to see his career end like this, it's just too damn sad.

[a700hitter]

I hope the big guy has a big game tonight and gets on a roll, especially going into the Yankee series. Last year, he hit 2 HRs off Burnett.

[Jasonbay44]

All of the stats that they show on TV or that are posted on websites mean nothing. I don't care that David Ortiz had a 4-4 game with a homer against Pineiro in like 2006, this is a completely different Ortiz and those past stats mean absolutely nothing.

[Spudboy]

All of the stats that they show on TV or that are posted on websites mean nothing. I don't care that David Ortiz had a 4-4 game with a homer against Pineiro in like 2006' date=' this is a completely different Ortiz and those past stats mean absolutely nothing.[/quote']

 

Exactly.

[Jasonbay44]

Exactly.

 

Or not.

[SoxSport]

Unfortunately, Tito is a cock-eyed optimist. Optimists are always popular but often unrealistic.

 

Papi gets a hit. Papi's back. Looks like Papi is going through the same declining phase as Nomar did--wrist and all.

[Chamomile]

Meanwhile, Ortiz keeps hitting bombs...

[redsoxrules]

Meanwhile' date=' Ortiz keeps hitting bombs...[/quote']

 

 

 

yeah cause he's hit a lot

[Dipre]

This is not the same Pineiro. He ditched the 95 mph heater and throws almost exclusively sinkers. He was dynamite one time vs NYY and not so for the other. also' date=' this isn't the same Papi[/quote']

 

Please keep doing this so he'll keep hitting bombs.