The David Ortiz Appreciation Thread

[Gringo]

It's really starting to sink in now that Papi is going to be calling it a career. His tantrum the other night just solidifies his legacy as having nothing but pure heart for the game, the Red Sox and the fans.

 

I'm 45 years old, so I've witnessed a decent chunk of Red Sox history. If someone were to ask me to put a face to the ball club, it would have to be David Ortiz.

 

I've never seen a more magnanimous local athlete than Big Papi. Maybe Bobby Orr rivals him, but no one else.

 

So much charisma and humor and positivity, and RESULTS, especially the clutch results, in pressure situations.

 

We are living history guys, take a minute to reflect on it. One day we'll be the old timers who tell their great grandkids all about the legend of David "Big Papi" Ortiz.

 

What will you always remember about Big Papi and where do you think he fits in the Red Sox pantheon?

[yeszir]

Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS. It wasn't as dramatic as game 4 but I was there in person and I don't think I've ever screamed as loud.

 

[Kimmi]

Nice thread Gringo.

 

Ortiz' accomplishments and great moments on and off the field are too numerous to possibly give him his due. I know I will enjoy reading what others have to say about him.

 

A very recent incident sums up nicely the kind of person Ortiz is. After the awful strike 3 call on Friday night, with Oritz being obviously irate, he saw two NYC cops on the street. Ortiz smiled and shook both their hands. A very small gesture, but I'm sure it meant a lot to the officers.

[SoxnCycles]

Nice thread Gringo.

 

Ortiz' accomplishments and great moments on and off the field are too numerous to possibly give him his due. I know I will enjoy reading what others have to say about him.

 

A very recent incident sums up nicely the kind of person Ortiz is. After the awful strike 3 call on Friday night, with Oritz being obviously irate, he saw two NYC cops on the street. Ortiz smiled and shook both their hands. A very small gesture, but I'm sure it meant a lot to the officers.

 

Good point.

There are a lot of athletes that would've ignored the two, after having a night like Ortiz had.

 

Ortiz wears his emotions on his sleeve. Some fans don't like it, but the same emotions that cause him to bitch about his contract or whine about a score keepers call, make him the competitor that he's always been.

[Slasher9]

IMO Greatest Red Sox player ever. he will be missed but looks like he plans on going out on top! and we appreciate that.

should be a 1st ballot HoFer.....

My personal favorite Papi story....

2006 the Sox at Philadelphia. lucky enough to get Diamond Club seats at philly's new ballpark. got there early with my wife and 9 month old son (Manny) to enjoy Sox BP. standing in first row on deck circle Papi comes out to take BP. he glances over and then stops dead in his tracks and jogs straight up to me and my boy and he grabs Manny's checks and pinches them and says "Big cheeks". he then signed his Boston Red Sox onesie he was wearing (i have it in a shadowbox frame). he also signed my RS jersey i was wearing (thanks Papi). i wondered why he glanced over and then stopped dead in his tracks and came hustling over to just us. a few months later i saw a picture of Papi with his son D'Angelo (who is 1 year older than Manny) and realized what stopped him in his tracks. they were almost identical twins.

[mvp 78]

He's alright I guess...

[Youk Of The Nation]

Despite all of the 2004 magic, for me, the image that will always pop into my mind when someone says "David Ortiz" is Torii Hunter's legs pointing straight up and that Boston police officer throwing his hands up in celebration. I will also immediately recall Dave O'Brien on WEEI screaming "DAVID ORTIZ! DAVID ORTIZ! DAVID ORTIZ!" at the top of his lungs like a f***ing maniac.

[Bellhorn04]

One of my favorite Ortiz moments came in the 2004 ALCS, not in Game 4 or 5 but in the first inning of Game 7.

 

With Damon on 2nd and 1 out, Manny singled, but Damon got thrown out at the plate. It was one of those 'oh no, here we go' moments for Sox fans, and the Yankee fans were whooping it up in the stands. Up steps Ortiz and on the first pitch he smokes one into the right field seats and quickly wipes the smile off all the Yankee fans' faces.

[Kimmi]

Good point.

There are a lot of athletes that would've ignored the two, after having a night like Ortiz had.

 

Ortiz wears his emotions on his sleeve. Some fans don't like it, but the same emotions that cause him to bitch about his contract or whine about a score keepers call, make him the competitor that he's always been.

 

There are a couple of times Papi has said something where I really wish he would have kept it to himself, but you're absolutely right. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and he is obviously very passionate about what he does. I love the emotion. I loved it with Youk too, although many people saw him as a whiner.

 

As you said, that passion and fire is part of what makes him so great.

[Kingface]

For all of the reasons above.....that's why Papi IS the best Sox player ever. Sure there was Yaz and Ted.........but nobody on this team can boast about the heroics that Papi has done, in the most pressure packed time.

 

Something that is not often said either......plying in today's baseball I believe is WAY more pressure than yesteryear. More teams, more players, way bigger farm system to come through, way more media, more TV exposure, Social media, blogs, vlogs and tweets.......oh my!! 3 WS championships where he was a HUGE part of them.

 

Like I said in another thread...... Ted = Marino........Papi = Brady

[Slasher9]

Like I said in another thread...... Ted = Marino........Papi = Brady

King - Perfect analogy IMO......

[Jack Flap]

In the past, Big Papi has been accused of acting like he is "bigger than the game." It might be heretical, but...maybe he is.

 

[Michfan]

There have been so many great athletes perform in Boston. It's hard to pick just one but Big Papi belongs right up there with Williams, Russell, Orr and a few others. I've been a fan since mid 50's..

[Kingface]

One of my favorite more recent memories of Papi was in the 2013 WS. Probably the worst coaching decision I have seen in some time was when Matheny kept pitching to Ortiz. Papi was hammering the baseball at a record pace and almost single handedly beat the Cardinals!!!! It was like he kept saying "eventually we'll beat him......he'll cool down....he HAS to!!".......well, he cooled down alright......during the parade in November.......

[Maxbialystock]

For all of the reasons above.....that's why Papi IS the best Sox player ever. Sure there was Yaz and Ted.........but nobody on this team can boast about the heroics that Papi has done, in the most pressure packed time.

 

Something that is not often said either......plying in today's baseball I believe is WAY more pressure than yesteryear. More teams, more players, way bigger farm system to come through, way more media, more TV exposure, Social media, blogs, vlogs and tweets.......oh my!! 3 WS championships where he was a HUGE part of them.

 

Like I said in another thread...... Ted = Marino........Papi = Brady

 

Can't buy that, sorry. A hitter is only 1 of 9 bats in a lineup and 1 of 25 on a roster, and virtually all hitters never throw a single pitch, which is half the game. I think it is more accurate to say that John Henry is the best owner the Sox have ever had because he put the right guys in the right places and finally ended the 86 year drought, not once, but three times. Plus Williams had to play left field and lost five seasons to military service. His lifetime OPS was 1.116, and he was walked almost 3 times as often as the struck out.

 

Not that I don't think Ortiz isn't worthy of great praise because he was in fact key to all three world series wins--all three times his postseason OPS was over 1.200. But he said himself after Manny Ramirez left, that he "couldn't get a pitch to hit," which tells me it was very helpful to bat 3d with Manny batting 4th in 2004 and 2007. Indeed, Manny was the WS MVP in 2004, neither was in 2007 (but Mike Lowell was), and Ortiz was in 2013 when he batted 4th and Napoli batted 5th.

[Kingface]

Can't buy that, sorry. A hitter is only 1 of 9 bats in a lineup and 1 of 25 on a roster, and virtually all hitters never throw a single pitch, which is half the game. I think it is more accurate to say that John Henry is the best owner the Sox have ever had because he put the right guys in the right places and finally ended the 86 year drought, not once, but three times. Plus Williams had to play left field and lost five seasons to military service. His lifetime OPS was 1.116, and he was walked almost 3 times as often as the struck out.

 

Not that I don't think Ortiz isn't worthy of great praise because he was in fact key to all three world series wins--all three times his postseason OPS was over 1.200. But he said himself after Manny Ramirez left, that he "couldn't get a pitch to hit," which tells me it was very helpful to bat 3d with Manny batting 4th in 2004 and 2007. Indeed, Manny was the WS MVP in 2004, neither was in 2007 (but Mike Lowell was), and Ortiz was in 2013 when he batted 4th and Napoli batted 5th.

 

Well.......he did say that and he said it the following season when his numbers were indeed down from his norms. However after that he averaged .285, 31hr's and 100 RBI's.....which are on par with the seasons with Manny.

 

Look......I'll never say that Ortiz is a better hitter than Ted as the stats obviously point to Ted. However Ted was a downright dreadful fielder. He even admitted to hating to play the field and was often seen practicing his swing in the field during the game! Could you imagine if a player did that today?!?! To hold Ortiz being a DH against him in an argument about Ted is pretty silly. Ortiz is the best champion the Sox have had. Ted never delivered when it was needed most......and was terrible when he had his lone chance. Something Ortiz cant say.

 

Again......Ted has the numbers.......Papi has the rings and DELIVERED HUGE for all three of those.

 

PAPI!!!!!!!!!

[devildavid]

Aside from his obvious exploits on the field, David Ortiz has to be one of the most loved players by his fellow players in the game. Whenever I go to Fenway, I always see Papi dispensing pre-game hugs to many on the opposing ballclub. Heck, Papi couldn't even bring himself to criticize A-Rod. He definitely wouldn't have fit in in the old days with menacing guys like Bob Gibson. Papi saves all his menace for the game. Not that he hasn't had his differences with players now and then, but his true nature is friendly and out-going. And he really seems to care about the fans as well. With a big heart like his, you can't help but love him.

[SinceYaz]

The Headline said "Ortiz Passes Yaz"

 

Couldn't help myself picking up on the Z ....

 

I'm a Big Papi homer. Back on my old forum, especially back when Ortiz hurt his wrist and the season after, I battled with the Papi haters tooth and nail. For the first thing, I have no idea why there are any, ANY, Papi haters among Red Sox fans. Even those who say. "I appreciate what he did for us, but now it's time for him to go." Lunacy.

 

I am also a big Yaz homer. Can ya figure that one out? Really, is it hard to?

 

Two different eras. Two great eras. Both have Z in it ... so I was wondering who the next Z would be. I realized almost immediately, and you probably already have, that the baseball gods have smiled on us. Again.

 

Not do dismiss anyone, because I am thrilled with Mookie, JBJ and others, but Xander is already filling in the next era of Z. Looks like he's gonna have great mates and I will be more than happy to have MORE than one or two superstar teammates.

 

There really isn't a finish to this odd thoughts. Just typing in a thought, whether it has merit or not.

 

Z's ...past, present and future!!!

 

Loved Yaz, love Ortiz, lovin' Xander!

[SinceYaz]

In the past, Big Papi has been accused of acting like he is "bigger than the game." It might be heretical, but...maybe he is.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]338[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

Hey Flapjack,

 

I had not remembered such a heresy, but I can only agree. When the national news took up Papi and his stand after the bombing, everything he had been to us became more than just a BB player. To his credit, he already had established a great foundation and he has only built on it since.

 

I said it many times in our old forum, especially when he was being attacked by his haters, we are going to miss this giant of a fellow. We will most likely enjoy his presence afterward, because both Teddy and Yaz made themselves absent from the scene. I cannot see Papi doing that. He won't be playing, but I cannot see him retreating to a fishing boat like my favorite Yaz. I can see him continuing as a hitting coach ... Teddy of course was keen at that (I know he managed as well). I held on to his Sports Illustrated hitting article for years. But Teddy and Yaz seemed soured toward the Boston media (duh) ... Papi has burned his naysayers to the ground. The CHB is no longer a relevant voice of criticism, IMO. Papi has impaled him upon the joyous upswing of his bat!

[Maxbialystock]

Well.......he did say that and he said it the following season when his numbers were indeed down from his norms. However after that he averaged .285, 31hr's and 100 RBI's.....which are on par with the seasons with Manny.

 

Look......I'll never say that Ortiz is a better hitter than Ted as the stats obviously point to Ted. However Ted was a downright dreadful fielder. He even admitted to hating to play the field and was often seen practicing his swing in the field during the game! Could you imagine if a player did that today?!?! To hold Ortiz being a DH against him in an argument about Ted is pretty silly. Ortiz is the best champion the Sox have had. Ted never delivered when it was needed most......and was terrible when he had his lone chance. Something Ortiz cant say.

 

Again......Ted has the numbers.......Papi has the rings and DELIVERED HUGE for all three of those.

 

PAPI!!!!!!!!!

 

I wouldn't call Ted Williams a dreadful outfielder even though Jimmy Piersall once claimed he should get paid double because he had to cover CF and LF both. Ted got pretty good at playing the caroms of the green monster. In 1942, for example, he had 15 assists vs. 4 errors. In 1951 it was 12 and 4. Plus I happen to think a great outfielder is wasted in left field at Fenway. Even the best are going to have a problem going back to the wall because it's the one thing you don't want to crash into. But the real point is that Williams didn't get to sit on his fat ass between at bats as Ortiz gets to do. 8 or 9 times a game, he grabbed that mitt and headed out to the field. And don't forget that standing out there can be a mind-numbing experience when you have a slow pitcher or one who walks people or both. My guess is the average time between pitches is close to 30 seconds, which gives you plenty of time for a couple of practice swings and still get bored waiting for the pitcher to do something.

 

Don't forget Williams got nailed by a pitch on his right elbow right before the WS in 1946 and reportedly it swelled up like a grapefruit. Some think that affected his swing, and I'm one of them. 1946 was just one of two seasons when he was voted AL MVP. He loved big games, which is why he was so good in All-Star games. In 18 All-Star games his OPS was 1.091 against the very best pitchers in the NL (and he was 4 for 4 in the 1946 All-Star game). He was such a pure hitter with great eyesight and a very detailed knowledge of how to swing a bat. How pure? Almost 3 walks to every K says a lot, especially for a guy who hit over 500 dingers. No way that swollen elbow didn't affect his swing in the 1946 WS.

 

I did not make it clear that to me you don't even get to the playoffs without a great team behind you. Thus it was the team John Henry assembled that got Ortiz to three WS, and it is beyond question that the synergy between Ortiz and Ramirez, batting 3d and 4th, that allowed both to excel throughout the playoffs in 2004 and 2007--as well as in the regular seasons of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. If you look at his prior year stats (1997-2002) with Minnesota, you will see Ortiz was a shadow of what he would become. And afterwards, 2008-2015, he has been excellent, but not as good as when Manny batted right behind him.

 

Is it worth noting that in 2008, the year Manny ran away to LA, the Sox played 11 games in the ALDS and the ALCS and that Ortiz OPS was around .680? You think Manny's absence wasn't a factor? The next year, 2009, in 3 ALDS games Ortiz's OPS was .167.

 

2013, however, was a huge, huge year for Ortiz, but especially the playoffs when he was just out of sight--at 38 years of age, which is the same age Ted hit .388 for his last really good season, but with fewer games, no doubt a concession to age and the fact that he had to go out and play in the field.

Edited May 11, 2016 by Maxbialystock

[Kingface]

I wouldn't call Ted Williams a dreadful outfielder even though Jimmy Piersall once claimed he should get paid double because he had to cover CF and LF both. Ted got pretty good at playing the caroms of the green monster. In 1942, for example, he had 15 assists vs. 4 errors. In 1951 it was 12 and 4. Plus I happen to think a great outfielder is wasted in left field at Fenway. Even the best are going to have a problem going back to the wall because it's the one thing you don't want to crash into. But the real point is that Williams didn't get to sit on his fat ass between at bats as Ortiz gets to do. 8 or 9 times a game, he grabbed that mitt and headed out to the field. And don't forget that standing out there can be a mind-numbing experience when you have a slow pitcher or one who walks people or both. My guess is the average time between pitches is close to 30 seconds, which gives you plenty of time for a couple of practice swings and still get bored waiting for the pitcher to do something.

 

Don't forget Williams got nailed by a pitch on his right elbow right before the WS in 1946 and reportedly it swelled up like a grapefruit. Some think that affected his swing, and I'm one of them. 1946 was just one of two seasons when he was voted AL MVP. He loved big games, which is why he was so good in All-Star games. In 18 All-Star games his OPS was 1.091 against the very best pitchers in the NL (and he was 4 for 4 in the 1946 All-Star game). He was such a pure hitter with great eyesight and a very detailed knowledge of how to swing a bat. How pure? Almost 3 walks to every K says a lot, especially for a guy who hit over 500 dingers. No way that swollen elbow didn't affect his swing in the 1946 WS.

 

I did not make it clear that to me you don't even get to the playoffs without a great team behind you. Thus it was the team John Henry assembled that got Ortiz to three WS, and it is beyond question that the synergy between Ortiz and Ramirez, batting 3d and 4th, that allowed both to excel throughout the playoffs in 2004 and 2007--as well as in the regular seasons of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. If you look at his prior year stats (1997-2002) with Minnesota, you will see Ortiz was a shadow of what he would become. And afterwards, 2008-2015, he has been excellent, but not as good as when Manny batted right behind him.

 

Is it worth noting that in 2008, the year Manny ran away to LA, the Sox played 11 games in the ALDS and the ALCS and that Ortiz OPS was around .680? You think Manny's absence wasn't a factor? The next year, 2009, in 3 ALDS games Ortiz's OPS was .167.

 

2013, however, was a huge, huge year for Ortiz, but especially the playoffs when he was just out of sight--at 38 years of age, which is the same age Ted hit .388 for his last really good season, but with fewer games, no doubt a concession to age and the fact that he had to go out and play in the field.

 

Well.......Manny Ramirez had 17 assists once at for the Sox.........AND to top that he had 19 assists once playing for Cleveland in a much bigger park.....so I guess he too is pretty awesome in the field. If you're judging good fielding by assists in LF playing at Fenway and clutch playing from hits in AllStar games.......then I'm going to have to bow out of this debate Max.......I have nothing more to say other than......"Wow"...........

[tom-uk]

Was Ted Williams the last Red Sox stud to bow out on top, like Ortiz is doing so far? Yaz had a good last year. Any others?

[moonslav59]

I started one of the most wildy popular threads on the Globe site titled "Rumors of Papi's Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated".

It was in response to a poster who continuously found ways to berate Ortiz. One his favorite claims was that "Papi clogged the base paths."

 

Papi is a legend. He's probably the player that has come closest to single-handedly carrying a team to championships in a sport where that's supposed to be impossible.

 

He's on pace for his best career season!

 

He should consider playing another season or two and pass Ted Williams for most Red Sox HRs. I think he only needs 65 more.

[devildavid]

I think Papi is playing this perfectly. Records are nice and all, but why not go out on a high note? He is so focused this season probably because it is his last. Better to go out making a positive impression than limping to the end.

[jad]

Well.......Manny Ramirez had 17 assists once at for the Sox.........AND to top that he had 19 assists once playing for Cleveland in a much bigger park.....so I guess he too is pretty awesome in the field. If you're judging good fielding by assists in LF playing at Fenway and clutch playing from hits in AllStar games.......then I'm going to have to bow out of this debate Max.......I have nothing more to say other than......"Wow"...........

 

Manny's catch, high-riving the fan, then turning and doubling the runner off first makes him the greatest MLB fielder of any position at any time, past, present, and future.

[mvp 78]

@peteabe Career XBH

12. Yastrzemski 1,157

13. Cobb 1,136

14. Ortiz 1,132

 

Career RBIs

26. Ripken 1,695

27. Sheffield 1,676

28. Ortiz 1,674

[Dojji]

I'm soprry, Ortiz is not just 1 player out of 9, or 25. Some players carry the team in body or spirit, and Ortiz does both. He's easily made this team and this league several times more money than he was ever paid. He's a lot more than just a guy who wore the laundry, and his value is far greater than nearly everyone else who's work it in his tenure here.

 

I'd say the only three guys who are worthy to be compared directly to Ortiz's contribution to this franchise over the last 13 years are Manny, Schill, and Tek. No one else comes close.

[Bellhorn04]

Ortiz is only the 3rd player in history with 500 HR's and 600 doubles. If that isn't Hall of Fame worthy I don't know what is.

[Northern Star]

I think Papi is playing this perfectly. Records are nice and all, but why not go out on a high note? He is so focused this season probably because it is his last. Better to go out making a positive impression than limping to the end.

 

That's exactly why he should retire after this year.

[Northern Star]

So I guess Ortiz is Exhibit #1 in the argument for the DH.