The David Ortiz Appreciation Thread

[Kimmi]

Baseball Reference has a Hall of Fame Monitor, created by Bill James, which assesses how likely a player is to get into the Hall, based on how the voters traditionally vote. A score of 130 is a virtual lock.

 

Papi's score is 154 without any defensive contribution, which ranks him 83rd on the all time list. Papi has provided a higher standard of offense than most players, enough to "compensate" for not playing defense.

[SoxnCycles]

Baseball Reference has a Hall of Fame Monitor, created by Bill James, which assesses how likely a player is to get into the Hall, based on how the voters traditionally vote. A score of 130 is a virtual lock.

 

Papi's score is 154 without any defensive contribution, which ranks him 83rd on the all time list. Papi has provided a higher standard of offense than most players, enough to "compensate" for not playing defense.

 

 

 

Yeah, I'd say that Ortiz has the "needs to have greater offense" thing pretty well covered.

[a700hitter]

The only speed bump that Ortiz might hit on the way to the HOF was that PED leaked report.

[Palodios]

The only speed bump that Ortiz might hit on the way to the HOF was that PED leaked report.

 

Fortunately he has a few years for voters to warm up to players with mild PED links. Once Bonds gets in, it will change perspectives a bit.

[Bellhorn04]

Fortunately he has a few years for voters to warm up to players with mild PED links. Once Bonds gets in, it will change perspectives a bit.

 

Bonds will have trouble getting in.

[Spudboy]

Baseball Reference has a Hall of Fame Monitor, created by Bill James, which assesses how likely a player is to get into the Hall, based on how the voters traditionally vote. A score of 130 is a virtual lock.

 

Papi's score is 154 without any defensive contribution, which ranks him 83rd on the all time list. Papi has provided a higher standard of offense than most players, enough to "compensate" for not playing defense.

 

I hope so. But I fear that the whole '93 Ped list thing may sour opinions of him. Even though there is no evidence that he ever used.

[mvp 78]

The only thing that could help Papi is that he's much more friendly with the media than Clemens, Bonds, et al were.

[Palodios]

Ortiz:

Like I said, I’m good with the decision that I made right now,” said Ortiz. “But would you leave $25 million on the table? I don’t want nobody to offer me that.

 

Suggestion: 1/25M contract offer to Ortiz?

[mvp 78]

Ortiz:

 

Suggestion: 1/25M contract offer to Ortiz?

 

Would he have to give back the cowboy hat the Astros gave him?

[Jasonbay44]

Ortiz:

 

Suggestion: 1/25M contract offer to Ortiz?

I would be perfectly fine with that..

[greenwell]

At this point, barring any real confirmation on PED use I think Papi is a first ballot hall of famer, and by a wide margin.

[a700hitter]

Ortiz:

 

Suggestion: 1/25M contract offer to Ortiz?

Done!

[Bellhorn04]

Would he have to give back the cowboy hat the Astros gave him?

 

No, they just get to stiff him in 2017. Same goes for any team that gifts him this year.

[Jack Flap]

Meant to post this in the poll thread, but:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-david-ortiz-still-plans-on-retiring-despite-his-amazing-start-165826455-mlb.html

 

I'm really not sure why some people seem to think his blazing hot start would change anything about his retirement plans...we knew before the season that he was calling it quits not because he couldn't play any more, but because he personally felt the time had come regardless of what the numbers said. I know the "Would you leave $25 million on the table?" bit has some people buzzing, but I don't see the appeal in throwing money at a guy who is ready to retire (and who already has a contract) to convince him to change his mind.

 

Of course, there would be zero complaints on my part if he did decide to stay another year (far from it), but purely on a personal level I'd prefer to see him stick to his guns and go out with what looks to be an epic final season than reverse course and turn this into some kind of ongoing game of "Will he or won't he?"

Edited May 19, 2016 by Jack Flap

[Kimmi]

Meant to post this in the poll thread, but:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-david-ortiz-still-plans-on-retiring-despite-his-amazing-start-165826455-mlb.html

 

I'm really not sure why some people seem to think his blazing hot start would change anything about his retirement plans...we knew before the season that he was calling it quits not because he couldn't play any more, but because he personally felt the time had come regardless of what the numbers said. I know the "Would you leave $25 million on the table?" bit has some people buzzing, but I don't see the appeal in throwing money at a guy who is ready to retire (and who already has a contract) to convince him to change his mind.

 

Of course, there would be zero complaints on my part if he did decide to stay another year (far from it), but purely on a personal level I'd prefer to see him stick to his guns and go out with what looks to be an epic final season than reverse course and turn this into some kind of ongoing game of "Will he or won't he?"

 

Agreed. Not only him sticking to his guns, but I want to see him go out on top and I want to see him go out on his terms. I would hate to see him try to hang on too long and get to a point where it's awkward, not only for him, but for the team.

[Dojji]

The only thing that could help Papi is that he's much more friendly with the media than Clemens, Bonds, et al were.

 

that and hard evidence of Ortiz actually abusing PED's has been hard to come by. Unlike Bonds or Clemens or A-Rod where we have people testifying under oath and in some cases bearing physical evidence.

 

Is there even any confirmation on exactly what Ortiz was alleged to have abused? If not, I can't imagine him having anywhere near the same trouble over PED allegations than Bonds and Clemens who the substances both men abused was much more clearly documented.

 

For another thing no disciplinary action was ever taken against Ortiz, when other stars like Manny and A-Rod were getting slapped hard for PED abuse. So that's a thing to consider as well. The evidence looks a lot like he got caught using once years ago when everyone was doing it, got called out on it, and was never known to have done it again.

 

Basically in the absence of any particularly hard evidence, or of any actual disciplinary action taken by the league, this just becomes a he-said-she-said situation, I can't see the baseball writers really holding it against him, especially given the era -- everyone knows that in that period enforcement was effectively nil, more people probably abused PED at least once than didn't, I'd be willing to speculatively wager.. Anyone enough of a bitter-ender to harp on that stuff in Papi's case is probably someone who would never have voted for him anyway.

Edited May 20, 2016 by Dojji

[mvp 78]

No hard evidence against Bagwell and he's not in.

[Bellhorn04]

No hard evidence against Bagwell and he's not in.

 

True, but he got 71.6% of the vote this year so he's very close. Not like Clemens & Bonds who got less than 50%.

[mvp 78]

True, but he got 71.6% of the vote this year so he's very close. Not like Clemens & Bonds who got less than 50%.

 

Sure, but there's more evidence against Papi AND he's a DH. Bagwell should have been a first ballot guy based on his JAWS.

[Bellhorn04]

Sure, but there's more evidence against Papi AND he's a DH. Bagwell should have been a first ballot guy based on his JAWS.

 

I don't disagree.

[sk7326]

in praise of the man - from (for me) the one weekly national baseball column I make a point to find:

 

http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/05/31/the-30-power-rankings-week-eight-padres-marlins-white-sox-red-sox

 

In his final season, he has (to date) been far and away the best offensive player in the entire league.

[mvp 78]

@peteabe Ortiz will be pinch hit only here in SF. Farrell said volume of base-running is a factor in trying to save his legs, maximize ABs.

 

Don't let him retire from this non-athletic sport though!

[a700hitter]

@peteabe Ortiz will be pinch hit only here in SF. Farrell said volume of base-running is a factor in trying to save his legs, maximize ABs.

 

Don't let him retire from this non-athletic sport though!

If he didn't get on base so much, he wouldn't need the rest. That is a conundrum.

[bosoxmal]

Mine would be, Papi = Brady and Ted = The Babe

[Dojji]

@peteabe Ortiz will be pinch hit only here in SF. Farrell said volume of base-running is a factor in trying to save his legs, maximize ABs.

 

Don't let him retire from this non-athletic sport though!

 

If we were not in good shape for a playoff spot, I'm sure Papi would have played. Farrell is a little overcautious sometimes and has no real need to force matters right now..

[Kimmi]

If we were not in good shape for a playoff spot, I'm sure Papi would have played. Farrell is a little overcautious sometimes and has no real need to force matters right now..

 

It's early June, and as you said, we are in good shape. We are still in marathon mode, not sprint mode.

 

That said, the fact that Farrell would only use Ortiz as a pinch hitter does tell you something about Papi's need to be "handled with care", much like Koji.

[User Name]

But...but....but playing baseball is super easy on the body, especially if you're a DH!

[bosoxmal]

C'mon, Man!

 

TW 18 years-----.344-----OPS 1.115-----BB 2019----K 709

 

DO 20 years------.286----OPS 1.04------BB 1265----K 1677

 

And Ted was in service during three of the best years of his life!

 

Papi is the most popular player in Sox history.

Ted the greatest player in Sox history.

[Spudboy]

Has anyone here seen Ortiz walk????

 

Jeez. The guy walks like he has a load of s*** in his pants.

 

His feet are f***ed up.

[Kimmi]

I don't remember what thread the whole "grind" discussion was in, but here is what Ortiz said a couple of days ago about retiring:

 

“Right now, my mind is made up,” he told Bob Nightengale. “Physically, I could do it, but mentally, I’m exhausted. Hopefully, everything keeps going well this year, because right now, everything is going perfect.

 

It sounds like the grind for him is more mental than it is physical.