The Big Fall for Big Papi

by Puneet Singh


What if I told you that a baseball player who is highly regarded and considered an elite player was hitting .197 with 2 HRs and 22 RBIs, what would you do with him? Let me go into more detail. What if you’re a GM or Coach of a prestigious baseball franchise and this player is the HEART, SOUL and BACKBONE of your team and fan base. What would you do? Can you bench him, demote him or shockingly enough, can you cut him?

Well, welcome to Sox nation where you now play the role as Theo Epstein and Terry Francona.

Let me see the best way I can compare this: The Ortiz Dilemma is similar to that of a family with an ailing dog; you don’t know what to do with any longer, but at the same time you can’t get rid of it because you don’t want to upset the kids(Sox Nation).

Ortiz is having a nightmare season. That has been established. How bad is the real question. Ortiz in on pace to hit 6 hrs and 67 rbis. You know who puts up those type of numbers? Catchers, 2nd Basemen and Shortstops. NOT 1B/DH’s. I could see Luis Castillo or Chris Coste having those numbers. Not David Ortiz. Not Big Papi, the lord and savior of the Sox.

Papi’s fall from Grace has been an ugly one, topped only by Courtney Love after Kurt Cobain blew his brains out. (RIP Kurt, I love you and thanks for the great music, you’re the f****n man).
But yeah, it’s really THAT BAD.

So what’s the reason behind all this madness?

Until evidence is released I will not tie Ortiz to steroids. But if there is, oh boy I will run off with it like a reporter for the National Enquirer.
For the timebeing however, I will say this: Ortiz’s success was 90% due to Manny Ramirez. Why? Because it’s the truth. Manny Ramirez makes everyone around him better. I’d stay here and argue all the steroids of Manny and that whole schpele with you, but I’ll save that for another time(sidenote: I’m a HUGE Manny Ramirez fan so it really doesn’t matter what you say about him). Fact of the matter is, Ortiz thrived playing in a lineup with Manny. Manny’s gone = Papi’s numbers take a slight dip.

But that’s not all. The single most and main reason Papi started hitting like a middle infielder? He’s gotten old. It’s that thing where your age increases and certain abilities of yours decrease and tasks become harder. In this case, it’s Ortiz’s bat speed and pitch recognition. It’s why he looks like an average little leaguer going against a Danny Almonte during the 2001 little league World Series.

This story for Ortiz is a sad one. Once considered a hero and icon, he still holds those titles. Yet the actions that came with it are somewhat missing. Yes he’s still that loveable big guy in the clubhouse. But at the same time, he no longer packs the punch in the bat that he used to. The clutch hits are gone, as are the towering homeruns. Whether he needs the mental checkup, some time off or just an eye exam, he has to get things sorted out. Because whether people believe it or not, come September Boston’s playoff hopes rest squarely on that man’s broad shoulders.