Less than Big Papi

on 05 19, 2009

David Ortiz (Big Papi) has captured the hearts of most baseball fans with his big
heart, jovial personality, and clutch performances. His broken English
is adored by fans all around the world. With last Thursdays’s 0-7 outing
and a .208 batting average with zero dingers, is Big Papi fading away
fast or just harboring injuries from seasons past? At 33 years of age,
a player becomes less quick to heal from major injuries. Before the
last two years, Ortiz posted a career .290 batting average and
incredible home run power. This year’s performance coupled with last
year’s .264, 23 home runs, and only 89 RBI’s, provides ample evidence
of a drastic performance drop.

Perhaps Papi’s biggest asset is his clutch hitting. With dramatic
late playoff game home runs considered inevitable by many, he has
delivered some of the greatest moments in September and October
baseball this century. Papi is an instrumental facet of perennial
contender Boston’s roster. During ex-teammate Manny Ramirez’s antics
in Boston, Papi remained popular with the fans because of his
character on and off the field. Despite all of this, Papi’s
performance (or lack thereof) against the Los Angeles Angels on
Thursday appears to be the epitome of his struggles. Going 0-7 in
extra innings was uncharacteristic enough, but the double digit (12)
runners left on base was exactly the kind of performance baseball fans
thought he was incapable of.

Last year, Ortiz missed 52 games due to ankle and knee injuries,
injuries that Ortiz has never fully recuperated from. Ortiz hit .186
last postseason with only one home run and 5 RBI’s in 11 games. Have
last year’s injuries permanently crippled one of the most clutch power
hitters in the game? Is Papi just slumping? Will the Boston Red Sox be
able to continue their winning without the threat of Big Papi in the
lineup? All of these questions will simmer in the minds of baseball
fans, particularly Boston fans, throughout this year as the Red Sox
are yet again poised to make another legitimate run at the World
Series.

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