 |
| DAVID ORTIZ |
THE RED SOCKS BLOG
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
David Ortiz gave a 'press conference' Wednesday in the Dominican Republic.
Ortiz made it quite clear that he wants to end his career with the Red Sox. " I want to keep playing as long as I feel physically healthy."
David Ortiz is signed thru next season. What David was hinting at was that he would like to re-negotiate his contract to insure he is a Red Sox past 2014. In effect,this would make him a Red Sox for life.
Let's start with this. In the past 95 years the Boston Red Sox have won the World Series three times. David Ortiz was on all three of the Red Sox championship teams and played a huge part in each championship. Who can forget his 12th inning 'walk off' home run off Paul Quantrill of the Yankees in game 5 of the 2004 ALCS.
Almost a year ago the Red Sox where in the doghouse with even some of their most loyal fans. They needed to sign their star designated hitter. There was a time during the conversations when is was speculated Ortiz's best days were behind him and that the Red Sox should not invest in a player who at 37 appeared to be slowing down and injury prone.
In the end the Red Sox signed Ortiz to a two year $ 26 million contract thru 2014. At the end of this contract Ortiz would be approaching his 39th birthday.
Let's face the facts here,another two year contract with a club option for the third year would pretty well insure Ortiz would end his career as a Boston Red Sox.
When Ortiz signed he was limping around with a heel injury that had cost him the second half of the 2012 season. He missed 'spring training' last year,limited to running and testing his heel. He was only activated on April 20th. It was projected Ortiz would have to 'sit days' out of the lineup to rest his foot.
But Ortiz joined the Red Sox slimmer and trimmer. And the rest is history.
Ortiz had a fantastic 2013. He batted .309 and hit 30 home runs with 103 RBI's. In the postseason he was on fire. His game-tying home run in the 8th inning of Game 2 in the ALCS brought back memories of that blast off Quantrill in 2004.
In the World Series the Cardinals found him impossible to get out. He had a .688 BA with two homers and six RBI's. The Cardinals in effect 'gave up' and by the end or the series were intentionally walking Ortiz frequently.
David Ortiz turned 38 on Monday. If and when the Red Sox sign him it will surely be his last contract. Two years plus a club option and a buyout option would make him 42 years old.
Ortiz is the last of what appears to be a dying breed - the player who is only a DH. He does not have to go out and play a position every inning therefor his career should last a little bit longer that the average player.
In 1957,Ted Williams who was 38,batted .388. Age had nothing to do with it. Like Williams,Ortiz is a student of the science of hitting.
And Ortiz is a very good student. It is not inconceivable he could keep his production up there for a couple of more years.
When you think of the Boston Red Sox two names come immediately to mind ~ Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz.
What Ortiz brings - coming thru when the Red Sox most need him,his ability to inspire not just his team but the whole city of Boston cannot be put into dollars and cents.
And let me tell you my friends,the Boston Red Sox can afford the dollars and cents !
The Red Sox should approach David early this year. They should offer him a extension.
The Red Sox are heading in a new direction that seemed to work last season. We are entering a new era of shorter contracts as opposed to the big seven year deal.
Boston has already signed Dustin Pedroia on for life.
They should do the same for David Ortiz.
No comments:
Post a Comment