His numbers down, Ortiz isn't

Why should he be down? He's getting paid a ton of money whether he produces or not. Us fans, all we get is bragging rights if our team wins, and this season we won't likely get that even. I know it's early, but the 2009 Red Sox will likely finish in 3rd place in the AL East. The Red Sox are too loose at times. Sometimes I think they just don't care anymore. Why sweat it, a ring is nice but they're too stressed out and tired from spending all that money to give 100% effort. Sorry if it offends anyone, but it's the truth - I'm tired of excuses from OVERPAID LAZY athletes who just don't get it. If you really care about your team and the fans and not just the money, donate your paycheck to charity when you don't produce for that week

BTW, Kevin Millar used that "back of the baseball card" thing... it didn't fly then either..

A note to Theo: stop pretending. No more free agents, just stick with drafting and player development and let the Yankees handle the FAs. Keep them hungry and maybe they'll be winners.

I guess Ortiz misses those steroids.

Sick of Lies-Sounds like you need to get laid pretty bad.

On Ortiz though: I was at last nights game, and there is just no way around it, Ortiz looks horrible. He's not in a slump because he is just missing, or smashing balls right at defenders. He just looks plain slow and awful.

What is even worse is that his words about his own confidence are clearly a fabrication. You can tell because you don't see that look in his eye he used to have at the plate. His face used to say "good luck, punk, but this one is going 450 out to left center". Now his face says please god let me make contact.

I love ortiz as much as anybody and really hope he turns it around. Maybe Francona should drop him in the order for a while.

You can't pass your opinion off as the truth, only as your opinion. You have implied the entire team is lazy, which just isn't possible. Following your own advice, you didn't produce, and need to donate your week's pay to charity. Here's a good cause - www.jimmyfund,org

This is what happens when you ban steriods in baseball the ones taking them fall apart physcally but also lose their consentration . It's going to be a long season. Don't blame Manny on this one.

This is what happens when you ban steriods in baseball the ones taking them fall apart physcally but also lose their concentration . It's going to be a long season. Don't blame Manny on this one.

Sick of Lies: Maybe it's time to refill your prozac prescription...You think athletes who aren't performing well are just lazy? Ortiz is off to a horrific start for sure, but that doesn't mean he doesn't give a damn. What is he supposed to do--break down and cry in front of the media? What evidence do have to support your assumption that he's lazy and "too stressed out and tired from spending all that money to give 100% effort"? By the way, do you donate your paycheck to charity every time you don't perform your best?

I love baseball and follow the Sox passionately, but it's pathetic how worked up you are because (horror of horrors) the Red Sox might finish in 3rd place. It's also revealing how, according to you, all we fans get are bragging rights if our team wins. How sad! Maybe you're the one who just doesn't get it. Maybe you should consider another pastime—one represented by fine, upstanding, people like yourself. A knitting circle perhaps?
And lay off Millar! The guy's a mensch.
Geez.

Boston.com. Why has it taken so long to post my comment? Why have these forums if you can't be heard? I am logged in.

Since baseball disallowed steroids the number of players that were using them their numbers have fallen, plus their injuries have risen, thus causing everyone to think their names are on that 104 list. Could this be Pappi's reason for not hitting?

Hire Beinfeld away from the Marlins

Wow dude, you definitely need to stop following sports. You're way too bitter.

what a grump!

Sick of Lies,

Your comments are ill-informed at best. It takes a lot more than talent to make it professionally as an athlete. You need to be an extremely hard worker at your craft. To call them lazy is plain goofy. Worse yet, they are certainly paid well, but people are far too quick to gripe about athletes making money - they may play a game, but they are away from home most of the year, the work 12 hour days consistently for 6 months or more per year, and they are the best in the world at their jobs - in almost any industry, the top 1% earn significant paychecks. Plus, who do you want to get the money? The owners? Then we'll just have a greater concentration of wealth in our country - and all in the hands of a bunch of old white owners (excepting Arte Moreno). That's going to be better? Oh, the players should just donate their money when they have a bad week? I am sure that's what you do when you surf the internet too much at work, right? You just give up your paycheck to charity. In fact, do you even give to charity at all? Most of your overpaid lazy athletes are among our nation's biggest philanthropists. Start complaining about something else, my friend, like executives who make $150 million PER YEAR when their companies are in the red!

Sick of Lies: Maybe it's time to refill your prozac prescription. You think athletes who aren't performing well are just lazy? Ortiz is off to a horrific start for sure, but that doesn't mean he doesn't give a damn. What is he supposed to do--break down and cry in front of the media? What evidence do have to support your assumption that he's lazy and "too stressed out and tired from spending all that money to give 100% effort"? By the way, do you donate your paycheck to charity every time you don't perform your best?

I love baseball and follow the Sox passionately, but it's pathetic how worked up you are because (horror of horrors) the Red Sox might finish in 3rd place. It's also revealing how, according to you, all we fans get are bragging rights if our team wins. How sad! Maybe you're the one who just doesn't get it. Maybe you should consider another pastime—one represented by fine, upstanding, people like yourself. A knitting circle perhaps?
And lay off Millar! The guy's a mensch.

"By the way, do you donate your paycheck to charity every time you don't perform your best?"

No, I'd get fired. The trouble with contracts is they get the money no matter what.

If I was making $14 million a year or whatever he's making, I'd make sure I did whatever it took for do what I'm being paid to do. He's just a DH, he doesn't play in the field. If he needs to start spring training earlier to get the job done, then do it. That's what I mean about being lazy.

As for being "worked up" about the Sox finishing in 3rd place - why shouldn't I expect them to win? If I don't, then why follow them?

You people are morons. Ortiz was never on steroids. He's always been just as big as he is now. In 2005 - when they strictly tested, Ortiz had 47 hrs and 148 rbis. In 2006, he had 54 hrs and 137 rbis. You know who was the only higher vote getter in these years for mvp AND tested POSITIVE for steroids? A-Rod. You know who else ballooned up from the juice? Roger Clemens (while on the Yankees), Giambi, and about half the Orioles team. Ortiz is having a terrible start. And you know what, maybe he is done. But with all he's done for the Red Sox he could retire now and still be their most clutch hitter since Ted Williams. If you wanna talk smack I suggest you think back to 2004 and shut your mouth.