Ortiz: 'I will do things'

"People, all they like to see is people fail, so they have a reason to talk [expletive]."

Sums up nicely a nasty trend currently running through our society, manifesting itself most obviously on anonymous online message boards.

After all he's done -- until he says he's done -- I'd rather lose with David Ortiz than win without him.

everyone stop!!!!
We have world series rings. He has gotten us there thank you Mr Ortiz! The funk will happen to the best of us. We have begun to be spoiled by our sucess.It is a 162 game long season you will make it happen!!!! GO STRONG

I love Papi, he's hilarious, haha. He sounds like he still has that fire in his belly and he'll come around. Remember when everyone was saying Carlos Delgado was done? How many homers did he hit last year again? Oh yeah that's right...38 homers and 115 rbi at 36 years old. And they (Ortiz and Delgado) both got off to similar slow starts in April. C'mon people, Papi messed up his wrist last year. Give the guy more than a month to get his groove back, we owe him at least that and a lot more.

Lets hope the release of "self imposed" pressure helps...watching him trying to catch up to 88 mph fastballs is not a good sign....I think about how pitchers are handled when they are injured or trying to regroup when they lose command etc...typically they try to isolate the environment by sending away to a minor league affiliate to break it down and correct....why not do the same for Poppi? Extended Spring training...1 week of AA...1 week of AAA....back to the Bigs

Personally, I think the man need never, ever get another hit as a Red Sox for their to be a special place in Red Sox heaven for David Ortiz. His selfless attituude, vis a vis Manny, his clutch hitting, and abolute joy of the game will add his name to the Pantheon of Red Sox greats. I tip my hat and thank the Gods for this man and will always think the absolute best of him. By the way, he'll still hit for us. We need him.

I completely agree with David. Everyone knows his potential and now that he's in a slump (or whatever it is), people have forgot the past and booing him with no respect. Funny but there's not much expectation from JD Drew so he gets to skate by at every crappy at-bat..

David's right about how people treat other people - they DO like to see them fail. Heck, just look at the reactions to the recent Susan Boyle video for proof of this.

Let's face it, most people are jerks anyway. All you need to do is drive around town to witness this firsthand.

I would rather win with David but if he's not the Man then it's time to move on. We are talking about a highly paid professional here, not a guy with 35 years at a company who we keep on for past performance out of nostalgia.

David, I don't believe that you cannot catch up to fastballs any longer. Once a player reaches that stage then they are done as a MLB hitter.I am willing to see if you can get it together but not in the #3 hole and not as the only DH. In pitching terms, 7 blown saves our of 9 chances earns you a demotion as does 6 bad starts in a row. You are 1/7th through your season and you are hitting like the "bitch" term that you so often bestow on everyone else.

Please try and work it out but if you cannot, be Man enough to own it and step aside. You cannot expect to be paid $13 million a year for a job you cannot do.

anyone that has anything bad to say about david ortiz is a loser. what do you people think, that he and other players that are slumping are doing it on purpose. you people also seem to have a problem with j d drew. i dont get it with you people from boston. you take this sports stuff way too serious. get a life and enjoy sports for what it is, a sport!!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy was so dangerous, especially in the clutch, it's hard to watch him strike out, and be a slap hitter. He's killing the meat of the order sandwiched between two of the best hitters in MLB. Tito seems like a very loyal guy, but I think they need to try someone else in the 3 hole, and move him back until he gets in a groove, I think papi can handle that. Possibly JD @ 3 / and what's the story with the slugger down in AAA playing 1st base?

Holy (expletive) Kilgore, that's a killer interview. Way to get Ortiz talking, and hopefully loosened up a little bit.

FROM ADAM: Thanks, but the comments were actually made to a group of reporters, which I should have been more clear about in the post.

I feel a lot better about this if he hadn't dissed Youk and his teammates (who are SAVING the Sox right now) in the batting line up during his mourning over Manny. Let's see some credit to those guys from him and an apology and I'll be back in the fan club.

Here's my nick-name for this UNDERachiever....Big Mac Double Cheese 0forTease...the guy is a few years older than he was when he was smashing the ball...that means that you have to put the Big Mac's down and pick up more weights!

TO me, he seems like doesn't want to realize that the older you get the more you have to work to stay on top of your game! His fun-loving, happy go luck attitude is what is killing him right now! Put the Whopper down and pick up the weights!

Put

Put

I hope he's right, I don't want to give up on Ortiz, and I have not given up on him. I'm rooting for him all the way. Unfortunately we've all seen the best intentioned sluggers who can't bring it back. I hope like hell Papi isn't one of them.

Still though, AK's got it up first and best ... no surprise there, of course.

I know he's in a funk right now, but Rob is right. The 3 hole in the AL East none the less is not the place to be working it out. In a division where teams can seldom get a prospect some experience because of the ramifications of every single game in the schedule is not the place. I for one think J.D. Drew did pretty damn good in the 3 hole for us in his stint there and we should try him there again. Keep in mind folks, the games we lose in April and May will still count in our record in September!

"I hope he comes back. He's done so much for Red Sox Nation." You need to have had a lobotomy to post garbage such as that. EVERYONE loses it eventually, get used to it. If they didn't Larry Bird, Cousy, and Havlicek would still be playing. For the record, Big Sloppy has always been a fat, out of shape guy. You cannot in any way, shape or form call him an athlete, or a baseball player. He's always been too obese to even play first base. He's never cared a whit about looking like the before in a before and after Jenny Craig ad, so stop with the sympathy.

"I hope he comes back. He's done so much for Red Sox Nation." You need to have had a lobotomy to post garbage such as that. EVERYONE loses it eventually, get used to it. If they didn't Larry Bird, Cousy, and Havlicek would still be playing. For the record, Big Sloppy has always been a fat, out of shape guy. You cannot in any way, shape or form call him an athlete, or a baseball player. He's always been too obese to even play first base. He's never cared a whit about looking like the before in a before and after Jenny Craig ad, so stop with the sympathy.

Maybe now that testing for sterpoids is done this may have something to do with it

Everybody wrote off Pedroia last April because of his poor production and he wound up as AL MVP. Give it a rest and have a bit of patience.

Everybody wrote off Pedroia last April because of his poor production and he wound up as AL MVP. Give it a rest and have a bit of patience.

Anyone who takes criticism of David Ortiz (or any athlete) personally needs to watch A Bronx Tale (specifically the scene about Mickey Mantle getting hurt). All the positive things said about David Ortiz are absolutely true (e.g. he was clutch during the World Series titles, affable, etc.); however, it is not unreasonable for people to witness his current struggles and question if his production is suddenly over (Jim Rice come to mind) and he no longer belongs in the third spot. If the time comes and David Ortiz breaks out of this, then all the people who jeered him will be silenced. If he doesn't, then the manager has a decision to make. No matter what happens he will always be remembered warmly by nearly everyone.

Every professional ballplayer has their day in the sun,.Some start to lose their bat speed in their early 30's, and others later.David Ortiz is no different, and he sure seems to be on the downside.I love the guy, but if it was up to me, I would let him work it out in the minor league, and let someone else DH.Watching Big Papi struggle at the plate is way to much for me to watch, and walking Dustin to get to Ortiz was pretty sad. Hay Tito----make a change now, before it's to late.No big deal, papi will still get his paycheck and maby, just maby he can get his swing back without hurting the team.

Didn't we go through the same ritual last year ? Ok, his wrist was hurt but what is this year's excuse.

He is done.

he could not hit for power at all in minnesota during his twenties, then he suddenly became the best power hitter for four years in boston at the height of the steroid era in his thirties, now he cant hit again when there is drug testing for steroids. you do the math

rest and a bit of patience will be easier if they'd let Ortiz hit lower in the order or rest sometimes.....

Fans loved Big Papi because he seemed to get it. He realized he was playing a game and he had fun with it, despite all the pressure that comes with playing in a passionate sports town like Boston. At the same time, while he was having fun, he was good at it. Unfortunately, Big Papi has not been the same since his wrist injury. He only compounded things by going out and making himself a lightning rod by saying the team needed another bat, basically throwing Youk and others under the bus. Big Papi needs to really get back to his old self who had fun and let his bat do all the talking,.

Ortiz should go to Francona and say, "Coach, for the sake of the TEAM, why don't you bump me down in the lineup until I can figure this out. It doesn't help the TEAM to have a .200 hitter in the #3 spot."

i think joe has it right-no more steroids, no more big papi--he's absolutely killing us-and how ironic that it is lugo who comes to his defense-most fans know that they are the 2 weakest links on the sox

my solution---obviously green until lowry comes back--any other player on sox could do better as D H

I would not be surprised at all if Ortiz name is on that "secret" list that ARod was on. He's been on the STEADY decline since his monster year of 2006, coincidence maybe, on the juice more than likely.

Ortiz says "I will do things..."

Let me finish that statement for him: "in retirement." LOL! He's finished! Stick a fork in him! If the Sox are depending on him this year then they better get use to the idea of finishing in 3rd or 4th place!

Ortiz is finished! Slow bat, slow feet and a slow brain. Theo better find another DH real fast.

90% of success is above the shoulders, not in the bat speed. After 2 years slowed by injuries, it takes time to get it back, and he will. Looking forward to when he busts out, because there is nothing better than to see Papi round third base, toss his helmet and jump into the reception at home.

amazing what a difference steroids make. the truth will come out.

I may as well be at the plate, I can;t hit either, take him out! That's why the twins got rid of him . he's all done!

Should have paid Manny and let David go.

Yeah...Keep standing behind this stiff and you will be crying in Sept. when they lose the division by a few games. This guy is paid to do ONE THING....hit for power. He can't play the field, he can't run, he can't hit the other way, and he can't hit the breaking ball. So what you have here is a guy who can hit AVERAGE fast balls for singles SOMETIMES. Ok.....so he was a feared hitter for 5 years who helped bring the rings, BUT his time has passed. So does he get a job for life because of his past? My guess is he comes up with a phantom injury to enable the Sox to go out and get a legit number three hitter, because Papi is done. If He stays in the line up for the year, you are going to see 7 homers, and 68 RBI....which just won't get it done.

david ortiz is like jim rice one day they woke up and they could no longer hit major league pitchers. Time to retire with grace

Ortiz had a great career. But quit the denial, those glory years are gone. It's o-v-a. How much longer do you let him bat 3rd? These games matter don't they? He's a big hole in the line up. Retire his number. Have a Big Papi night. Show him all the love he deserves. But when this continues through May, is that enough? For many it won't be. How about June? The All Star Break?

And I think he should stop talking [expletive] himself. And quit the blame: fans want him to fail, pitchers won't give him anything to hit. Remember his complaining about having to 'carry the team' after hitting a walk-off. Or looking at his glove like it was unstrung after missing an easy throw to first. Come on. Enough.

yo go Pappi!!!!!!!!!! How dare anyone doubt you, I have PAPPI FAITH!!!!!!! you go Big Man!!!!!!! I'll be watching you slaughter the Yanks on Monday!!!!!!

he's all done. i predicted it the day manny was gone. he's turning into a sure out, just like varitek and lugo.

he misses Manny....he's on an all white team. he has not friends. he's lonely and bored. Let's mix in some black Theo.

I think that it seems like everyone wants him to fail, from his view. But it wasn't long ago everyone was wanting him to succeed. Even now, we'd like to see him succeed, but when he steps in the box, that gut feeling as a fan, that he could jack one at any time, isn't there right now. Here's to it coming back.

PLEASE SIT OR RELEASE LUGO - WE ARE 0-4 IN HIS STARTS SINCE HIS RETURN. WHY DOES MANAGEMENT CONTINUE TO SHOVE HIM DOWN OUR THROATS?

Wait I will find the steriods and oh the HGH where did I put that. Ok little papi keep shrinking and pretty soon we will need flashlights to find you.

"I will do things" He means take HGH again
move him down in the lineup and make Lugo just go away

He is still Papi a very special MAN player no MATTER what so lets not forget that sport fans ..Remember there are two world titles here to prove that too and i'm sure if he wasn't HERE with us we would still be talking about wait for next year...Please let this special man be hit or no hit we after all still owe him that..
A Life long fan from the 50's seen it all remember all the lossers we had from the past waiting for NEXT YEAR...Go get him papi your still the MAN..

Papi has more than earned the benefit of the doubt.

Best quote yet......from Harrybosch.............. "I'd rather lose with Papi than win without him"? Lets get real.......Are you Sox fan or a Papi fan? Team always comes 1st.....Hell, I loved Trot...but when your favorite player's game slips significantly, you have to move on, for the benefit of the team............

Ortiz was great and he should always have a warm welcome in Boston. That being said, he's on the downside of his career. People, last year he wasn't exactly killing the ball either, before his DL stint. He has been slowing down over the last two years. He had a terrible September, a terrible playoff, a terrible WBC (for what that's worth), and a terrible first month. That's now 3 months of baseball, not just one. I'm sorry, but it's time to drop him in the order, or platoon him with a right handed batter against lefties.

By the way, this is a cause of not doing steriods. Most sluggers slow down in the mid 30's. We have been fooled over the past 10-15 years.

Yeah, he will do things like strike out and leave runners on base. Boston lives in the past too much, they see Ortiz as in a slump, I see a fat aging man who cant hit fastballs.

As a Rays fan, thank you for Terry Francona for I know in July Ortiz will be batting 3rd and Lugo with 25 errors and batting .190 will play

Reality is reality.....If Big Papi were in the corporate business world, making a 7 digit salary and didn't produce....what would his boss do? If he has a problem and or other issues and Terry Francona is being sympathetic to him, is this at the expense of the whole team? We certainly hope not......

"I will do things ........"

Do things like what? ........Take check swings with two strikes and roll the ball weakly towards thepitcher; and, hit lazy cans of corn to leftfield with runners in scoring position; and, destroy rallies; and, take 6 seconds to run out groundballs to second base; and, complain about protection; and, sulk and mope and pout and worry about myself and ............................

This guy had five unbelievable years but boy is the reversion to the mean going to be awkward and painful.

You should write an article of Papi before and after Manny, if you still think we don't need Manny watch the best team in baseball (Dodgers)

Face it people, Papi is allll done.. He's getting old ( probably closer to 36 then 33) and cant drink any more Dominican milkshakes. We all love the guy. But enough is enough with the excuses. The guy hasnt had a home run in 50 games if u go back to last year. 50 GAMES!!!! he cried about the loss of manny, he hints that his wrist isnt better ( how convenient) he says all this negativity about him was getting to his head. It's amazing how we boston fans and media have given these users a pass on an extremely tainted era This guy has lost serious muscle mass on that frame over the last 3 years and no one says anything. And if you mention it on WEEI you get insulted and blown up and told never to call back again.

MLB: MAKE FRANCONA WEAR HIS JERSEY!

Big Papi has already earned the total amount of his entire current contract because of all the great things he has done in the last few years. That said, if he is still batting under .230 or so by Memorial Day, he should be slid down in the batting order and/or occasionally platooned.

Well one cant say what you really think or they wont post it, but thats Boston sports. When I see Papi I think of Mo Vaughn a big guy with power that burned out in low 30's. Ortiz will never be back to 2004 thats crazy. What will be interesting is how long Francona who hates change of any kind will leave him in 3 spot.

Anyone see this fat tub of lard again today? Pop ups, whiffs, and he's still mouthing off. Big Poopy does it again. It's coming any day now. Too fat to play a position, and too stupid to shorten up that windmill of a swing. "Keep hope alive !!"

Someone mentioned that Francona should move him out of the lineup and get him some work in Pawtucket...I think that is a great idea! He really needs to "re-learn" how to hit given that his bat is slower.

Ortiz frustrates me! I think he can still be a clutch power hitter, but he needs to be more disciplined in his workouts, diet, and plate focus....as most of know...even though our brains *think* we can be as good as we were in our mid-20s our bodies tell us otherwise...HOWEVER...we can make up for that with extra work and discipline! We all know the guy's got talent...it's his work ethic I question!

Hey, every player has gone through this sometime in his career... let's keep the door open and not banish him into exile. But, T.F., he's killing us in the #3 hole... can't you let him work it out somewhere nearer the bottom of the order?

Big Papi, you're the man in Red Sox Nation. Hang in there, the Home Runs will come. We believe in you.

Belichick doesn't coach with sentimentality. Tito shouldn't either.
Ortiz's place in Boston sports history is secure.
But he is toast.
Papi will continue with this sad display until June, then there will be some bogus injury to get him out of the lineup, and then he will be gone for the year, and for good.

Would it be a crime to bat him 7th or 8th for a while until he comes around? Put Drew in the No. 3 spot and move Bay and Lowell up a spot. Not rocket science.

Keeps the loyalty factor intact, keeps him in the game, keeps him active in leadership role.

He'll be back, I'm not sure he'll reach his 2004-2007 numbers but he'll be a serious threat. He needs not to read the newspaper (oh he might get his wish). Everyone should chill.

He'll be back, maybe not to the height of his career but he will remain a threat for a few years. He needs to stop reading the paper (he might get that wish).
Everyone needs to chill. I think it is very difficult for a dh. They have a long time between at bats with nothing to concentrate on but that. Tough cycle. Let's hope our hitting coach earns his salary.

The 11 gam streak ended with Luog starting. Each game he was in since the sox lost. Time to send him back totriple A let him play three weeks without an erro and bat at least 310 then bring him back. He clearly is not ready right now!

"Big Papi, you're the man in Red Sox Nation. ........We believe in you"

Who is this "we" you speak of. Do you have a gerbil in your pocket. Ortiz stinks.

What he did in the past is yesterdays news. He's getting paid to produce and he is not doing it. I am glad he feels good at the plate cause he is the only one that does. I'm not talking Sh** I'm talking the truth. He's fat and out of shape. Do your job and quit whining you baby. If I didn't do mine they'd get someone else to do it. They don't go on what I did in the past. You had your chances and your not coming through. Enough coddling.

Big Papi
We are with you, man. If you never got another hit, Red Sox nation couldn't repay you for the thrills given us over the years. Hang in there, it will all come back.

no more juice, no more BIG PAPI...you all know it, don't you?

Hey Carpi, the Dodgers best team in baseball? Check out the competition. Giants, Rockies, Diamonds. Hello? Let's put them in there with the Sox, Yanks, Jays and Devils and see where they stand.

I loved Ortiz and agree with those saying he'll always have a place.

But, come on... We need to be winning games that are getting away from us and would not be with production from #3. Big Popup! doesn't cut it. Sit this man down for a while and bring in someone who can hit.

This is a business folks. David knows he has to perform, just like everyone else, and the only thing that should buy him time is belief he will turn it around. When the sox feel they need to move him, they'll move him. As fans we should simply hope its not too late, and that David is mature enough and caring enough about what's best for the team to accept the decisions of management. You people crack me up. This ain't Fever's Pitch... these guys play for millions and it's real. David knows that.

We Love you Big Papi whether you have 10 years left or this year is it. Take your time you earned it. Anyone who has the nerve to say anything about Papi just remember what you were whining about 6 years ago!! 86 years of futility well we don't worry about that anymore do we. Without Big Papi we don't win one forget about two World Series Championships. In my book Big Papi is an all time best Red Sox and deserves and has earned the right to try and work things out for as long as he wishes. If Papi does work things out would you like to see him on any other team? WE LOVE YOU PAPI

Joe Torre once hit A-Roid sixth in the order when he was in a slump. Theo and Tito, (Sounds like a gay boy band) are into kissing their guys' behinds til they turn pink. These two metrosexuals should call Coach Belichik for a seminar on the role sentimentality plays in professional sports.

Get a grip, Boston. He's toast. Watch him; don't hope. He has lost his edge (along with his steroid-injecting needles). He has taken the same fall as Jason Giambi; off the 'roids and HGH, they become the hitter they always were without the juice. Remember Minnesota giving up on him so readily? MInnesota? They have one of the best organizations in baseball in judging talent (just never the money to spend on them once they blossom). They canned him because they saw him pre-juice.

And then Big Pop-up criticizes Youkilis and others saying the line-up needed more to replace Manny. Hey, maybe he was right and could see before us that his own skills were trashed , and thus the need for more pop in the line-up. WIshed we had listened to him, but he really did a disservice to his present teammates to pine away for the cancer Ramirez and crap all over them . . . especially now when both Pedroia and Youkilis make him look like a Single A batter lost in the major leagues.

Now comes the best part; he will hit a game-winning homer in the next month (even a blind squirrel finds an acorn) and the fawning will begin again about how he is getting it back. Realize the truth, Red Sox Nation: he's toast, and the more Texiera acts like Texiera, the more it will hurt as you plummet in to third place when Drew's next malady puts him on the DL mid-June. At least the Monster seats will get easier to score.

Anybody who dismisses the idea that Otiz was juicing is being incredibly naive. I hope he gets back on the juice and starts hitting HR's because this is utterly painful.

I think he's simply lost wrist strength. In other words, he's got the same problem he had last year, even though the injuries may be technically healed. That's why he's cheating on fastballs and that may be why he claps his hands every time he steps out of the box. If his wrists.are numb, clapping may make him feel better somehow. How long has he been doing that anyway?

Nothing lasts forever. Papi has been unbelievable the past few years. And as Sox fans we are eternally grateful for what he have done.
I'm sure he will improve, but the current slide started last year. He is never going to be the Ortiz of years past. He might get a hot streak, but after watching the Rays walk Pedroia to pitch to Ortiz, you know what the rest of the league thinks.
Action neeeds to be taken. With the current line-up, we can't be competitive with the Rays without a real #3 hitter. Let's all show some class and give papi a big hand on his 1st Ab when he gets dropped to 7/8 to let him know we appreciate all he has done..

Spoken like a guy who realizes failure to get a hit, and dealing with that frustration is a huge part of the game. Papi defied probability and statistics for so long that just being an average hitter seems like an abysmal failure.... I hope he's still got some gas left in the tank, but either way he is the greatest Sox player of my lifetime, both on and off the field....

There's a real payoff if Ortiz can get his hitting stroke back. big time. There's a real loss to giving up too soon. Give the man time to find his stroke. Coming back from a wrist injury must be terribly difficult for someone who swings a bat for a living. And let's not forget, the man was magic for the Sox for several years and instrumental in bringing the only two championships since 1918. Papi Chulo!

"I will do things, you mofos !! I will break Babe Ruth's greatest record. You know, the one where he ate 94 hot dogs in one sitting. My diet of 67 cheeseburgers a day just isn't getting it done. And I heard Grey Poupon raises your on base percentage."

I imagine he will break out of this slump. I would never degrade or do ill to a player who has been a moster in the clutch for over five years. Their are a lot of vermin on the radio that indeed like to see individuals fail. The winning at all cost is a nasty part of sporting life that I just try to turn my head away from. Remember, something like 60% of all adult males think that with the training the could play pro sports. I love you Papi. Tell them To blow it ou their @@@. MAXTUCK.
-NP FLORIDA

Big Poppi - not sure if you ever read this. But keep the clubhouse loose and stay relaxed. There's no one I would EVER rather have at the plate with the game on the line than you.

Stop listening to the negative comments. Real Red Sox fans will always believe in you.

Ortiz is done. The bat speed is gone, so there is nothing to correct. He did a tremendous job working with what he had left last year, but the league is on to him.

Seems as though the strict drug testing done now has coincided with Papi's demise. A hitting coach does not make a player become Superman but testosterone will. Papi wasn't anything until he came to Boston...and started using steroids. Manny is the real talent between those two guys. Manny could probably hit it over the monster while sitting in a wheelchair. Manny is the reason you won those titles...at least that first one. Ortiz was just along for the ride and got fastballs down the middle of the plate because Manny hit behind him.

he misses his friends, even though manny is an [expletive], to use his phrase.

off topic: i miss that coco crisp!

How many movies have we seen where the hero's head goes soft only to return to it's glory again.I say this movie is running it's last frames.Papi has to stop and look at the numbers.It's time for this old horse to take a break,the Sox won't miss him.Go down to the minors and find out if you still got it,David.Stop embarrasing yourself and your team.By the way,take your good buddy Lugo with you.....

After a 1-0 victory againts the Blue Jays on April 29th, 2008 David Ortiz was hitting .172. The difference was that I think he had 6 homers. Before he got injured last year, he was on a tear. Projecting his stats out for 162 games in '08, Ortiz would have had 35 homers and 130 RBIs. At the current pace he'll have 0 homers and 80 RBIs. That's not a "gradual decline"...that's a stunning fall of a cliff. The MLB network showed a side-by-side last year and this year of Ortiz starting his swing motion. Last year his front leg kick was dramatically higher and he started his overall motion much earlier. So maybe it's something with his mechanics that can be worked on. Overall his swing looks much more tentative this year, like something's in his head. I think we need to give him through May though and you know Tito will give him the benefit of the doubt for a long time...maybe jump Youk to 3rd and put Ortiz between Bay and Lowell in the mean time. That could help take he pressure off.