To the victor go the spoils…unless you are the reigning World Series MVP and the man who helped bring a town once haunted by a made up curse, self loathing and despair 3 titles in a decade. David “Big Papi” Ortiz has had it. Never one to hold his tongue or play it safe, the hard hitting Boston DH wants a contract extension from the Sox...and wants anyone saying his demands are outrageous to “Shut the F$%# up!”
Big Papi arrived for Spring Training and immediately sounded off on the “Haters” (by the way I despise that expression. But I am writing about the Sox so…). Ortiz made the point that other players putting up his numbers are playing for 25 million a year…he isn’t wrong. The Sox are the champs and David is a huge factor in that equation. He has been as important to the success of the franchise as any player in their history. He is a winner. He is a leader. And I’ll say it.... I like the guy. I have had the chance to meet Big Papi a few times. He is a straight shooter and has a great deal of respect for the Yankees and their fan base. He gets it. And that goes a long way with me. This is the greatest rivalry in sports and I think David relishes the FACT that he makes the Sox side go.
Since coming over from Minnesota he has helped change the attitude in Boston. The whole city now believes that they can win it all…and then gear up and do it again. It makes us angry as Yankee fans because we always had it over the Sox Nation. They knew in their hearts that in the end the Yankees would take hope away from them…until David Ortiz and his generation of Sox.
He is, in a way, their Derek Jeter. He is the face of the club. He leads and comes through when they need him. So why balk at giving him a deal that will repay him for all he’s done and let him retire in the Shadow of the “Green Monstah”...I haven’t a clue, but it’s a wicked, big mistake.
Remember that great ESPN ad a few years back where Papi tried on Jorge Posada’s Yankee cap as Wally the Green Monster walked by? In 2011, I asked Papi why he was waiting for the Sox (who pulled this same stunt then) to give him a deal. He could find that short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium a lot more wearing pinstripes. He laughed, but mentioned that his club should it get done soon. They did that year. Had they not…well I’ll tell you they wouldn’t have been champs in 2013. David Ortiz nearly won the series himself this past October. “PAY DAT MAN HIS MONEY.”
David is right. He isn’t asking for a Jay-Z fueled 300 million. He is asking for 2 more years at a rate that he has more than earned. He may not put up the same numbers he did last year…but he also just might. Who is to say that he can’t keep hitting the way he has? He's a DH. That will save his legs and let him focus on driving the ball. I know Sox Nation think Nap, Gomes and the power of “The Beard” can carry them to another title, but THEY ARE OUTTA THEIR MINDS! Pedy at the top and Papi in the middle is the only way they can do it again. Period. That’s the end of that story. They locked up Dustin. Now give Ortiz what he wants…or don’t. If I were Cashman I’d sign a pissed off Big Papi for a year IMMEDIATELY after the season ends.
The bottom line is that there have been ridiculous contracts (**cough** Cano) recently. We see sub .500, journeyman pitchers making 50 million. It is out of hand and I can see why fans and writers would be fed up with it all…but some guys are worth it. Not only for what they do on the field for the team, but for what they mean to their teammates, the organization, the fans and the cities they play in. Big Papi is one of those players.
He is Boston Strong and for the Sox to let him twist in the wind is weak.
--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
"Paulie was always my favorite player."
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