Is Ortiz finished?

[mass1926]

After seeing Ortiz get pinch hit for by back-up DH Mike Lowell with the bases full, I think the Sox are saying he's done for. They have no more confidence in him, and whether or not there was a lefty on the mound that night in Texas, let me ask you this: What good is an overpaid player who can't play the field, can't run, is struggling at his only job which is to swing a bat, and isn't even considered usuable against a left-handed pitcher? The answer I believe is that he is of no more use. Let me know wht you think.

I hate the sox as a natural Yankees fan would, and this makes me super excited to see Ortiz fall to pieces. Yes, I am aware Teixeira is struggling, but he does every year early on and he also is a Gold Glove first baseman so he cannot be mentioned in the same conversation as the struggling Ortiz.

 

[Cy/MiG]

Pretty much, but it's to be expected. Hitters like Papi are feast or famine.

Once their start to lose their vision and/or just a little in bat speed, it's all downhill.

If pitchers know that a 'power hitter' can't locate or connect on a fastball or worse yet spot the change in speeds breaking pitches, they can just throw strikes all day and eat the hitter alive.

 

[thetmfobserver]

Adrian Gonzalez. Alex Gonzalez is a shortstop for the Blue Jays.


I'm a Red Sox fan, and yes, Ortiz is done. Perhaps he could be picked up by another team and have a successful remainder of the season, but I think his days in Fenway are numbered.

I'm only glad the Lowell deal to Texas fell through, or we'd really be screwed.

At least I take solace in the fact that Tampa is also far and away better than the Yankees. 🙂

 

[Cy/MiG]

He just can't catch up to the fastball anymore. I don't understand how "wear and tear" could be affecting him since his only job essentially has been to swing a bat for the past 7 years. He doesn't play the field or anything so I mean there really isn't any reason why at age 34 he's swinging like he's 44. Either he just didn't prepare well in the off-season or pitchers finally learned how to get him out. I mean, Jim Thome is 39 or 40 and still getting it done, and Edgar Martinez was still raking the ball at like 40 in his time. Age 34 or 35 is definitley not a good reason why a guy whose only job is to swing a bat can't keep up anymore.

Yeah, his decline is probably due to lack of physical conditioning, although I do believe he had a wrist injury sometime in the last 2 years (which is a HUGE factor in bat swing/speed).

I remember that Edgar didn't really condition himself physically during the offseason, but he did do things to train hand/eye coordination (can't remember what, exactly) and plus he was just so naturally gifted.

 

[thetmfobserver]

True, but it does make me slightly more optimistic. And, of course, I had just kicked his butt of my fantasy team. Ah well.