Big Papi Overrated?
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by user Dukeboy999
This question came to me while hearing David Ortiz called one of the best players in baseball on the radio. Let me tell you why this guy is not really that great.
Between 2000 and 2002 David Ortiz hit only 48 home runs combined over that three year stretch. Over those three years he hit .282, .234, .272. The most RBI's he ever had with the twins was 75.
For now lets concentrate on why he is only a good hitter and not a great hitter. This is his 10th major league season and he still has only 218 major league home runs.
That's only an average of 21.8. Second, he hits in front of Manny Ramirez, one of the best hitters in the game. I could hit 10 or 15 home runs if I saw that many good pitches.
Also, when Ortiz comes to the plate there is no one left on the left side of the infield. All he would have to do is hit it the other way every other time up and be hitting .500.
Now don't say that he is the most clutch player in baseball either. Somehow it seems to work out that every single time he comes up to the plate in the 9th inning there are at least two guys on base.
Given that many opportunites, anyone could hit a few walk off homers. And thats just the downsides to his hitting. If the have to play in a national league park in the world series, he can't play the field. He is a liability at first. Or what happnes if he leads off the bottom of the ninth in a tie game. They walk him to get to Manny. Manny could triple to the gap and Ortiz still would not score because he is so slow.
Now I'm not saying that Ortiz isn't a great guy because he is. But given the same situation Vladimir Guerrero or even Jason Bay could do just as well if not better.
David Ortiz is a great player, but not top 15 in baseball. He doesn't go from solid player to superstar overnight, without a ton of things helping him along. There is a reason he wasn't as good with the Twins. He didn't have the best hitter of his era hitting behind him. And he didn't have the short porch in right to hit fly balls out all day.
Point is he is very good at best, but David Ortiz is no superstar.
Date
Thu 08/10/06, 11:45 am EST
626874873683963903203404
