Comments on: David Ortiz unlikely to return this season

By: bigharold

bigharold — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 17:42:02 +0000

If Ortiz played for the Yankee he’d likely get Giambi/Teixeira syndrome. It an affliction that left handed power hitters suffer from that makes you think you can hit the ball over the RF fence at will. The symptoms are you turn into a dead pull hitter, having to increasing face “the shift” and while ones HR totals go up, they generally lose about 30 points off their average.

Strictly from an offensive standpoint Ortiz would be a better DH than the Yankees current DH by committee but there are two problems with signing him. One, the Yankees have aging infielders under contract for the foreseeable future that will be seeing a lot more DH time in the coming years as the Yankees attempt to keep them healthy and their bats productive. Two, the Yankees don’t really like the DH only type and that’s one can expect from Ortiz. He absolutely terrible defensively and with inter league play that is a liability that the Yankees don’t want. They’ve been lucky that Ibanez, Jones and Chavez remained healthy and relatively productive, .. despite them fading some in the second half. Due to injuries these guys have played WAY more defense than the Yankees ever expected. But, I don’t think the Yankees are willing to paint themselves into a corner with the DH spot too. I’d bet Cashman realizes that he sort of dodge a bullet this year with his veteran bats and I doubt he wants to push his luck.

I think Ortiz still has something in the tank and if the RS don’t sign him, .. which could go either way, .. I’d bet he ends up with the Rays. Pena isn’t coming back so that right there frees up 7-8 mil, which gets then into Ortiz territory. Because, no matter who signs Ortiz, .. he’s taking a pay cut. And, the Rays really need the offensive help.

By: bigharold

bigharold — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 17:16:54 +0000

Maybe because they’re paying him an obscene amount of money to play baseball and he should do everything reasonable to earn that salary?

And, I’m not sure that him shutting down the last month and a half of the season is the message that will help him get the top dollar multi-year deal he thinks he deserves.

By: legacybroken

legacybroken — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:16:54 +0000

I think the Red Sox shouldnt resign Ortiz. Instead they should extend Bobby V’s contract for 10 years and make him the highest paid manager.

By: pisano

pisano — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:59:39 +0000

Good point, I was thinking the same thing, and the Yankees would take him in a heart beat, especially if Boston low balls him or doesn’t even make an offer. He’s sign with the Yankees just to spite Boston. He would be an upgrade at their DH spot.

By: willclarkgameface

willclarkgameface — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:53:35 +0000

Not only is he not going to come back this year, his production that we’ve seen the last couple of years will also not make a return appearance regardless of the fact that he’ll be trying to pop balls over the right field fence in Yankee Stadium 81 games a year.

Red Sox won’t pay for that and they shouldn’t. Injury prone DH’s don’t help your ball club.

Again, for those dip shits with the names Larry Lucchino, John Henry, Larry Werner, and Ben Cherringtion: Injury prone DH’s don’t help your ball club.

By: henryd3rd

henryd3rd — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 12:44:27 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him coming back for the final weeks of the season. He has something to prove and he needs to show any possible suitors that he is still a viable DH

By: spudatx

spudatx — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:20:26 +0000

Not with a record like the team has this year. As a 36-year old free agent, a few more at-bats won’t help his value. He’ll work on making sure he is healthy and can pass any physical and have his agent do the rest.

By: kevinleaptrot

kevinleaptrot — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:03:13 +0000

I wonder if he’d be more interested in coming back if Valentine was shown the door.

By: chill1184

chill1184 — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 02:57:40 +0000

Why risk re-injuring himself when his team is clearly out of it? Get well Ortiz.

By: randygnyc

randygnyc — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 01:49:19 +0000

“It’s not really my call. I mean, if he’s healthy and he loves to play the game of baseball, he could always go out there and bat it around a little.”

Anyone else read this as BV calling out Ortiz?