Big Papi wins “Big Pop” Silver Slugger Award
By Earl Nash
The man the Red Sox almost did not sign, David Ortiz, won his 6th Silver Slugger award, selected as the American League’s Silver Slugger winner at designated hitter Wednesday and he can place it right next to his Most Valuable Player trophy from the World Series.
Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (left) hoists the series MVP trophy while being interviewed by FOX reporter Erin Andrews after game six of the MLB baseball World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park. The Red Sox won 6-1 to win the series four games to two. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
2013 award winners by league and position: American League
1B – Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
2B – Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
3B – Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
SS – J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
OF – Mike Trout, L.A. Angels
OF – Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers
OF – Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
C – Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
DH – David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
National League
1B – Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
2B – Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
3B – Pedro Alvarez, Pittsburgh Pirates
SS – Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
OF – Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
OF – Michael Cuddyer, Colorado Rockies
OF – Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds
C – Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
P – Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers
From MLB.com/cbssports.com/:
It was the sixth career Silver Slugger for Ortiz but just his second since 2007. He also took home the award in the 2004-07 seasons and in 2011. The powerful lefty was Boston’s lone Silver Slugger winner this year.
Ortiz’s six Silver Sluggers at DH extend his own record. He is now tied with Wade Boggs and Manny Ramirez for most Silver Sluggers in Red Sox history.
Ortiz was a force for Boston throughout a memorable 2013 season, hitting .309 with 30 homers, 103 RBIs and a .959 OPS.
When the season started, there were questions about Big Papi’s health, as a right Achilles injury kept him out for most of the second half of last season. But those questions were answered early. After spending the opening portion of the season on the disabled list, Ortiz returned on April 20 and was healthy the rest of the way.
The 37-year-old Ortiz also stepped up in the postseason, including a game-tying grand slam in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against the Tigers that is sure to go down as one of the most memorable hits in Red Sox history.
“Well, if David doesn’t hit the grand slam to win Game 2 against Detroit, we might not be standing here today,” manager John Farrell said the day of the World Series parade. “Going back to Detroit down 0-2 vs. 1-1 was a major shift in the whole postseason.”
And in the World Series, Ortiz took it up even another notch, hitting .688 (11-for-16) with two homers, six RBIs and a 1.948 OPS.
Ortiz was asked at a news conference how often he got as hot as he did in the World Series.
“I did it like 20 times this year,” chuckled Ortiz. “I was born for this.”
which he can place aside his Most Valuable Player trophy from the World Series, David Ortiz collected yet more hardware, being selected as the cxWednesday.
It was the sixth career Silver Slugger for Ortiz but just his second since 2007. He also took home the award in the 2004-07 seasons and in 2011. The powerful lefty was Boston’s lone Silver Slugger winner this year.
Ortiz’s six Silver Sluggers at DH extend his own record. He is now tied with Wade Boggs and Manny Ramirez for most Silver Sluggers in Red Sox history.
Ortiz was a force for Boston throughout a memorable 2013 season, hitting .309 with 30 homers, 103 RBIs and a .959 OPS.
When the season started, there were questions about Big Papi’s health, as a right Achilles injury kept him out for most of the second half of last season. But those questions were answered early. After spending the opening portion of the season on the disabled list, Ortiz returned on April 20 and was healthy the rest of the way.
The 37-year-old Ortiz also stepped up in the postseason, including a game-tying grand slam in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against the Tigers that is sure to go down as one of the most memorable hits in Red Sox history.
“Well, if David doesn’t hit the grand slam to win Game 2 against Detroit, we might not be standing here today,” manager John Farrell said the day of the World Series parade. “Going back to Detroit down 0-2 vs. 1-1 was a major shift in the whole postseason.”
And in the World Series, Ortiz took it up even another notch, hitting .688 (11-for-16) with two homers, six RBIs and a 1.948 OPS.
Ortiz was asked at a news conference how often he got as hot as he did in the World Series.
“I did it like 20 times this year,” chuckled Ortiz. “I was born for this.”
cbssports.com/