Rumors Involving The Struggling David Ortiz!
Does it happen tonight? Time will tell us very soon as the the rumors involving the struggling David Ortiz have been running wild for days now. Do the Boston Red Sox and manager Terry Francona make the difficult decision to drop Ortiz down in the Boston line-up? With the Sox game scheduled to get underway in just over 2 hours, the baseball world, their fans and especially Red Sox Nation (RSN) will have the answer. It’s kinda funny since I first talked about the idea of lowering Big Papi in the line-up about two weeks ago, since some of you thought I was crazy at the time.
Big Papi’s having a hard time getting going in the 2009 campaign, but we need to remember he dealt with the wrist injury that bothered him last season, which could possibility still be hampering him. Plus pitchers are approaching him much more differently this season without (the suspended steroid user) Manny Ramirez batting behind him. You cross out Manny and pencil in Kevin Youkilis and the opposing teams pitching coaches not only will be smiling but very much relieved. They’ll change the way they have their pitching staff approach Ortiz, and they have since the season opened in early April. Ortiz isn’t seeing the same pitches as he was last year with Ramirez behind him, and I think it’s messing with his head a little.
No matter when or what the Sox do in regards to this current problem, both Ortiz and the Sox will be better in the long run. On the team’s side if they make the change and drop Ortiz, they have the hitters to switch the line-up around and still be a very high powered offense. Especially when you have names like Jason Bay, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowellto go with Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury, the Sox will be in great shape. With Lowell’s hot bat lately they could slide him up to the 3rd spot and keep Youkilis in the clean-up spot. Or they could use Drew in the 3rd spot and keep the rest of the line-up pretty much the same.
From Ortiz’s side if the Sox do decide to lower him it allows him the time and the chance to refocus, concentrate, and relax. And most importantly it’ll help Ortiz to breath and exhale, kinda regain some new life with over half a season left to still be played. The move would also allow him time to get back to the basics and find his swing again, which once that happens the rest of the MLB had better look out. Ortiz will be fine, RSN like it’s been reported doesn’t need to hit the panic button or rush and make a trade for another hitter.
A month from now when the 2009 All-Star Game will be fast approaching Ortiz and his struggles will be a distant memory. You can mark my words on that, that’s how confident I am in not only the Sox but one of Boston’s greatest hitters. Mr. David Ortiz. The man who breathed new life back into the club in 2004 and helped carry us past the dreaded Yankees. It’s funny how quickly people forget and want to crucify a player when they’re slumping. I for one fully believe Big Papi will be back very soon, and once he finds and fixes the problem, he’ll have the fear of god in the minds right back into pitchers around the league! LET’S GO BIG PAPI!