Ortiz Quiets Critics, Reddick Impressive in Loss

The media has been buzzing about Ortiz’s slow start in Spring Training and his lack of power. After hitting a HR in the exhibition game against Northeastern, Ortiz had a power outage until yesterday’s big fly against the Orioles in a losing effort. That blast, temporarily, put the kibosh on discussions of Ortiz being over the hill and unable to contribute in 2010.

I’m not saying the concern for Ortiz’s lack of production is not unwarranted, especially after his half-season slump in 2009, but it is Spring Training. For everyday starters in the majors, Spring Training is nothing more than an opportunity to take a few hacks and field a few ground balls to get loose for the upcoming season. There is nothing for them to prove if their roster spot is locked, so a veteran’s stat line means very little.

For younger players, however, Spring Training is the perfect opportunity to catch the eye of the ‘big cheese’ in the front office. After hitting a big HR yesterday against Baltimore, Josh Reddick padded his already outstanding numbers this March. This Spring he is showing off his offensive strength in a huge way, by hitting .478 in 9 games (23 AB’s) with a HR, Triple, 4 doubles, 6 RBI’s and 20 total bases.

Reddick has had more AB’s than any other player this Spring, which is a strong indication that the Sox management wants to see what he is capable of going forward and he has not disappointed. If it weren’t for the addition of Jeremy Hermida, Reddick would most likely be the Sox 4th outfielder and in the event of an injury, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the majors for an extended period of time.

For now, Reddick will play every day in AAA and wait for his opportunity. Don’t be surprised to see this young kid roaming the Fenway outfield on a consistent basis within the next year or two, which is a great sign given the age of Mike Cameron and J.D. Drew.