Red Sox: 5 things we learned in the first half

David Ortiz

Of course, in the cleanup spot…

More from BoSox Injection

• Red Sox Nation deserves far more from Fenway Sports Group
• Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
• Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
• Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
• Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure

Ortiz is now 40 years-old and he has not lost a step. Forget about all the quotes of Ortiz complaining about his sore feet and just look at what he’s been able to do, yet again, in his 20th season. It is remarkable. No one has ever gone out the way Ortiz is and there may not be another player in history we can directly compare to him.

In the 81 games played this year, Ortiz has a .332 BA, 22 HR, 72 RBI, stat line and was voted into his 10th All-star game. If he had finished the year with those numbers, I doubt there would have been much of a complaint. But, instead Big Papi is on pace for what could be his best year yet, and the thought of him retiring grows more haunting by the day. Not just the stats he puts up, but the timing those individual hits and home runs come in are simply clutch.

Big Papi is still up to his usual antics and bigger-than-life persona, and Red Sox fans are going to be in for quite the shock, as life without David Ortiz becomes a reality in 2017.

Next: John Farrell a bonus