Happy, healthy Papi ready for ’08
MLB. There were times last season when Sox designated hitter David Ortiz didn’t flash his trademark toothy, white smile and didn’t seem his joyful, playful self.
Hampered by a balky left knee and irked by the headlines on a local story that clumsily attempted to link the 32-year-old to performance-enhancing drugs, Ortiz wasn’t always his happy-go-lucky self.
But successful knee surgery and a second World Series Trophy did much to raise Ortiz’s spirit, and he seemed much more his bombastic self during a scene around the batting cages last weekend.
The lefty slugger finished tacking his hacks against Danny Kolb and then imparted a quick message for Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon as he sauntered across the field.
“Hey Cinco Ocho,” said Ortiz, using Papelbon’s nickname. “Why don’t you get out on the mound, ’cause I got something for you.”
That slice of baseball bravado is just the kind of thing that the old cocksure Ortiz would throw out there, and it serves as proof positive that he’s hitting his stride after an extended layoff following November knee surgery.
“I started hitting in January when the doctor told me to,” said Ortiz. “It’s different. He didn’t want me to do anything until I was 100 percent.”
Despite last season’s obstacles, Boston’s No. 3 hitter still put up a thunderous season at the dish. Ortiz finished fourth in the AL in MVP voting after setting career highs with a .332 batting average and 52 doubles while still collecting 35 homers and 117 RBI. Last season’s noticeable drop in home run power should be a thing of the past, and the offseason surgery may actually help reenergize Big Papi.
“It all comes down to him knowing his swing,” said Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan. “What makes it easy with him is that he’s so approachable, despite all the success that he’s had.
“He’s at the age and he’s had enough experience that he knows what he needs to do to be ready by March 19,” added Magadan. “When I got older and I was still playing, the older I got the less and less I hit during the offseason. He’s got the luxury of using spring training to get ready [for the sea,son] and some of these younger players that are worried about winning a job simply don’t have the same benefit.”