David "Big Papi" Ortiz

Has anyone else noticed that Ortiz seems to be having more fun this year? I don’t know if it’s because he’s feeling better physically (he reportedly lost 25 pounds in the off- season), hitting better (he currently leads the AL with a .424 batting average), or trying to keep the mood up in the clubhouse. Whatever it is, I hope Ortiz stays with it.

David Ortiz has always been one of those players that seem to embrace the fans of the game. He’s not afraid of giving hugs (he is known as “Big Papi” afterall), smiles, handshakes, etc. to the public. This season, he just seems to be lighting up more, and his bat is showing it as well.

I wrote in a post a few weeks ago how Ortiz tried to steal second, something we would’ve never seen under Terry Francona’s watchful eye. It made a little sense though because if the other team had to hold Ortiz on first base, there is more of a window for the batter to hit the ball through. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll see an Ortiz steal a base this season. In the words of “Angels in the Outfield,” “It could happen.”

This offseason, Ortiz was faced with the reality that his cholesterol was high. Rather than go on medication, Ortiz was decided to eat better and workout more to control it. The result was him losing 25 pounds, being down to 250.

I have defended Ortiz’s weight to many, MANY people over the years. So many people think that he’s out of shape and can’t play the game anymore (mind you, many of these remarks came when Ortiz was struggling at the plate). But really, Ortiz looks to be in better shape than a lot of the “superstars” of the game.

Ortiz is listed as 6’4” and 250 pounds. Miguel Cabrera, who many consider one of the best players in the game, is listed at 6’4” and 240 pounds. That’s only a ten pound difference. Ryan Howard is listed as 6’4” and 240 pounds as well. Prince Fielder is listed as 5’11” and 275 pounds. CC Sabathia is 6’7” and 290 pounds (I know, he’s a pitcher, but Ortiz is a DH).

Of you look at these other “superstars,” Ortiz seems about average in that group. Yes, he could probably afford to lose a few more pounds, but couldn’t we say the same for any of us? My point is, has always produced, but now that he’s a healthier, he’s going to make people realize that he’s not going anywhere.

And speaking of not going anywhere, Ortiz took a one-year/ $14.5 million deal with the Red Sox this offseason. He said he offered to play for a two-year/ $25 million contract, but the Red Sox refused. If Ortiz continues to play the way he has the last three weeks, the Red Sox management/owners are going to be kicking themselves. Ortiz said:

I told them last year, ‘You should sign me now because I’m going to have a great year, and it’s going to cost you money.’ I told them the same thing this year.

Ortiz is also hitting the ball the other way more often, causing some teams to reconsider going with the shift to right field. The other night, he hit a ball down the third base line, which is something you wouldn’t have seen last year very often. But, Ortiz doesn’t seem to care how the other team defends him. He told The Boston Globe:

I don’t even care about the shift anymore. When they do it, they’re going to pitch me a certain way, but I know they’re going to give me one pitch on the outside part of the plate, and that I try to drive to the opposite field. And if I keep doing that, they’re going to pitch me in, in, and more in, and that’s fine with me, too.

Besides Ortiz’s great contributions on the field, he does many things off the field as well. He has the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which helps children in need from Boston to his home country of the Dominican Republic. He is also a contributor to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Josh Beckett Foundation, and The Mark Wahlberg Youth Fund, on top of all the other things he does within the Red Sox organization.

On top of all that, another reason to love Big Papi is he really is a comedian. He’s done two commercials now that have literally caused me to laugh out loud. Please find the links below to these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0iR05lYy1g
The famous ESPN commercial with Wally and Jorge Posada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmqND3OKJyw
The new Majestic commercial “Wear Your Hero”

And one of my all-time favorite sports commercials/segments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhriSwt11_k
The MLBFanCave segment where he wins over the Yankees fans… because really, who wouldn’t want a hug from David Ortiz?

It think we can all get behind a player like Big Papi, especially with the way he’s been playing….