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David Ortiz News & Rumors

The Ortiz case, from both sides of the plate
February 12
Boston Globe
 
"David Ortiz's salary for 2012 will be on the docket tomorrow in St. Petersburg, Fla., unless the sides reach an agreement before his arbitration hearing. The Red Sox will make their case for a $12.65 million figure, against Ortiz's $16.5 million request. It will be the job of a three-member panel to rule one way or the other, based on the midway point, which is $14.575 million. It's a fascinating case in that Ortiz is a DH and the Red Sox' number is likely based on comparables of other DHs. Detroit's Victor Martinez, for instance, earns an average salary of $12.5 million. Chicago's Adam Dunn earns an average of $14 million, though he played 35 games at first base."
Ortiz wants to make deal, avoid arbitration
February 6
MLB.com
 
"Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz said he wants a multi-year deal and would like to avoid salary arbitration for next season. The slugger told MLB.com that his arbitration hearing is scheduled for a date close to Feb. 12. "We are working on that right now," Ortiz said at a banquet for the participants in Major League Baseball's Venezuela-Dominican Showcase. "Hopefully, we will get to an agreement so we don't have to go in front of the judge." The Red Sox have offered a $12.65 million salary to Ortiz, but he has asked for $16.5 million. Ortiz, who hit .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBIs for Boston last season, wants to come to an agreement soon."
David Ortiz resolution far from arbitrary
February 3
Boston Herald
 
"First things first: David Ortiz will play for the Red Sox this season. That much was guaranteed in December when Ortiz ended his free agency by accepting salary arbitration. The issue now, and perhaps at a hearing within the next two weeks, is how much he will get paid, and the difference of opinion is wider than a Billy Cundiff field goal attempt. Ortiz wants $16.5 million; the Red Sox are offering $12.65 million, less than a 2 percent raise from his average annual salary the past five years. The sides have been unable to compromise, and if they remain stalemated, each will make its argument to an independent three-person panel, which will choose either Big Papi's number or the team's."
Source: David Ortiz 'likely' to hearing
February 1
ESPN.com
 
"It appears "likely" that the Boston Red Sox and David Ortiz are headed to a hearing to decide his arbitration case, a major league source with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday. The source also said the hearing was not scheduled for this week, so there is still time to negotiate. If the sides do go to a hearing, it will be the team's first since Tim Wakefield in 2002. Hearings began Tuesday and continue through Feb. 17 in St. Petersburg, Fla. At the hearing, an independent arbitration panel would decide on Ortiz's 2012 salary, choosing between numbers submitted by the team and the player."
Source: Hearing increasingly likely for Ortiz, Red Sox
January 31
Foxsports.com
 
"The Boston Red Sox and David Ortiz remain far apart in talks about his 2012 contract, making a salary arbitration hearing increasingly likely, one major-league source told FOXSports.com. The sides have made little recent progress in negotiations, the source indicated, setting up what could be an uncomfortable hearing for the 36-year-old. Ortiz has been one of the most popular and productive Red Sox since joining the organization before the 2003 season. In a hearing – which has been tentatively scheduled for mid-February – he would listen to Red Sox representatives argue why he deserves a $12.65 million salary, rather than the $16.5 million he has requested."
David Ortiz will be ready to take on Sox in arbitration
January 20
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz has never gone through the arbitration process, but he isn't shirking from the possibility of going to a hearing with the Red Sox if the sides can't agree on his 2012 salary by next month. "I guess that's part of the game," Ortiz said last night from the Boston Baseball Writers' dinner at the Westin Copley. "I guess from the business standpoint that's how it goes, right?" Ortiz ended his free agency in December by accepting the Sox' offer of arbitration, a decision that assured he will return for a 10th season with the club. But when the sides exchanged salary figures this week, there was a nearly $4 million gap."
Ellsbury back in fold, Ortiz still on hold
January 18
Boston Herald
 
"The Red Sox were 1-for-2 with their big arbitration candidates yesterday. First, they signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a one-year, $8.05 million deal that justifiably more than triples their all-everything center fielder's salary. Then, they failed to reach an agreement with designated hitter David Ortiz [stats], who didn't mess around when it came time to exchange figures with the team. According to CBS Sports, Ortiz asked for $16.5 million, while the Sox countered with just a modest raise from last year's $12.5 million salary to $12.65 million. Hearings don't begin until Feb.?1, and the sides are free to continue negotiating until then, but the gulf between them certainly suggests they'll have"
Ellsbury, Papi in line for healthy raises
January 17
Boston Herald
 
"The deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures is today, and the Red Sox should prepare for a couple of cases of sticker shock. David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury are among the eight Sox who remain eligible for arbitration, and both are coming off All-Star seasons, which should lead to considerable raises. It should be noted that today's deadline merely is to exchange figures. The two sides can continue negotiating before hearings take place in February. Under previous general manager Theo Epstein, the Red Sox did not take a single case before an arbitrator in nine years. New GM Ben Cherington no doubt would like that streak to continue."
David Ortiz chooses to take arbitration
December 8
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz is betting on himself. As expected, Ortiz met last night's 11:59 p.m. deadline by informing the Red Sox that he will accept arbitration, according to an industry source. The decision all but guarantees Big Papi will return for a 10th season, and the Red Sox will keep his potent bat in the middle of their lineup. Initially, Ortiz had been seeking a multiyear contract. But the market for designated hitters — even one who notched 29 homers, 96 RBI and a .953 on-base plus slugging percentage last season — wasn't strong, and arbitration became his best option."
Expect David Ortiz to be back
December 7
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz' tenure with the Red Sox will last for at least one more season. With the market for full-time designated hitters shrinking, Ortiz is planning to accept salary arbitration before tonight's 11:59 p.m. deadline, a source close to the slugger said last night. By doing so, he will be agreeing to a one-year contract worth more than his $12.5?million salary in 2011. For weeks, Ortiz has been seeking a multiyear deal. And while it's possible agent Fern Cuza could meet again with the Red Sox before the deadline, it seems unlikely at this point that the sides will agree on a two-year deal for Ortiz' desired annual salary, according to the source."
Source: David Ortiz will accept arbitration
December 7
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz' tenure with the Red Sox will last for at least one more season. According to a source close to the slugging designated hitter, Ortiz intends to accept the Red Sox' offer of salary arbitration, a decision tantamount to signing a one-year contract extension worth more than his $12.5 million salary in 2011. Ortiz has been seeking a multiyear contract, but at this point, an agreement on a two- or three-year deal appears unlikely, the source said. Earlier this evening, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said the club was awaiting Ortiz' decision before the deadline at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night. Cherington wasn't certain if he would meet again tonight with Ortiz' agent, Fern"
Charity work done, Ortiz turns to baseball
December 4
Boston Globe
 
"The David Ortiz Charity Golf Classic is just about finished here at the Fishing Lodge resort. The banquet was tonight and Rachel Dratch of "Saturday Night Live" (and Lexington) was the host. She broke out a few well-timed cracks at the Yankees. Obviously the goal was to raise money to provide medical care for sick kids in the DR and back in New England. Based on the figures being thrown around, they did that. From a baseball standpoint, the quick visit of Bobby Valentine was the highlight. Perhaps that will lead to Big Papi staying with the Sox. He has until Wednesday to decide whether to accept arbitration."
AL East rivals go to bat for Ortiz' services
December 3
Boston Herald
 
"Between ordering lunch and taking a dip in the pool yesterday, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones joked that he once worried he no longer would be invited to David Ortiz' annual charity golf event. "Remember he had that thing with (Kevin) Gregg?" Jones said, referring to a dugouts-clearing brawl between Ortiz and the Orioles closer July 8 at Fenway Park. "I went up to him the day after, gave him a big hug, and said, 'This doesn't change anything, right? I can still come to the Dominican.'?" Jones is among several AL East rivals who are attending Ortiz' gathering this weekend. Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and ace left-hander Ricky Romero also are here, and after years of playing against"
Robinson Cano would welcome David Ortiz on Yankees
December 3
New York Daily News
 
"The two lefty-hitting sluggers embraced in the shadows of the sprawling outdoor patio of The Fishing Lodge resort here, the high-profile free agent greeting the All-Star Yankee second baseman on neutral ground in their native Dominican Republic. But make no mistake, Robinson Cano said he would welcome David Ortiz switching sides in the storied baseball rivalry between New York and Boston. "It would be a good idea, having another lefty on the team," Cano told the Daily News while in attendance at Ortiz's fourth annual charity golf tournament. "We all know he's a great hitter. Last year, a lot of people were saying, 'He's done.' He proved a lot of people wrong. I like people, when they're"
David Ortiz doesn't offer much about Bobby Valentine
December 2
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz is facing enough uncertainty, namely where he will play next season, that he couldn't help cracking wise last night when asked how the Red Sox may respond to new manager Bobby Valentine. "Bobby who?" Big Papi said with a smile. It's entirely possible Ortiz' name never will appear in a lineup arranged by Valentine. He is a free agent and has generated "serious interest" from multiple teams, according to an industry source. The Toronto Blue Jays are believed to be a potential suitor. Ortiz has become a Red Sox icon over the past nine seasons, all but one under manager Terry Francona. But he withheld any opinion on how the team may respond to a fresh, forceful voice in the dugout."
Source: 'Serious interest' in David Ortiz
November 29
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz has choices now. The free agent is receiving "serious interest" from more than one team, an industry source said yesterday, indicating that he has multiple offers already. "He has lots of options," the source said. Ortiz, the Red Sox designated hitter since 2003, was offered salary arbitration by the team last week. The source said it is still unknown if Ortiz would accept or reject the arbitration offer. Accepting it would be tantamount to a one-year deal worth a couple of million dollars or so more than his 2011 salary of $12.5?million."
David Ortiz, Dan Wheeler get arbitration
November 24
Boston Herald
 
"It's your move, David Ortiz. The Red Sox met last night's deadline to extend salary arbitration to their free agents by offering to Ortiz and reliever Dan Wheeler, while declining on backup catcher Jason Varitek. Ortiz and Wheeler have until Dec. 7 to decide whether to accept arbitration. In doing so, Ortiz would receive a raise from $12.5 million. Although Ortiz wants a multiyear contract, the demand for designated hitters isn't great. If he isn't confident about securing a two- or three-year deal at a higher annual salary, it's possible he would accept arbitration and return to the Sox on a one-year contract worth approximately $13-15?million."
Big Papi wants to stay with Sox
November 16
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz has sung the same tune for the last five years, and he won't stop just because he's a free agent and technically hurting his bargaining position: The designated hitter wants to return to the Red Sox. In fact, Ortiz said yesterday, if he receives an offer from another team that he's considering accepting, he will give the Sox a chance to counter it. "Of course," he said. "You know that. The Red Sox will always be the first option." That's in marked contrast to closer Jonathan Papelbon, who acknowledged he didn't bother calling the Red Sox after getting a four-year, $50 million deal with the Phillies, because both sides knew the Sox wouldn't extend that far."
David Ortiz, Jonathan Papelbon file for free agency
October 31
Boston Herald
 
"If history is any guide, the odds of David Ortiz [stats] and Jonathan Papelbon [stats] re-signing with the Red Sox [team stats] are long. In the last decade, management has tended to allow its top free agents — Adrian Beltre, Victor Martinez, Jason Bay, Johnny Damon, Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe — to sign elsewhere in exchange for the extra draft picks, either out of a belief that those players' most productive seasons were behind them or an unwillingness to meet their desired price tag. Ortiz, the Red Sox' DH since 2003, and Papelbon, the closer since 2006, were among eight Red Sox who filed for free agency yesterday."
Jays may target David Ortiz
October 27
Boston Herald
 
"Within the next few days, maybe even by tomorrow morning, David Ortiz will file for free agency, raising the possibility that he may leave the Red Sox after nine seasons or at least spark a bidding war with one of their American League East foes. No, not the Yankees. Although Ortiz recently said he wouldn't rule out signing with the Red Sox' hated rival, an offer from the Bronx likely isn't forthcoming. Not with Alex Rodriguez fresh off an injury-interrupted season, an already aging roster and 21-year-old prospect Jesus Montero primed to fill the designated hitter role."
Pap, Papi figure to test free agent market
October 26
Boston Herald
 
"When the World Series ends, possibly by tonight, players across the major leagues will file for free agency. And for five days, they will be able to negotiate only with their most recent team. But the Red Sox don't expect to quickly sign David Ortiz or Jonathan Papelbon. After his introductory press conference at Fenway Park yesterday, new general manager Ben Cherington said he expected Ortiz and Papelbon to test the market before deciding where they will play next season. Papelbon has looked forward to free agency for several years, and Ortiz figures to be tempted by the ability to determine his value on the open market."
Ortiz says he wants to stay in Boston
October 21
Boston Globe
 
"David Ortiz, who last night was named winner of Major League Baseball's prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, backed off his comments to ESPN earlier this month about potentially playing for the Yankees. "I never said I would sign with the Yankees. No, no, no,'' he said. "They asked me if I would play with the Yankees. I said I would think about it. I didn't say I would go to the Yankees. I'm still with the Red Sox, aren't I?''"
Red Sox need to re-sign game's best DH
October 18
Boston Herald
 columnist John Tomase
"Only two positions failed to produce more than one 20-homer season in the majors this season. The first, obviously, was pitcher. But the second? Try designated hitter. David Ortiz and David Ortiz alone topped the 20 mark this season. And with Big Papi set to test free agency and already on the record that he'd consider the New York Yankees to escape the circus that has become Boston, the Red Sox would be wise to think long and hard about letting their stalwart of nine years depart."
Ortiz doesn't want to be part of the Red Sox 'drama', but Yankees are unlikely landing spot
October 14
New York Daily News
 
"David Ortiz is a colorful figure, this much we know. So when he starts talking about not wanting to be a part of the drama that's unraveling in Boston, what better way to add some color to the story than by bringing up the idea of signing with the Yankees. Ortiz - who will be a free agent in a few weeks - told ESPN that he would consider all his options, even the idea of signing with the team that has been his biggest rival since 2003. "That's something I gotta think about," Ortiz said. "I've been here on the Red Sox a long time, and I've seen how everything goes down between these two ballclubs.""
Ortiz threatening to jump to the Yankees
October 13
Boston Globe
 
"David Ortiz is threatening to go play for the Yankees. "That's something I gotta think about. I've been here on the Red Sox a long time, and I've seen how everything goes down between these two ballclubs," he said in an interview with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez. "It's great from what I hear. It's a good situation to be involved in. Who doesn't want to be involved in a great situation where everything goes the right way?" Ortiz hit .309 with a .953 OPS this season. He had 29 home runs and 96 RBIs. But would the Yankees actually want him? Ortiz turns 36 next month and has played a total of 12 games in the field the last three seasons."
Last thing Yanks need is Big Papi
October 13
New York Post
 columnist Kevin Kernan
"Big Papi in the Big Apple would be a Big Mistake. In 2008 the Yankees jack-hammered David Ortiz's jersey out of the Yankee Stadium cement and the last thing the Yankees need in their world right now is to welcome Ortiz in a pinstriped jersey. The last thing they need is another aging slugger, especially one from the Red Sox. What's next? Bring Curt Schilling out of retirement to fill the void in the rotation? The Yankees need to get younger, not older. The Yankees need to make young Jesus Montero the DH, not a disgruntled aging Red Sox player. In an interview with ESPN yesterday, Papi has let it be known that there is "too much drama" in Boston and that he would "think about" defecting to"
David Ortiz, Jason Varitek in question
October 7
Boston Herald
 
"Not that long ago, the Red Sox [team stats] losing both David Ortiz [stats] and Jason Varitek [stats] to free agency was virtually unimaginable. This year, it's not so hard to fathom at all. Ortiz' loss would by far be the tougher one for the Sox and their fans to swallow, and there are good reasons why the odds are much longer for him departing than Varitek."
David Ortiz focused on now
September 23
Boston Herald
 
"If the Red Sox complete the collapse — and with a 5-16 record in September, they aren't inspiring much confidence to the contrary — it is possible David Ortiz has played his final home game at Fenway Park. But Big Papi isn't about to wax nostalgic. Not yet. "I'm not thinking about that right now," Ortiz said after finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI single in Wednesday night's 6-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. "I'm focusing on winning games and trying to go to the playoffs. I'm not thinking about any other crap right now.""
Papi: Aceves deserves starting nod
September 20
Boston Herald
 
"Another game, another pointlessly stellar relief outing in defeat for Alfredo Aceves. David Ortiz, for one, has seen enough. Fresh off watching Aceves toss three shutout innings in relief of the ineffective Kyle Weiland in a 6-5 loss to the Orioles in the opener of yesterday's doubleheader at Fenway Park, Ortiz verbalized what many Red Sox [team stats] fans have been saying for a month. "To be honest with you, the way things are going, (Aceves) should be starting," Ortiz said. "Simple as that. Give it a shot.""
Ill-timed ills for David Ortiz, Adrian Gonzalez
September 15
Boston Herald
 
"As the Red Sox brace for tonight's opener of an all-important four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, David Ortiz is wearing a back brace. And now, Adrian Gonzalez has a balky left calf. After launching a sixth-inning home run yesterday against the Blue Jays, Gonzalez left the game because of tightness in his calf. He said he began noticing the problem after grounding out in the fourth inning. He ruled out dehydration as a possible cause. According to Gonzalez, the decision to come out of the game was mostly precautionary. "They didn't want me to keep going out there and making it worse," he said. "Better play it safe than sorry, I guess.""
Doubting Big Papi gets old
September 8
Boston Herald
 columnist John Tomase
"A blog post on the indispensable baseball-reference.com caught the eye the other day: "David Ortiz is having the greatest season by a 35+ DH in history." The numbers are compelling. The Red Sox designated hitter entered last night's game with the Toronto Blue Jays hitting .318 with 28 homers, 91 RBI and a .994 OPS, which ranked third in the American League. The web site used Ortiz's OPS+ of 165 — the relative measure of his OPS to the rest of the league — to judge his 2011 season slightly better than Edgar Martinez' 2001, when the former Seattle Mariners star hit .322 with 29 homers and 102 RBI for an OPS+ of 160 at 38. Ortiz is only 35, but seeing what Martinez did when he was three and"
David Ortiz calms waters, defends Saltalamacchia
September 1
Boston Herald
 
"It's not very often that a designated hitter gets credited with a save, but that's precisely what David Ortiz was shooting for yesterday. Speaking with reporters before Round 2 of the Red Sox' three-game set against the Yankees at Fenway Park, Big Papi made sure to close out any criticism that might be heaped upon teammate Jarrod Saltalamacchia for some comments made by the catcher after Tuesday's series opener. For those who missed it, the Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli homered off Sox starter John Lackey and then did some stylin'. Next time he was up, Lackey drilled him. After the game, Saltalamacchia, speaking of the Venezuelan's hot-dogging, said: "The game's changing. A lot of"
A sizzling Ortiz (5 for 8) stinging in the rain
August 28
Boston Globe
 
"Showing no signs of cooling off, David Ortiz proved hotter than the Texas heat wave he left behind in Arlington, Texas, going 5 for 8 with a home run, two doubles, and three RBIs in the Red Sox' rainy doubleheader sweep of the Oakland A's yesterday at Fenway Park. Not even the first torrents from Hurricane Irene could put a damper on Ortiz's day. The affable designated hitter raised his batting average from .305 to .311 and extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games, during which he has hit .522 (24 for 46) with five homers and 14 RBIs. "I just had to produce,'' Ortiz said after he paced a nine-hit attack in the 4-0 nightcap by going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer in the second"
David Ortiz, Red Sox cruise again
August 25
Boston Herald
 
"In the week since he was diagnosed with bursitis in his right heel, David Ortiz [stats] wore a walking boot for a few days, then resumed hitting, before finally running about a half-dozen short sprints Tuesday. But nothing prepared him for the first inning last night. Making his return to the Red Sox [team stats] lineup after an eight-game layoff, Ortiz stroked an RBI single to right and still was on first base two batters later when Carl Crawford doubled to right field. Ortiz motored around second base, blew through third base coach Tim Bogar's late stop sign and continued chugging toward the plate. Bursitis? What bursitis? "It was in my head a little bit," Ortiz admitted after the Red"
David Ortiz on heels of return
August 24
Boston Herald
 
"For about five minutes yesterday, in 100-plus-degree heat, David Ortiz tested his right heel by running a half-dozen short sprints under the supervision of trainer Mike Reinold. And that was enough. Ortiz will return to the Red Sox lineup tonight against the Rangers after missing eight games with a case of bursitis in his heel. And he has only one expectation for himself, even against tough lefty Matt Harrison. "Go deep," Ortiz said. The Sox never placed Ortiz on the disabled list because they didn't think he would need to be sidelined for 15 days. Turns out they were right. After he ran yesterday, he was medically cleared, and according to manager Terry Francona, he could have pinch-hit"
Hobbled David Ortiz gets boot
August 17
Boston Herald
 
"All-Star designated hitter David Ortiz has bursitis in his right heel and will be placed in a walking boot, though the team expects he'll avoid a stint on the disabled list. "We're going to get him out of his spikes for a couple of days and get him in a little bit of a walking boot, just to kind of alleviate some of the pressure," manager Terry Francona said after the Sox split a doubleheader with the Rays last night at Fenway Park [map]. "We'll keep re-evaluating every, I'm sure, every couple of days. We want to get him off that for a little while." Ortiz was scratched moments before yesterday's opener with what the team initially described as an illness but later changed to bursitis. He"
Ortiz sure looks like a keeper
August 14
Boston Globe
 columnist Bob Ryan
"To re-sign him or not to re-sign him - that is the question facing Theo Epstein during the offseason. 'Tis a vexing matter, I'd say. This is why they pay the Red Sox general manager the big money, to make the hard decisions. At the beginning of the season, it didn't look as if it would be a difficult decision. David Ortiz would be at best good, not great, in 2011."
Old stomping grounds for Big Papi
August 13
Boston Globe
 columnist Dan Shaughnessy
"Seventeen-year-old David Arias thought he'd grow up to play with the Seattle Mariners, maybe someday hit in the same lineup with Ken Griffey Jr. The Dominican-born slugger had great power as a teenager and dreamed about crushing tape-measure shots in the Kingdome. None of that worked out, of course. The Kingdome was replaced by Safeco Field in 1999 and demolished in 2000. Griffey went home to Cincinnati to hit his 600th homer. And what about young Mr. Arias? He got traded to the Twins when he was 20, changed his name to David Ortiz, broke into the bigs in 1997, had some good years with Minnesota, got released by the Twins (2002), then came to Boston, where he became Big Papi, the Sox most"
David Ortiz gets disputed RBI back
August 10
Boston Globe
 
"David Ortiz was given an RBI by Major League Baseball, which reviewed the decision official scorer Charles Scroggins made Aug. 3. Ortiz was initially given a two-run single in that game, scoring Adrian Gonzalez from third and Kevin Youkilis from second. The Indians complained, saying that left fielder Austin Kearns bobbled the ball and that allowed Youkilis to score."
Ortiz excels at small ball
August 10
Boston Globe
 
"David Ortiz hit a home run Monday that traveled 438 feet before landing in the second deck at Target Field, sending a fan home with an unexpected souvenir. The ball he hit in the seventh inning last night went about 400 feet less. But it got the job done for the Red Sox. Ortiz's little infield single was the difference as Boston stayed hot with a 4-3 victory against the Twins before a sellout crowd of 39,974."
David Ortiz gets small hit
August 10
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz spent the past few days appealing to Major League Baseball to receive credit for one RBI. Last night, he ran as fast as he could to get another. With the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning, Ortiz hit a 45-foot tapper down the first base line. Minnesota Twins lefty reliever Phil Dumatrait was unable to field the ball, and Dustin Pedroia scored the tiebreaking run in the Red Sox' 4-3 victory at Target Field. "When you hit a ground ball to the pitcher like that, he's got to chase and you've got to run and you've got a guy coming in," Ortiz said. "There's a lot of things going on. But I'm glad that it was enough." In Monday night's series-opening victory, Ortiz notched"
It was a big night for Papi
August 9
Boston Globe
 
"Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who had a pretty fair game of his own - a home run and a double - was in awe watching David Ortiz's at-bats from the on-deck circle last night. "Any time a guy is hitting like that, you don't know what to throw,'' said the Red Sox catcher. "He hits your best fastball out of the park, hits a curve up the middle, and throw him something away and he hits it to left.'' Ah yes, it was one of those throw-up-your-hands and tip-your-cap games for Ortiz. The big fella, who played his first six seasons in Minnesota, stroked four hits, including a home run and a double, to key Boston's 8-6 win at Target Field. He also acted like a freight train and may have caused Joe Mauer to"
David Ortiz makes Twins pay
August 9
Boston Herald
 
"For years, the Minnesota Twins have regretted dumping David Ortiz. But if it's possible, the pain grew even more acute last night. Ortiz hit absolutely everything the Twins chucked at him. Sinking fastball — crushed for a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Changeup — swatted to right-center for a leadoff double in the eighth. Curveball — served to center field for a two-out, go-ahead single in the ninth. "Any time a guy can do that," Jarrod Saltalamacchia said, "you don't know what to throw him." Clearly, the Twins were at a loss in the Red Sox' come-from-behind 8-6 win last night at Target Field. Ortiz went 4-for-5, scored three runs, drove in three more and picked up hits against three"
Youk: Ortiz deserves second RBI
August 6
Boston Herald
 
"If David Ortiz truly didn't deserve an RBI on Wednesday night, Kevin Youkilis would have known it. Youkilis was the runner in question when official scorer Charles Scoggins reversed his decision to give Ortiz a two-run single in a 4-3 victory against the Indians at Fenway Park. Official scorers change their calls after reviewing the video all the time, but this one became a minor issue Thursday when Ortiz interrupted the pregame press conference of manager Terry Francona to complain. The scene was captured on camera. Left out of the ensuing coverage was the fact that Ortiz and Francona were later seen laughing about it in the manager's office. But by that point the story had taken on a"
Frank Thomas: David Ortiz an all-time best
August 1
Boston Herald
 
"Big Papi has a fan, and his name is The Big Hurt. Honored before yesterday's series finale with the unveiling of his statue at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox great Frank Thomas took a few moments to discuss Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and the place of the designated hitter in the game's history. "He's right there," Thomas said when asked if Ortiz belonged among the all-time greatest DHs. "He's had an incredible career. I saw him come from Minnesota, and now he's in Boston. He's a much better player in Boston than he was in Minnesota. He's put up incredible numbers. He's having a monster year again, and he's a free agent again, so good for him." During Thomas's 19-year career, the"
David Ortiz keeps up the power
July 28
Boston Herald
 
"David Ortiz found inspiration watching Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia open the Red Sox half of the first inning with back-to-back solo home runs. Ortiz acted on his awakening by jacking a fourth-inning grand slam that broke open last night's 12-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals before 38,329 at Fenway Park. Ortiz' slam upped his season totals to 20 homers with 68 RBI and made him the sixth Sox player to drive in 1,000 runs. "I think Ellsbury and Pedroia, they are making it tough on everybody else," said Ortiz. "What they are doing at the top of the lineup is just ridiculous. They put so much pressure on the pitcher and I'm sure that gets you (pitcher) out of control a little bit.""
Orioles' Gregg, Red Sox's Ortiz begin serving reduced suspensions
July 19
Baltimore Sun
 
"Orioles closer Kevin Gregg and Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, the two main combatants in the July 8 bench-clearing brawl in Boston, saw their suspensions reduced from four games to three and began serving them during the three-game series that started Monday at Camden Yards. That doesn't mean Gregg thinks the punishment — which included a $2,500 fine that has undergone a "slight reduction" — fits his crime, particularly because Ortiz, who charged the mound, received the same discipline. "I talked to the league a little bit. I talked to the players association a little bit. But the bottom line is trying to do what's in the best interest of the team," Gregg said. "Ortiz is taking his"
Ortiz gets suspension reduced to three games
July 19
Boston Herald
 
"A few minutes before 6 last night, David Ortiz emerged on the field at Camden Yards to a smattering of applause from fans clustered near the visiting team's dugout. Until Friday, they may be the only cheers the Red Sox designated hitter receives. Ortiz, initially suspended four games for his role in a July 8 brawl with the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park, had his penalty cut to three games and his undisclosed fine reduced by Major League Baseball. He began serving the suspension last night and will miss the current three-game series with the Orioles. "I know doing what I did wasn't the right thing to do," Ortiz said prior to the Sox' 15-10 victory in the series opener. "I'm going to be"
Decision on Ortiz, Gregg suspensions expected to come today
July 18
Boston Globe
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"Based on a conversation with his agents and representatives of the Players Association, David Ortiz was under the impression that a decision from Major League Baseball on his appeal of a four-game suspension could be announced soon. "I'll probably hear something later on [last night] or [this] morning,'' he said. Orioles.com reported that Ortiz and Orioles pitcher Kevin Gregg would have their suspensions reduced to three games starting today. The two came to blows July 8 after Gregg threw inside on Ortiz three times."