Ok, not really. And I realize this story is a few days old, but David Ortiz' recent comments made me recall comments made my Peyton Manning after their last playoff loss, which he caught some flack for (including from me).If you don't recall, Manning said this:
"I'm trying to be a good teammate here, but let's just say we had problems in protection."
Not a terrible thing, but still calling out his teammates in the media. How is that so different from David Ortiz saying this?
"Don't get me wrong -- he's a great player, having a great season, but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," Ortiz continued. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be."
Talk about throwing your teammates under the bus!
And yeah, it's not like Ortiz has Manny Ramirez or someone like that hitting behind him... oh wait, scratch that, he does.
Anyway, Ortiz' whole argument is wrong. He claims the media is just making up excuses not to vote for him... which is why A-Rod won the MVP last year and why someone else might win this year. Disregarding the fact that A-Rod was better last year, isn't the media the ones perpetuating the theory that Ortiz is a nearly infallible clutch hitter, which is the main appeal of Ortiz? Yes, yes they are.
Even if Ortiz is saying people aren't voting for him just because he's a DH (and he should be penalized there), there's also the small fact that Ortiz hasn't even been the best hitting DH in the AL this year (that's Travis Hafner)... but we shouldn't let that get in the way.
Just one more newsflash to David Ortiz (because I know he's reading), you can help your team win games even if you don't hit 40 HR. Such as by playing good defense, getting on base, running the bases well, etc. But once again, who asked me?
I'm just wondering why there's been fairly little talk (at least from what I've seen) about Ortiz basically saying the guys around him in the lineup aren't that good... but maybe I'm just overreacting?
7 comments:
They aren't the same at all...Ortiz is clutch and can win the big game....as for Peyton...we know his story.
I'm glad someone else was also shocked that Ortiz' rant has gotten so little coverage. Last year, the media assisted with running Terrell Owens out of Philly after he called out a teammate, and yet Ortiz gets a free pass for basically the same act. It definitely helps to have NESPN on your side.
Wow - where do I start? Are you just trying to stir the pot? If so, good job.
You seem to have it in for Ortiz for some reason - maybe because it's the single stupidest move the Twins ever made in getting rid of him? I recall an exchange we had a couple months back comparing Hafner (who you seem to have man love for) with Ortiz, and you completely discredited/ignored everything Ortiz has done. He'd look awfully nice in that lineup, you have to admit.
I cannot believe that a selfless, adored teammate like David Ortiz was compared to both Peyton Manning and Terrell Owens. That's just plain silly and not even worthy of a response.
And are you saying that because Manny is in our lineup, that makes our lineup as good as the Yankees? I hope not - I know you're smarter than that. Let's compare both lineups, when healthy:
NY: Damon, Abreu, Jeter, A-Rod, Giambi, Matsui, Posada, Cano and whoever DH's.
Boston: Youkilis, Loretta, Ortiz, Manny, Varitek, Lowell, Nixon, Crisp, Gonzalez.
Robinson Cano's a pretty damn good bottom of the order hitter, no? Please don't compare the two lineups -- the point Ortiz was making is that taking him out of the Sox lineup hurts them more than taking Jeter out of the Yankees' lineup. A $200M team can absorb the hits a little bit better. (And I'm not crying about money - I actually believe George deserves credit for spending the revenues).
Trust me when I say that Papi's intent was not to throw his team under the bus. And also know that he and Jeter are friends and have cleared the air.
Sympathies to you and all Twins fans on Liriano. I was really looking forward to watching him in September and October. The Twins in my mind are the only team that can derail the Yanks, which is really all we Red Sox fans have left to root for.
Rumors of my dislike have been greatly exaggerated. Mainly because there is none.
If you'll recall the Ortiz/Hafner discussion, it was not that I was really negative against Ortiz... he's obviously a fantastic hitter... it's just that I thought/think Hafner is the better overall hitter (gets on base more and hits for more power in less of a hitter's ballpark). It's like me saying Pedro Martinez had a better peak than Sandy Koufax... it's not that Koufax wasn't great, I just think someone else was better. My "man love" for Hafner has to do more with his AL and MLB leading OPS (in relative anonymity) than a personal liking for the guy... he's a great, great hitter.
FWIW, I think Manning's a good teammate too... I just thought both comments were a little harsh towards their teammates.
And yes, the Yankees lineup is definitely better than the Sox lineup, but it's not like Ortiz is batting with Vance Wilson as his protection... the Red Sox have one of the top lineups as well, so for him to say "come hit in this lineup" seems insulting to his teammates. At least from my perspective. I have no doubt he was trying to throw his teammates under a bus, and I have nothing to suggest that overall he is a bad teammate... I just thought his comments came off as whining and belittled the teammates.
I understood the TO comparison in a sense, but I agree with you Kampy that it's way off base... TO is one of the most selfish teammates in sports, an immensely talented guy that teams still won't to play with... so I don't think Manning or Ortiz is a fair comparison at all for TO, no.
Hey! Watch those shots at Vance Wilson! :)
I'm wondering if Ortiz's comments were kind of passed over by the media because the Red Sox are out of the AL East/wild card race, and attention has moved onto other teams now.
Ha! Vance was just the first name that came to mind, I swear! :D
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