Is Big Papi on the road to hardball immortality?



This is the premise of SI.com baseball writer Tom Verducci's piece on David Ortiz and his possibly worthiness when it comes to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Interesting stuff, but I agree with the overall premise that Ortiz is going to have to produce Papi-like numbers for another 5-7 years to even have a shot at the Hall.

At 32 years-old and already battling through knee problems, it may or may not happen...But when I think Hall of Famers I certainly Ortiz passes the sniff test for me before guys like Jim Thome.

Other observations around the Fort:
*It's odd to me that Bartolo Colon -- a guy that's been pitching in the minor leagues since 1994 and with the Cleveland Indians since 1997 -- still isn't comfortable enough with the English language to speak it freely with reporters. It's certainly not his duty and it's understandable if he's merely afraid to be misunderstood in his second language, but it's odd given that he needs a translator given how well many of his fellow Dominican Republic natives speak the English language.
*Buster Olney says in his excellent ESPN.com baseball blog that the Sox and the Oakland A's are still discussing a Coco Crisp deal as Boston's March 19 end to spring training moves closer. 
*I'm going to refrain from any Tommy Boy jokes in relation to the Jesse Levis situation...I won't even ask him if his favorite Little Rascal is Alfalfa or Spanky. I promise I won't.
*After Wednesday afternoon's game, a cell phone went off during Terry Francona's media session and -- per usual -- he wasn't too happy with it. Francona scrunched up his nose into the "something smells funny" face and then said "It's spring training...everybody's working on [expletive]." Official score thus far for the 2008 baseball season: Tito 1, cell phones 0.
More later...

 

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