This entry was posted on 5/21/2009 2:42 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Here's a few thoughts from the David Ortiz that everybody knows after crushing his first home run of the season last night in Boston's 40th game of the season. Big Papi has been very un-Papi like during the early going this season, but the 33-year-old looks and sounds like a guy that finally got some needed relief at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. Here's a bit of the Q and A with Ortiz following the game along with odds about the rest of Ortiz's season.
Do you feel like your swing is where it needs to be now? DO: I'm feeling good. Like I said before tonight is the kind of game that can get you going. But the biggest thing about the whole situation is the fans, man. They've been cheering for me every at bat. Even when you don't get it done. Night in and out it's been the same, and that's awesome.
Was that the toughest stretch of your career? DO: I guess. It's crazy how things happen. I told you I had the same swings before and nothing was happening. So it's crazy how things go.
Did it feel like it was out off the bat? DO: I hit it good dawg. I always hit it to the wrong place.
The first two at bats weren't very good. Were you thinking here we go again? DO: Well, my father flew in (to Boston) yesterday. He's the kind of guy that since I was a kid he's always kept me positive. It was a loose day at my house today. He was all over me saying 'you're my son' and all of that kind of stuff. The one thing he told me that I kept in mind today was he said 'Hey son...it's not gonna get worse than this. So go out there have fun and forget about the past. Just go out there and do what you can do.'
Was he at the game? DO: Of course he was. He's sitting out there (waiting for me) now.
(Inaudible question)? DO: Well, I always thank God for everything that he's given me. All the good gifts that He's given me my whole life. Every time I hit a homer I think about Him and putting myself together to get it done. I felt like tonight He deserved even more time than he normally do because I always believe that he puts you in those kinds of situations to see how fast you'll give up on Him. And when you don't give up He believe in you no matter what. Any kind of struggles.
Did you feel like things were different in those two at bats after the homer? DO: Oh yeah. I feel like I got all of that confidence back. I look out there like a real hitter, not like the punch-and-judy that I've been for the first 40 games.
How did you like the little freeze-out/silent treatment you got when you came back to the dugout? DO: I deserved it. I deserve it. It was like 'What took you so long?' I told them though that if we go bombing right after me then they should have been on me to get going sooner.
Good to know they're behind you, though? DO: Oh man, they are the best. It's something that we have built up around here. I look at the faces around here when I'm not doing good, and they're like 'hey hang in there and don't worry about. We're behind you.' I got so much emotion poured out from everybody that I can't even break it down for you. That's how it is here. I'm the kind of guy that i never forget about my teammates. I try to help them one way or the other and everybody else is the same way. It's like we got chemistry going around here for so long that you see guys struggle and you know they're going to come out of it.
David, did you do anything differently tonight? DO: Yeah, I swing (the bat) like a man instead of like a little bitch. Put it down like that. It feels good and I'm going to maintain it that way. I figured something out tonight and I'm just going to keep trying to do it. You could see it was from one at bat to another that I just figured it out.
Here are some Ortiz odds courtesy of
www.Bodog.com.
How many HR’s will David Ortiz have at the All Star break?
Over/Under 7
How many Home Runs will David Ortiz hit in the 2009 MLB Season?
Over/Under 19 ½
What will David Ortiz’s batting average be at the All-Star Break?
Over/Under .240
