Well, so much for the morale issue: Ortiz benched

by Buzzy on May 15, 2009 8:57 PM EDT

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4170755

Rocco will DH for now. After Papi's comments after yesterday, I can only assume this was a mutually agreed upon decision. Unfortunately, this would be a good set of starting pitchers to face to turn things around. Let's hope a break can clear up whatever issues he has. If not, it may be a shorter period for Ortiz before he is done for good than I had assumed.

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Ortiz needs to clear his head

He should take the weekend off—-do whatever he needs to get his head off of not hitting a homer.

As to whether it’s a mutual decision or not, I have a feeling that if things had continued as they had been, there would have been a directive from on high in the not-too-distant future.

by lone1c on May 15, 2009 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

Hope

it works.

by Buzzy on May 15, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Huzzah

Best for everyone to be honest.

by Ben Buchanan on May 15, 2009 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm

The Sox scored 4 runs yesterday and 4 again today. Tonight’s DH, Baldelli, went 0 for 4 with 3 Ks and stranded 6 runners.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on May 16, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions

Not sure I liked having Rocco starting against the RHP.

Esp. with his splits.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on May 16, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

But the only other choice was to start Nick Green at SS and DH Lugo.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on May 16, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

That seemed to work last time.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on May 16, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

He’ll get more AB’s for sure. Unfortunately, our other options are not exactly gold right now.

And when there’s a grammatical mistake in the title I have to pick; was it a moral decision or a morale decision?

by BTLove on May 16, 2009 2:11 AM EDT reply actions

Ha

me dumb! Morale was most certainly intended…

by Buzzy on May 16, 2009 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Didn't even notice it.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on May 16, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Papi’s Spring Training stats:
AB 40
SLG .500
OBP .392
HR 3
RBI 9
BB 10
SO 7

He wasn’t world class, but that implies to me he’s having mechanical issues along with injury, age, pressing and luck. He isn’t getting any loft on his pull hits. The uppercut swing isn’t there.

He may never be 1000+ OPS guy again, but he will figure out the issue and that will go a long way towards reclaiming this season.