What Does A Derby Win Mean For David Ortiz?

by Randy Booth on Jul 13, 2010 8:00 AM EDT in News

ANAHEIM CA - JULY 12: American League All-Star David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox laughs during the final round of the 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby during All-Star Weekend at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 12 2010 in Anaheim California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Home Run Derby has never meant anything. It's exhibition. It's just eight guys trying to hit home runs. It's an event built for the fans off the powerful shoulders of baseball's best.

But I think this Derby meant a lot for David Ortiz.

If you didn't hear, David Ortiz won the 2010 Home Run Derby Monday night. He was great from start to finish, hitting eight home runs in the first round, 13 in the second and 11 in the final. He made Hanley Ramirez look like Ramon Ramirez in the final round, as the former Red Sox prospect mustered just five.

It was pure Papi Power.

Ortiz went into the competition as the oldest player there. He went in as the grizzled veteran, the guy many had written off last year and even this one. (I am not embarrassed to say that I was one of those people.) He was competing against guys that couldn't even chew hard food when Papi was working his way through the minor leagues. It wasn't just old versus young -- it was old versus young and young and young and young.

And we all know the truth: it is a young man's game. Not hitting home runs, but baseball in general. We all know there is a "wrong side" to 30 years old and Ortiz crossed that threshold a long time ago. Yet he proved his doubters wrong last year and he's proved them wrong this year.

Then he goes out and proves them wrong Monday night.

Ortiz winning the Derby may or may not have any impact on the rest of the season. A lot of Derby champions go out in the second half and seem to struggle. Although this doesn't mean Ortiz will definitely fall off the map, he could.

Or he could go out and build on this.

Ortiz told everyone tonight that watched that he can still play baseball. He's still a slugger. He can still hit home runs and he can still be a valuable asset to the Boston Red Sox. He's not washed up; he's still one of the best designated hitters in the American League.

At this very moment, David Ortiz is smiling. He isn't smiling because he won the Home Run Derby, though. He's smiling because he's still got it -- and now everyone knows that now. Not just him.

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Comments

Good for him

He’s apparently already talking about an extension

DFA Beckett

by South Coast Ghost on Jul 13, 2010 9:00 AM EDT reply actions

I'd be okay with that

Particularly if it was reasonably cheaper than the option he’s got right now.

by Maeamian on Jul 13, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

That was all upper body power last night and was really impressive. If anyone deserved that last night it was him. He’s an entertainer and he knows it and he embraces it. Even if the derby means nothing and is a risk to mess up his swing, he doesn’t care because it’s about the fans with him.

Props to Ortiz. Take this an run with it.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 13, 2010 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

Two thoughts from derby

1. Always great to see Papi smiling – its infectious.

2. HanRam’s got some baggage, but dang, he would have looked good in a Red Sox uni.

by AGuinness on Jul 13, 2010 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

I hope the red sox keeps him, he’s a true sox player and baseball player. Go Papi, you deserved the win <3

by Keely Simpson on Jul 13, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

But for the right price. That $12.5mil option is just too much for an aging DH in the league these days. We don’t want to burden ourselves with another Lowell or Varitek, I’d take a $2mil perpetual option deal for him (bless you Wake).

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 13, 2010 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

$2 million?

After how he’s doing this year? Come on now, the DH market is much cheaper than it was but that’s a little excessively low. Papi’s bound to get a few extra dollars from the Sox too out of recognition of being Papi.

by wolf9309 on Jul 13, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Vlad signed with Texas for 6.5mil and Matsui with the Angels for 6mil

I’d look for the Sox to pay a similar price for Papi in the 6 – 7 range.

by ruktuim on Jul 13, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

That's about right.

And he’d be worth it, considering what Fielder will cost for more production but not, say, 13 million a year more.

by SendEmHomeKim on Jul 13, 2010 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

It was just an example of the only perpetual option in baseball

If he took $2mil I’d be floored and would build a bubble gum shrine to Theo in my closet next to… oh wait, I’ve already got one in there.

$6mil is plenty fair I believe. I don’t want to lock in too long with him though when there are other, younger, DH hitters available in the next year or so.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 13, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

ahh i gotcha

though Wake’s was $4 million

by wolf9309 on Jul 13, 2010 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

So it was, still a bargain.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Jul 13, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

On Papi

One thing is certain – the front office and staff and players have stayed behind him and supported him even when the fans have been very vocal.

I wonder about next year – I love the big Man but I would have traded him in 2008 that was my thoughts when Manny R was traded. Not saying that was the right thing to do – just a business decision. But, business is business in the business of baseball. His upside seems to be past even though he is having a good year. Can he do it next year or down the stretch? Who knows?

WIth all that said you are correct his smile and love of the game is so much fun to watch. I would not be surprised if he gets an extension and he may take a cut since the Front office has stuck with him, etc.

"Man that ball got outta here in a hurry, you know anything that travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don't you think?" - Crash Davis

by Dave D on Jul 14, 2010 7:59 AM EDT reply actions