http://firebrandal.com/2009/03/18/how-will-fans-respond-if-ortiz-fails-early-on-in-2009.html Analyzing the Boston Red Sox since 2003 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:30:05 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://firebrandal.com/2009/03/18/how-will-fans-respond-if-ortiz-fails-early-on-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-37693 Anonymous Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:01:00 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/newblog/2009/03/18/how-will-fans-respond-if-ortiz-fails-early-on-in-2009/#comment-37693 What would worry me more if Ortiz got off to a slow start would be his state of mind. He seems to believe, that with Manny gone, he isn't protected in the lineup and doesn't get good pitches to hit. I think Youk is great protection (3 HRs in the WBC) and Youk seemed a little perturbed by Papi's comments. A lot of fan reaction will have to do with how Papi reacts if he gets off to a poor start. If he criticizes the Sox lineup I think the fans and his teammates might not be too patient with him. What would worry me more if Ortiz got off to a slow start would be his state of mind. He seems to believe, that with Manny gone, he isn’t protected in the lineup and doesn’t get good pitches to hit. I think Youk is great protection (3 HRs in the WBC) and Youk seemed a little perturbed by Papi’s comments. A lot of fan reaction will have to do with how Papi reacts if he gets off to a poor start. If he criticizes the Sox lineup I think the fans and his teammates might not be too patient with him.

]]> http://firebrandal.com/2009/03/18/how-will-fans-respond-if-ortiz-fails-early-on-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-37692 Gerry Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:56:06 +0000 http://firebrandal.com/newblog/2009/03/18/how-will-fans-respond-if-ortiz-fails-early-on-in-2009/#comment-37692 Not at all worried about David Ortiz' bat. The biggest concerns have been his body type, his power potential (despite 23HR in 109G last year) and the state of his wrist. With weeks to go of ST, the docs have declared him injury free; he is in great shape, looking nothing at all like Mo Vaughan; and despite the WBC, he is hitting them out of the park. He has a couple of weeks left to get his BA and OBP up to speed. Of course he could be re-injured. So could anyone on the team or the league. Not at all worried about David Ortiz’ bat. The biggest concerns have been his body type, his power potential (despite 23HR in 109G last year) and the state of his wrist. With weeks to go of ST, the docs have declared him injury free; he is in great shape, looking nothing at all like Mo Vaughan; and despite the WBC, he is hitting them out of the park. He has a couple of weeks left to get his BA and OBP up to speed. Of course he could be re-injured. So could anyone on the team or the league.

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