David Ortiz is not done yet. Not a chance.
It seems strange for the Boston Red Sox to be celebrating one of their greatest ever at the beginning of October. Everyone knows Big Papi is just waking up.
And in five years, when Ortiz is first eligible for a special weekend getaway in Cooperstown, N.Y., it will be his clutch gene that gets him through the door.
The farewell tour was real, there’s no doubt about that. Anyone who has watched the hobbled designated hitter run the bases this year knows that this season is the end of the Ortiz era.
But this month is Big Papi’s time to shine. And he’s going to do just that.
Ortiz has proved time and time and time again that he knows how to win. He’s trudged out in the middle of October, usually wearing a red hoodie beneath his white Red Sox jersey, and taken his hacks. He’s knocked some out, driven some in and collected a few rings along the way.
And no one should expect this October to be any different.
As Comcast SportsNet’s Sean McAdam said, “Ortiz has such a ridiculously high standard that the shock happens when he doesn’t come through, rather than when he does. You expect it.”
His postseason resume is gaudy. The numbers don’t look real. Ortiz is 10th all-time in MLB postseason history in hits – 87 in 357 plate appearances. With two more, he’ll pass David Justice’s mark of 89, which he did in 471 playoff plate appearances.
He’s fifth all-time in total bases, behind only Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter. Fourth in doubles (21), seventh in home runs (17), fifth in RBI (60) and seventh in walks (56). Ortiz is one of just four players in MLB history to collect 19 or more RBI in one postseason.
Just how clutch has #DavidOrtiz been in his #RedSox career? Let’s take a look pic.twitter.com/MQ3tIleJ4T
— Michelle Berthiaume (@MonitorMichelle) October 1, 2016
When it comes to the World Series, Papi’s numbers are equally astonishing. He’s second all-time in single-season batting average, hitting .688 in 25 plate appearances during the 2013 World Series. No one else in the top 10 had more than 18 PAs. He’s second all-time in career on-base percentage, fifth in slugging, fourth in OPS and fifth in walks.
Ortiz played well all season, putting together one of the greatest final campaigns in all of sports history, not just baseball. But we all know, and we’ve all seen it again and again, that Big Papi plays his best baseball this time of year.
So take your time getting around the bases this month, Ortiz. I think there’s going to be a lot of people out there that will miss watching you do it. There’s also going to be a lot of people that won’t miss watching you do it.
Check out Wednesday’s Monitor for an in-depth preview of the upcoming American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, which starts Thursday.
(Michelle Berthiaume can be reached at 369-3338, mberthiaume@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @MonitorMichelle.)