Ortiz and his slump...

[RichardLikeWhoa]

Why is everyone freaking out about Ortiz's slump? I don't get it. He's in a slump, everyone goes through one eventually. He is too good of a hitter to be this horrible all season. The media needs to lay off... Does anyone else agree? Boston Dirt Dogs has been rippin' him lately. I don't agree with it. Sooner or later the guy is going to be hitting bombs.

[hellborn]

I just hope that the knee isn't bothering him. He already mentioned that he didn't get to work out like he wanted in the offseason because of the surgery.
I certainly don't think that Ortiz forgot how to hit, but just worry that he might be hurting and not letting on. At this point, it's just a slump...didn't Jeter for 0-30 or something crazy like that at the start a few seasons ago?

[sharrock]

While I do not understand making it a personal thing against Papi (Dirt Dogs using this tactic to keep readership up)....

This is not jus ta slump but a deep, ugly slump. Its been tough to watch. Francona, smartly, realizes that Papi has taken some of this to heart as he works so hard to help this team win. The slump itself is a big story, but the tone could be better.

Soon enough we'll see that big smile as he crushes the ball into the night sky.

[DickZ]

Why is everyone freaking out about Ortiz's slump? I don't get it. He's in a slump, everyone goes through one eventually. He is too good of a hitter to be this horrible all season. The media needs to lay off... Does anyone else agree? ....

Lots of us seem to be the happiest when we can find someone to whine about, whether it's Big Papi, Manny, Theo, Tito, Timlin, Lugo, Drew, Varitek, Wakefield, Beckett, DiceK, Shilling, Buchholz, Delcarmen, Lowell, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Crisp, Tavarez, Lopez, Papelbon, or the Fenway Frank vendors. Casey hasn't been here long enough, but he'll soon join the list.

The only way to stay off the list is to put in a stellar performance every inning of every game. If someone hits a grand slam in each of three times at bat, but hits into a double play the fourth time at the plate, guess what gets discussed more.

[KCGHOST]

What makes this serious is that occasionally a great player just ceases to be one.

[Williamsburg2599]

I'm just worried about the fans getting on him. Luckily they're on the road, but if he's still not himself when they get back, he better not be getting booed.

[DoubleX]

It's kind of reminiscent of a few years ago when Jeter was batting under.200 as late as May 25th. He bounced back though and ended up finishing at .292. Slumps happen even to the best of players. Assuming Ortiz is health, things will pick up, likely sooner than later.

[hellborn]

I think that anybody who boos Papi in Fenway is going to get a serious beer shower!!!

[Imgran]

Of all things, it was the Yankee stadium jersey. Instead of cursing the Yankees it gave Papi Yankee-style clutch-suckitude!

2 last night after Hank gets the jersey out of his stadium. Papi's on his way back. He goes deep tonight.

Next time, bury a jersey from a player who isn't active, guys.

[DickZ]

I think that anybody who boos Papi in Fenway is going to get a serious beer shower!!!

I agree with hellborn - the fans in Fenway are pretty free with their booing, but anybody who booed Big Papi at this early stage of a possible slump would get battered by the fans who appreciate what he's done over the years.

[NEM]

Hit the grand salami tonight vs. Texas. First pitch hitting, too.

[getgil2fenway]

I just don't like how people keep brushing it off as "he'll work out of it"
The more you are in a slump - the lower your confidence, and more you try to "push it" the deeper you get into the slump.
Like quicksand ("The Replacements" anybody? )

I think he would do with a few days off just practicing, watching videos and seeing what he's doing wrong

[NJMetfan4life]

Have any of you noticed that he was slumping from when his jersey was buried until it was dug up.

[NEM]

Have any of you noticed that he was slumping from when his jersey was buried until it was dug up.

Does that mean that the Teamsters Union will do better if they find, and dig up Jimmy Hoffa?

[VTSoxFan]

It was good to see that beaming smile last night. It was funny how he got the cold shoulder in the dugout after the GS, but then everyone pounced on him, like a rookie with his first homer finally under his belt.