The hits keep on coming for David Ortiz who should have no problem getting plenty of turns at bat.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little has fielded a lot of questions this spring about how he’ll divvy up the playing time at first base.
His usual answer: Anybody hitting well won’t have to worry about getting at-bats.
That bodes well David Ortiz, an offseason pickup from the Minnesota Twins who has spent the spring doing just what Boston hoped – bashing a lot of extra-base hits.
Ortiz fouled the ball off his left knee and fell to the grass during the second inning of Monday’s exhibition game against Cincinnati in Sarasota, Fla. But he got up and two pitches later hit a two-run home run and added an RBI single in the fifth. Ortiz finished two for three to improve his average to .362. He has 10 doubles and two other home runs in spring training.
It’s been one of those springs where even the outs have been hit hard.
Boston has always tried to build its teams around right-handed hitters who can take advantage of the Green Monster in left field at Fenway Park. But Ortiz has shown every indication this spring he can send balls into the expansive and oddly shaped right field gaps at Fenway.
Little has already said to expect a different lineup every night, but Ortiz could see a lot of action batting sixth, behind Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez and Shea Hillenbrand. If all four hit like they have this spring, that could be the most dangerous foursome in baseball.
Ortiz is a career .266 hitter over six seasons in Minnesota, but he would have had to fight for playing time this year with Doug Mientkiewcz. He also wanted to get off the artificial turf in Minnesota, which wasn’t helping his knees.
There’s little doubt Ortiz is fitting in. He’s already taken over the duties of clubhouse DJ, blasting out Latin tunes from his stereo and occasionally amusing teammates with dance moves.
Where will Ortiz fit in on the field? He’ll likely play first against right-handed pitchers, but has been batting against lefties this spring and could also DH some. He will likely share time with Jeremy Giambi and Kevin Millar, but insists that won’t be a problem.
“That’s a situation you’ve got no control,” Ortiz said. “You just have to, whenever you get the opportunity to be out there, do your job, try to get it done. That’s when your playing time will come.”
Worn out after winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Ortiz has taken it fairly easy this spring, but has been productive when he’s in the lineup. He’s also had a number of sparkling defense scoops at first.
Ortiz played 70 games at first base in 1998 but a total of just 51 in the four years since then.
“David’s had a good spring here,” Little said. “He’s really been swinging the bat lately. He’ll be playing a lot of first base for us, and DH-ing sometimes. He’s played first base his whole career and he’s made some good plays.”
Ortiz learned what it takes to make the playoffs last season with Minnesota, where he hit .313 during the Twins’ American League Championship Series loss to Oakland.
“This is a good year, a good time to win a World Series championship,” Ortiz said. “We’ve got some good pitchers here, we’ve got some good players and I think we’re going to be up there.”
AP-ES-03-24-03 1508EST
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