Comments on: David Ortiz is Clearly an Alien From another Planet http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/ In-your-face baseball commentary Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:29:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-565 Coley Ward Wed, 09 Aug 2006 21:14:25 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-565 He's no Wizard: Casey Blake's attempt at an Ozzie Smith-style backflip went horribly, horribly wrong. He’s no Wizard: Casey Blake’s attempt at an Ozzie Smith-style backflip went horribly, horribly wrong.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Sarah Green Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:59:51 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-558 Casey Blake felt this was an excellent time to try to combine downward-facing dog with the scorpion pose. Casey Blake felt this was an excellent time to try to combine downward-facing dog with the scorpion pose.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Sarah Green Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:47:17 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-557 Goddammit! I know the ball is under here somewhere... Goddammit! I know the ball is under here somewhere…

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]]> By: Sarah http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-51775 Sarah Sat, 05 Aug 2006 02:36:50 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-51775 Also, let's face it, Papi at first makes any grounder into a possible DP. Not to knock his base-stealing abilities! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7xCMIEE4r8&search=videography Also, let’s face it, Papi at first makes any grounder into a possible DP.

Not to knock his base-stealing abilities!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7xCMIEE4r8&search=videography

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]]> By: Curt http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-51774 Curt Fri, 04 Aug 2006 23:16:20 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-51774 The thing about Papi is this, pitchers pitch to him knowing Manny at any moment can do just as much damage if not more. But IMO Manny lacks the heart to do it. If you flip their spots in the lineup (which looking at batting averages you should be able to do) you probably get worse results. I'd walk Papi to pitch to Manny any time. The thing about Papi is this, pitchers pitch to him knowing Manny at any moment can do just as much damage if not more. But IMO Manny lacks the heart to do it. If you flip their spots in the lineup (which looking at batting averages you should be able to do) you probably get worse results. I’d walk Papi to pitch to Manny any time.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-51773 Sarah Green Wed, 02 Aug 2006 01:33:50 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-51773 Here's an interesting update from Boston.com's "Extra Bases": August 01, 2006 Papi really does do it every time By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff It's not an illusion that David Ortiz comes through in walkoff situations every time. According to Sox historian Allan Wood, webmaster of the Joy of Sox, Ortiz has come to the plate 19 times in potential walkoff situations since the end of the 2004 regular season (postseasons included) and reached base 16 times. He is 11-for-14 (.786), with 7 HR and 20 RBI. In 2005 and 2006, he is 8-for-9, with 5 HR and 15 RBI! Amazing. Here’s an interesting update from Boston.com’s “Extra Bases”:

August 01, 2006

Papi really does do it every time

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff

It’s not an illusion that David Ortiz comes through in walkoff situations every time.

According to Sox historian Allan Wood, webmaster of the Joy of Sox, Ortiz has come to the plate 19 times in potential walkoff situations since the end of the 2004 regular season (postseasons included) and reached base 16 times. He is 11-for-14 (.786), with 7 HR and 20 RBI.

In 2005 and 2006, he is 8-for-9, with 5 HR and 15 RBI!

Amazing.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-51772 Sarah Green Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:26:50 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-51772 Clearly, any single walkoff situation can be rationalized. But taken as a whole, David's entire body of clutch work is very impressive. As Nick noted, aside from having planet Krypton as his birthplace, Ortiz has guys batting in front of him who get on base and Manny behind him. Yeah, most teams usually bring in a lefty to face Ortiz. Yeah, most teams usually try to put some sort of shift on him. But it doesn't seem to matter. And yeah, when Papi *doesn't* come through in the clutch, Joe and Jerry don't scream into their microphones, "And David Ortiz FAILS to come through! Again!" But all the same, David in the middle of a very special season here. And if it looks like a clutch hitter and it smells like a clutch hitter, I say it's a clutch hitter. What else would you call someone who racks up clutch hit after clutch hit? Clearly, any single walkoff situation can be rationalized. But taken as a whole, David’s entire body of clutch work is very impressive. As Nick noted, aside from having planet Krypton as his birthplace, Ortiz has guys batting in front of him who get on base and Manny behind him.

Yeah, most teams usually bring in a lefty to face Ortiz. Yeah, most teams usually try to put some sort of shift on him. But it doesn’t seem to matter.

And yeah, when Papi *doesn’t* come through in the clutch, Joe and Jerry don’t scream into their microphones, “And David Ortiz FAILS to come through! Again!”

But all the same, David in the middle of a very special season here. And if it looks like a clutch hitter and it smells like a clutch hitter, I say it’s a clutch hitter. What else would you call someone who racks up clutch hit after clutch hit?

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]]> By: Paul http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-51771 Paul Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:14:29 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-51771 I'm one of those stat-heads who don't believe in the existence of "clutch-hitting". Actually, let me rephrase that. I believe in clutch hits. You see them a lot. I don't believe in any innate ability to produce them. David Ortiz is a top three hitter in the bigs. But I'm with Jeb's first point on this one. Pitchers want nothing to do with Ortiz in close and late situations. The idea of his clutchness has grown to titanic proportions and it enters into the pitchers' collective psyche. But with Manny Ramirez behind him, they feel compelled to throw strikes, and they make mistakes. Ortiz is good enough to capitalize on them. I know it makes Ortiz sound human to say this, which may be blasphemous in Red Sox Nation, but he IS human. He does appear to have the ability to focus under pressure, but I don't think that he becomes Superman in certain situations. The pitchers, on the whole, deflate. Fausto Carmona is still a rookie. It was actually his first save opp of his entire career. And he was facing David Ortiz. The ingredients were there for the walkoff. Ortiz took advantage. I’m one of those stat-heads who don’t believe in the existence of “clutch-hitting”. Actually, let me rephrase that. I believe in clutch hits. You see them a lot. I don’t believe in any innate ability to produce them. David Ortiz is a top three hitter in the bigs. But I’m with Jeb’s first point on this one. Pitchers want nothing to do with Ortiz in close and late situations. The idea of his clutchness has grown to titanic proportions and it enters into the pitchers’ collective psyche. But with Manny Ramirez behind him, they feel compelled to throw strikes, and they make mistakes. Ortiz is good enough to capitalize on them. I know it makes Ortiz sound human to say this, which may be blasphemous in Red Sox Nation, but he IS human. He does appear to have the ability to focus under pressure, but I don’t think that he becomes Superman in certain situations. The pitchers, on the whole, deflate. Fausto Carmona is still a rookie. It was actually his first save opp of his entire career. And he was facing David Ortiz. The ingredients were there for the walkoff. Ortiz took advantage.

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]]> By: Jeb http://umpbump.com/press/2006/08/01/david-ortiz-is-clearly-and-alien-from-another-planet/comment-page-1/#comment-51770 Jeb Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:22:59 +0000 http://www.umpbump.com/press/?p=290#comment-51770 Not to take anything away from everyon'es favorite hefty hero, but there are two more factors at play: #1- Every time he comes up (or even into the on deck circle) when the game is on the line, the game HAS to change for pitchers. His "clutch" performances are noted by late relievers who rely on intimidating mound presences, steely nerves and more confidence than any other players on the team. Papi's walk-offs are gaining exponential momentum in a way, because pitchers absolutely fear him, and when this happens, they are unable to bare down and pitch "their game". (Timid pitchers always get torched.) This reminds me of Barry Bonds in 2001 in this respect. Yeah, the guy is scorching, and when a hitter gets locked in like this, pitchers try too hard while getting away frm the things that make them successful. I think it matters. #2- Papi should be tested for the performance enhancing substance, "PMS"- Papi's Mango Salsa. Its clearly giving him an edge. Not to take anything away from everyon’es favorite hefty hero, but there are two more factors at play:

#1- Every time he comes up (or even into the on deck circle) when the game is on the line, the game HAS to change for pitchers. His “clutch” performances are noted by late relievers who rely on intimidating mound presences, steely nerves and more confidence than any other players on the team. Papi’s walk-offs are gaining exponential momentum in a way, because pitchers absolutely fear him, and when this happens, they are unable to bare down and pitch “their game”. (Timid pitchers always get torched.) This reminds me of Barry Bonds in 2001 in this respect. Yeah, the guy is scorching, and when a hitter gets locked in like this, pitchers try too hard while getting away frm the things that make them successful. I think it matters.

#2- Papi should be tested for the performance enhancing substance, “PMS”- Papi’s Mango Salsa. Its clearly giving him an edge.

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