Zero to Hero!

Okay, so maybe Big Papi was never a zero... but he sure came close this April, scuffling is such an epic manner that some Boston-area scribes were calling for his release. David Ortiz took that criticism and made it his motivation, getting hot in May and staying that way, leading to his sixth All-Star selection, and fourth time in the Home Run Derby.

The guys on MLBNetwork called David "the Susan Lucci of the Home Run Derby," referring to the All My Children star who has been oft-nominated for an Emmy, but won just once (she's 1-for-21). Papi's success rate is now much higher, as he's batting .250 in Derby wins after a 32 homer performance last night.


One subplot was that David chose Yankees' bench coach Tony Pena as his pitcher, though no one seemed to think it was a big deal. Pena, there accompanying Joe Girardi, AL Manager, and pitching to Nick Swisher in the derby, didn't bat an eyelash at pitching to the Red Sox slugger. The boys from ESPN summed it up well when they surmised "This isn't a Red Sox/Yankees thing; this is a Dominican thing."

Things sure worked out for the proud people of the Dominican republic, as the final round saw two of their own battling it out for top honors, as Ortiz went up against former Red Sox farmhand and current Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez (who says the Sox can't produce power?). Ramirez told ESPN's Erin Andrews that Papi "was like a father figure" to him in his days in the Sox system, mentoring him and giving advice to a young player with obvious talent but questionable work ethic.


For his part, Papi confirmed that Ramirez was "like a son" to him, that he always knew Hanley would be a superstar: “I wish Hanley would be playing on our team, like he was supposed to,’’ said the slugger, while acknowledging that the trade had worked out for both sides. David even went so far as to come out and advise the young Ramirez in the middle of the final round, bearing a towel, a sports drink, and his trademarked smile.

The encouragement wasn't enough for the young short stop to eke out a win against Papi, but he put up a strong showing. If there are baseball gods, they couldn't have scripted this better. David Ortiz was counted out on April 31, 2010, and some had written him off even earlier. But Papi knew better - and he proved that he's far from done, illustrating the wise words of Torii Hunter: “You have to know what’s in his heart and you have to understand how much pride he has. He’s too young to be done.’’

Zero to Home Run Derby Hero, indeed.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Viva el Papi!

You want to know my first reaction when I heard Papi was competing in Monday's homerun derby? Dismay. Panic. The urge to call 911. With the injury bug following this team, and yearly claims that the derby "messes with players' swings," I was sure David was taking a risk.

And maybe he is, but why not? He bowed out after the first round in 2004, made it to the semis in 2005, and placed fourth in 2006, the last year he competed. If past performance is any indication, Ortiz's swing will be just fine, so long as he can avoid the kind of freak accidents that have been befalling this team [seriously, when was the last time foul balls and rampaging third basemen have been responsible for the lion's share of a team's injuries?].

I know Papi is a longshot to win, but he HAS been raking lately, and I'd hate to be like the Yankees, barring a player from participating by making up a phantom injury - and who needs phantom injuries when you have so many real ones?

In all seriousness, I'm glad Ortiz has a chance to partake in the festivities in Anaheim... And since State Farm sponsors the Home Run Derby, do you think we can get some insurance on Papi?