The ebullient slugger has been uncharacteristically subdued during spring training, but according to ESPN.com, Ortiz is just trying to stay focused on … focusing.
"It will come back," Ortiz told the Web site of his customary fun-loving persona. "I'm just focusing on getting ready for the season.
"I'm just focusing on my playing, not being a distraction about anything. It's going to be up to them to come talk to me. So I'm getting prepared to play."
Boston holds a 2011 club option on Ortiz that is worth $12.5 million, but it's hard to believe the Red Sox will pick it up if Ortiz continues to show the dropoff in production he exhibited in 2008-2009. After hitting .332 with 35 homers and 117 RBIs in 2007, Ortiz hit .264/23/90 in 2008 and .238/28/99 in 2009.
Still, despite Ortiz's brutal start to last season — he went six weeks without a home run, worked around a nagging wrist injury and had that whole steroid scandal to deal with — his numbers from June 1 on matched those of Alex Rodriguez.
Given that, it's not out of the question that Ortiz still has something to offer and could rebound in 2010.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona and hitting coach Dave Magadan have both been effusive in their praise for Ortiz during spring training, but it has yet to translate into impressive performances during exhibition games.
"I've got to play, I've got to get the at-bats," Ortiz said. "That's what spring training is for, putting yourself together. It's a routine, you know. Get some at-bats, get some innings, get yourself ready to go. It's still real early."
Besides, Ortiz brings up a good point:
"I've never seen my numbers for spring training on the back of my baseball card," he said.
