Big Papi has been a slugging source for the Red Sox since coming to Boston in 2003, but no matter what the Red Sox do this offseason, the DH wants a big bat.
"I [said] that like a year ago, and everybody looked at me like I was a [expletive] clown. I say, 'We need another 30 home-run-hitting guy.' 'What, you crazy!' Everybody talking trash. Now what?" Ortiz said, according to a report on WEEI.com.
After a rocky start, Papi was able to get into the swing of things later in the season to end the year with 28 dingers and 99 RBIs — one RBI shy of notching triple digits for sixth time in the last seven seasons.
Even if the Red Sox are able to retain Jason Bay off the market, Ortiz wants more. After all, power proved to pave the way to a title for the Yankees, who bashed a major league-high 244 homers — 20 more than the NL champion Phillies and 42 more than the Red Sox, whose 212 taters were fourth-most in the MLB.
"We always need help,'' Ortiz said. "We always need guys capable to produce. That's what everybody chase[s] in the offseason, a guy who can come in and supply power, RBIs. This is a team that's playing in this division. Everything is powerful right here. You've got the world champions in the East. You've got Tampa Bay in the East. You've got the Blue Jays getting stronger every year in the East. You've got Baltimore who you don't if they're going to come kick your [butt] all year round in the East. So you better get ready to play in the East."
The big fella has a point. The Yankees also led the league in RBIs (881), runs (915) and slugging (.478) but notched a team ERA of 4.26 — tying them with the A's for 11th place in the MLB. Of the six teams that finished with sub-4.00 team ERAs, just two of them — the National League's Dodgers and Cardinals — made the postseason.
So does pitching win ballgames? Sure. But in this era and this division, power wins championships.
