David Ortiz entered Thursday’s spring training game against the New York Yankees hitting .067 (2-for-30). The Boston Red Sox slugger doesn’t sound worried one bit.
Ortiz, who didn’t play a single spring training game last season, said before Thursday’s contest that spring woes aren’t exactly new to him. The 38-year-old has sputtered in spring action before, yet he always seems to be ready once games start counting for real.
“I can never hit in spring training,” Ortiz said, according to ESPN.com’s Gordon Edes. “Ever.
“I was talking to one of the guys the other day. I got to go through a lot of things, routine and stuff, that I can never do in spring training. They pitch me the same way, always. They pitch me tough. That’s why I got to go through my routines to get there.
“The thing is, with me, I don’t really give a (expletive) about spring training. I don’t put a lot into it.”
Red Sox manager John Farrell isn’t too concerned about Ortiz’s spring training struggles, either. The Boston skipper said Thursday he thinks Ortiz will be fine by the end of the week, as he’s already seeing steady progress in the nine-time All-Star.
“You watch BP, the bat speed is clearly there and the power’s there,” Farrell said. “He’s seeing pitches. He’s going to get more everyday at-bats starting Sunday through the remainder of camp. So I have no concern with David.”
There also doesn’t seem to be much concern surrounding Ortiz’s contract status. Both Ortiz and Red Sox president Larry Lucchino have expressed optimism regarding a potential extension.
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