Barry Bonds doesn’t want to hear your theory on how you think David Ortiz is achieving his incredible 2016 season.
The 40-year-old Boston Red Sox slugger leads Major League Baseball in doubles (27), RBIs (55), slugging percentage (.708) and OPS (1.131) and is in the top 10 in other hitting categories in his 20th and final season. But Bonds, who’s now the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach, told the Boston Herald’s Evan Drellich recently that he doesn’t think it’s entirely surprising.
“He’s had these kind of years a lot of times,” Bonds said. “We all did it at our age. When you’re good, you’re good. His IQ’s higher than most. It’s like some scientists have a high IQ. There are certain ballplayers that have a higher IQ. He’s one of them in our class, he’s got that IQ.”
In fact, Bonds doesn’t think Ortiz’s age should even be a topic of discussion.
“Doesn’t matter, bro,” Bonds told Drellich. “You have the talent, you can do it. It’s (that) the expectations of David are higher than most. Nothing to do with, ‘Can he do it?’
“Let’s get this story right. You guys (the media speculating about Ortiz) are trying to do stuff that’s not proper or truthful. David Ortiz has been a great hitter for a long time. Nothing changes between now and then. He’s just 40, or whatever how old he is. I did it at 40. (Willie) Mays did it at 40. A lot of players did it at 40.”
As for Ortiz’s Hall of Fame chances, Bonds says Big Papi being a designated hitter shouldn’t affect his chances. Bonds even contested the idea that some people don’t think it’s right for a DH to be in Cooperstown.
“That’s not some people,” Bonds said, per Drellich. “That’s some writers. … People don’t — they don’t write the stories. I mean, they don’t write the stories. Papi’s put up the numbers, been a consistent ballplayer. He has longevity. That’s the Hall of Fame as well. Longevity also. And he’s been there long enough to earn that right.”
Thumbnail photo via Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports Images
