When it comes to baseball, David Ortiz just wants everyone to stop being so darn sensitive.
Ortiz, who is set to retire this fall after 20 major league seasons, threw his support behind Bryce Harper’s “Make Baseball Fun Again” movement in an interview with USA Today published Thursday.
“I think Harper was right about what he said, absolutely,” the Boston Red Sox designated hitter said. “Quite frankly, I think baseball wants to be too serious about what we do. Whenever we have any reaction within the game, people want to make it about, ‘Oh, he’s a showboat,’ you know? People need to realize that this is a game. OK, we get paid a lot of money. But it’s a game. You have to have fun.
“There are a lot of crying babies in baseball. There’s all the complaining and bitching about things. When you strike me out and pump your fist, I don’t care. That motivates me to go out and hit a homer the next at-bat. I don’t really mind. But whenever you hit a homer, and you do what you do, everyone starts complaining. For me, the reality is, I don’t pay attention to any of that crap.
“I’m a winner. I’m a winner. And, listen, I just enjoy beating the opposition. Whatever you say is up to you, but I’m not trying to disrespect anyone. I’m just trying to go about my business, and do what I’ve got to do. There are a lot of fans that pay a lot of money to come watch us put on a show, so they go home happy.”
Red Sox fans have gone home happy more often than not this season, and Ortiz has been a big reason why. The 40-year-old slugger entered Thursday leading the majors in doubles, RBIs (tied with Robinson Cano), slugging percentage and OPS as the heavy-hitting Sox held a two-game lead atop the American League East.
Thumbnail photo via Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Imagess
