Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ After the Red Sox were swept by the Angels in the ALDS last month, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein made it clear there were certain players he expected more from during the 2009 season, and he better see improvement in 2010.

David Ortiz was one of them.

Even though the Sox' designated hitter turned his offensive woes around in the latter part of the season, he couldn't completely recover from his early-season struggles. Overall, Ortiz finished with a lowly .238 average, but responded with decent power numbers, including 28 homers and 99 RBI.

During the three-game set against the Angels in the postseason, he went 1-for-12 (.083) with four strikeouts. Like the rest of his teammates, Ortiz was clearly disappointed and he wasted little time setting his sights on 2010.

He took only a few days off until he began his offseason workout. When he walked into the interview room Thursday morning at Fenway Park to promote his annual charity golf tournament, Ortiz was wearing workout shorts and a T-shirt and clearly has lost weight.

"He looks good. He's following through with a really good start to his offseason," said Epstein. He's lost some weight and he's in really good shape, so that's a good sign."

When Epstein addressed Ortiz's struggles last month, the GM said he expects nothing less than Ortiz returning to the powerful offensive threat he once was. Ortiz didn't argue with the statements.

"I've always been a force here. I've always been a guy who this ballclub counts on me and I know that for a fact," he said. "I'm going to prepare myself and try to come back and do it again. . . I try to kill myself exercising. I'm a big guy and no way can I sit down and watch TV and eat. I hate coming into the season with people saying that I'm overweight or I'm not in shape. I'm too old for that. You've got to take responsibility in whatever you do, especially your job."

Ortiz arrived at camp last February in tremendous shape, but once the season started his average and production at the plate were affected by a few off-field issues, including a report that he tested positive for steroids in 2003. He denied ever purchasing or taking performance-enhancing drugs and felt he was wrongfully accused. It didn't help matters much that his father was diagnosed with cancer.

As soon as Dustin Pedroia made the final out of the 2009 season, Ortiz quickly filed it all away.

Unlike last offseason, he's healthy and is not dealing with the recurring wrist injury he had a year ago and plans on beginning his hitting routine later this month.

Whether he wants to admit it or not, Ortiz has a little more incentive once the 2010 season begins. The 34-year-old's current will expire after next season and the Red Sox hold an option for 2011. Despite that fact, he says he will work and play as he normally does.

"I always look at my last year as my first one," he said. "What I'm doing right now I do every year. I don't want you guys to think what I'm doing right now I'm doing because it's the last year of my contract and I have to put it together. I do this every year because I want to bring my best to the field."

Ortiz is confident his personal goals will be reached in 2010, but what about the club itself. With the free-agent period beginning on Friday, there are some issues Epstein needs to fix and some holes that need to be filled if the Sox are to enjoy postseason dominance.

A year ago at this time Ortiz made it very clear he wanted a high-profile player with an explosive bat added to the Sox' lineup. That player - Mark Teixeira - eventually signed with the Yankees and was one of the reasons why New York won the World Series in 2009.

Entering this offseason Ortiz's wishes are the same.

"When I said that a year ago everyone was looking at me like I was a [expletive] clown," he said. "When I said we needed another 30 home-run hitter guy people thought I was crazy and was talking trash. Well, there you go. Everyone will always welcome a 30 home run hitter any time, any day and in any situation. You want to compete with [the Yankees] you've got to bring it - period."

Jason Bay, who produced 36 homers and 119 RBI in 2009, is a free agent and even if the Red Sox re-sign him, Ortiz feels another big bat in the lineup is important to the club's success.

"We always need help We always need guys capable to produce power and RBI," he said.

There's no denying the fact by the Yankees adding players such as Teixeira and pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, all were huge factors for New York winning the World Series.

"This division is hard to play in, so you've got to get stronger," Ortiz said.

He added: "Next year is going to be the one year where there's a lot of expectations around here."

 Tags  David Ortiz Joe McDonald Theo Epstein

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