Big Papi's Power Outage

by Adam on May 27, 2009 · 20 comments

Chuck Hanf is a sports blogger and Boston sports fan. He writes about sports at Two Cents from Beantown.

I'm tellin' ya Sully--Big Papi Ortiz was on the juice just like that bum Nomaahh Garciawhatevathehell. I'm tellin' ya guy!

- "Smitty", a patron at the Two Cents From Beantown Pub.

Smitty, do you remember a man by the name of Cecil Fielder? Yes, Prince from Milwaukee's Daddy. Do you remember him buddy? Fielder was the same age as Ortiz when he hit 17 HR and had 68 RBI in his last full season in 1998. In Fielder's previous 8 seasons he averaged 34 HR & 107 RBI. Do those numbers sound like the numbers of someone we know Smitty?

Dazed and Confused

How old are you Smitty? Do you remember the man who was called "the right-handed Babe Ruth?" His name was Jimmie Foxx. In 1942 at 34 years old, Foxx had 8 HR and 33 RBI-- after averaging 36 HR and 129 RBI in his previous six seasons with the Red Sox. It's OK Smitty, I'm only 33 years old, I wasn't around either but I looked it up. What?!! You were the Red Sox batboy in 1942 and you still don't remember? Smitty, for Christ sake what did I tell you about too many of those 12 oz. curls in one sitting my man? How many did you have before I got here?

In all seriousness, my point is this: I'm not going to accuse David Ortiz of using Performance Enhancing Drugs until I get some substantial evidence. Do I wonder if he did? Yes, I wonder, but he's done too much for this Red Sox organization and fan base to just be tossed to the wolves and treated like a cheater until I get some evidence. I won't do it.

Someone is juicing

There were other cases similar to Foxx and Fielder, but the numbers were compelling in terms of how similar they were when all three players were in their prime. Also, I wanted to pick two players that we all would find it very hard to make a case for steroid abuse with. I think I did that.

Smitty, there is something to be said for getting older and not being as sharp and on top of your game like you used to be right? Smitty? Damn it Smitty, get out from behind the bar. What did I tell you about going back there? Yeah, you're on the juice alright! You're shut off!

Thanks to frigante for the photo of Big Papi walking back to the bench.

Tagged as: Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz, guest post, Performance-Enhancing Drugs, Steroids

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

1 SixChannels May 27, 2009 at 6:34 am

Very nie post!!!!

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2 Chuck Hanf May 27, 2009 at 11:50 am

thanks a lot, it’s a great honor to be a guest columnist on a great site like this.. Glad you liked it.

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3 Michelle May 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm

Nice post and I agree, I need some substantial evidence before jumping on the Oritz is using band wagon!

4 Madgus May 27, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Great blog! I, too, believe Big Papi is not using, but cannot, truthfully, say I would be shocked to find out that he was after all the recent “outings” lately. Chuck’s blogs just seem to get better and better each time I read one…keep up the interesting topics, too…can’t wait to see what his Friday blog reads!

5 Adam May 27, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Awesome article Chuck. I laughed out loud a few times. Smitty is quite the character!

As everyone else, I too agree that Big Papi did not use steroids. His numbers were very good, but not to the point of being suspicious. Rather, I think he just his prime in the right city, on the right team, at the right time. He was just waiting to be in a place where the fans pumped energy back into the players and found such a place here in Fenway.

I’d love to see him return to his prime but he’s already done enough to cement himself in the Red Sox Hall of Fame, if not the MBL Hall of Fame too. The 2004 season will always be remembered extremely fondly by myself and every other Sox fan. I genuinely believe that he simply willed himself to play wicked clutch baseball because he felt the emotions of the fans and our desperate hope for a World Series championship.

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6 Josh Gans May 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm

I’m so tired of hearing everwhere I go that David Ortiz has used PED’s in the past and isn’t juicing this year resulting in his decline at the plate.

Much like any other player in the game today, I have my thoughts on “did he or didn’t he” when it comes to steroid use. I don’t feel that David Ortiz used steroids or PED’s at any point in his career, I just feel that he didn’t properly allow his wrist to heal resulting in his recent struggles at bat.

His age is also a factor just like you said Chuck. Getting older results in getting slower, more worn down and less productive. David may finish the year stronger with better numbers than he has now, but his days of 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI’s has more likely than not, come to an end.

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7 Chuck Hanf May 27, 2009 at 3:08 pm

just to clear up some things on “Smitty”.. Just got off the phone with someone who said, “geez I hope Smitty isn’t mad at you for calling him out in the blog”… SMITTY IS A FICTIONAL DRUNK DOWN AT THE TWO CENT FROM BEANTOWN PUB WHICH IS ALSO FICTIONAL! ha.. At least til the blog takes off and I can afford to open that pub!! Thanks again to everyone for all the comments. I’m having a ball!!

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8 Chuck Hanf May 27, 2009 at 3:10 pm

totally agree Josh, the wrist injury is a component in all of this as well. absolutely.. Quick, strong wrists are essential to any hitter, not just power hitters. So it hurts him more because he was a power hitter.

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9 DL May 28, 2009 at 9:36 am

Good post Chuck. I wish you could hang wallboard as well as you can write. Keep the great articles coming.

10 Chuck Hanf May 28, 2009 at 10:23 am

LYNCHIE!!! Long time no see.. Lets hit the Depot soon! ha

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11 Kelly May 28, 2009 at 12:08 pm

Chuckie… LMAO!
Between you and Josh, I have 2 more worthy & excellent reasons to work less. My boss sends his regards & a Hi5!
As for Papi, I do believe this mess began with his wrist injury but feel it is now in his head. I don’t think its merely a matter of a decline in power…. lack of confidence seems to be driving the Big Papi bus now and only he can take back the wheel. Like Beckett, minus Opening Day & his last start, he seems lost… less passion, less angst, and more doubt in his eyes. Less cursing of a strikeout or hit into the shift, less spit being slapped in his batting gloves, less P.O’d at missed opportunities at the plate….he now walks with his head down back to the dugout. His body language says it all. (Think YOUK striking out..*hides*)

This is only my opinion (<-why do ppl say this when they post?)..
I think Youk or Pedey type anger at mistakes show confidence (or a lil more) in what they expect of themselves, knowing you “can” do something and then not doing it does make you want to kick the bench and toss a few helmets around & maybe give Manny a backhand. Then you have Papi who (I feel) doesn’t think he can and then he doesn’t and well, the long face would be the “I knew I couldn’t do it and I was right” face. I almost have to leave the room its so painful to watch.

As crazy fanatical as I am about the game, I can no longer yell & scream about it .. Papi doesn’t need more time in the batting cages, he needs a psychiatrist & a hug. I’m a girl so its ok. *bow*
Thanks for the tip, Chuckie .. Tweet ya later! (whirly bird)

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12 Josh Gans May 28, 2009 at 8:23 pm: You make so many good points I don’t know where to begin. There could be a million different excuses for why he isn’t hitting, but it doesn’t matter what the real reason is if he doesn’t break out of the funk.
Work’s rediculous right now so I have to leeave it at that, thanks for stopping by.
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13 Adam June 1, 2009 at 8:54 pm: Hmm, interesting point Kelly. It’s a little bit of the chicken and the egg dilemma. Did Big Papi lose his confidence, which led to less hits, or did less hits make him lose his confidence (which leads to less hits).
Perhaps it’s because we already won two World Series and know Papi feels less pressure to hit home runs and so in turn he’s turned into a less clutch hitter?
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14 Chuck Hanf May 28, 2009 at 11:48 pm

To everyone: Thank you for everything. I started this as a semi-joke and now that I see what it’s become and how much fun I’ve had with it, I’m amazed. I never knew I could have this much fun with something I considered a hobby—- writing. I’m so happy that all of u read what I write and I hope it continues. Meeting people like Gansie and Adam is just a bonus and truly, it’s been a blast! So thanks to Adam, Six Channels, Madgus, Michelle My Wife! ha, Josh, Kelly (Whirly Bird), and Lynchie. U don’t realize what it means to me that u comment and take such interest in it all. To me, it’s still a joke, and just me rambling on and commenting on the sports issues that I love to talk sh*t about. That’s me.. but thanks to all of you.

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15 Eddie May 29, 2009 at 3:05 pm