David Ortiz will be in a tough situation when he walks up to the plate at Fenway tonight for the completion of yesterday’s suspended game. Everyone in Red Sox Nation is rooting for a walk-off homer and a good percentage are actually expecting it. What happens if he pops up or misses badly at a pitch for strike three? A bad out at the start of the game would be the symbolic end to the Big Papi that was once the king of walk-offs, and the guy who set the Red Sox single season home run record.
The wrist injury in ’08 and the slow start in ’09 used up the good will of many fans leaving no patience for a slow start this season. For all that Ortiz has done in his career in Boston it is hard to see fans turn on him struggling at the plate now. Pressure mounts on Francona with every additional game that Ortiz struggles in. Tito can move Ortiz down in the order and he can give him some days off here and there but at some point he is going to run out of leash.
A walk-off tonight could give Ortiz a month’s worth of patience from fans. The nation is behind him and would be happy with a simple base hit or lead-off walk. It is only one AB in April but it could do wonders for Ortiz.
Let’s go Papi!
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