Is David Ortiz the biggest Yankee killer of all time? Unfortunately, he is, and I can’t think who No. 2 would be. And I’m counting the games until Big Papi is gone for good. Especially after last night, where his two-run homer gave the Red Sox the win over the Yankees. Enough already. Can his retirement end now?
Look at these numbers. According to ESPN’s Wally Matthews:
In 225 career games against the Yankees, Ortiz has belted 48 home runs, driven in 160 runs, batted .307 and posted an OPS of .960. He has been even more deadly at Fenway, the site of 32 of those home runs and where his OPS against New York is a gaudy 1.025. And 14 of his home runs against the Yankees have given the Red Sox the lead, most recently last April 10, when he homered off Esmil Rogers in the 16th inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees came back to tie that one, but the Red Sox eventually won in 19, and by the end of June, Rogers was pitching in Korea.
That’s why Ortiz ought to be satisfied with the boos he gets from Yankee fans, instead of wanting us to cheer him in his farewell. Because the boos are a sign of respect, in a way. Fans don’t boo nobodies, after all, as Reggie Jackson (and then Derek Jeter and Bryce Harper) have said.
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The Rivalry isn’t quite what it used to be. I was in spin class last night when I remembered that there was a Yankees-Red Sox game coming up! But I had to go in the whirlpool first before heading home. Yes, I had to relax; I’ve had a rough week. First, I had a severe allergic reaction to Trader Joe’s Organic Banana Chips and nearly ended up in the emergency room. Then, my 2001 Kia Sportage finally died. (Actually, I’m putting it out of its misery after finding out it needed thousands in repairs.) Squawker Jon said that in the cable TV drama that is my life, these were a lot of shenanigans, even for me!
Anyhow, I didn’t get home until after the game was over, although I did follow it online. (And I had Red Sox fans helpfully texting me the updates when Boston went ahead. Oy.) It’s too bad that A-Rod’s homer wasn’t the game-winner. Although even Red Sox fans were impressed with Alex giving his home run bat to a young Boston fan whose father recently died.
I’ll watch the game tonight, though. Hopefully it will have a much better outcome.
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