Ortiz Continues Futility As Sox Drop Yet Another In Tampa

By Erik Pesta

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Earth to Terry Francona: It just might be time to move Big Papi down in the order.

I wrote in this space a couple weeks ago that Tito would stick by David Ortiz, because that's how he operates. I commend him for that approach…to a point. Baseball is a game of peaks and valleys, and good hitters almost always come around. However, it is becoming painfully obvious for all those involved, including Ortiz himself, that something is wrong with the (former) slugger. In an uncharacteristic show of frustration, Ortiz slammed his helmet on the bullpen steps after a pop-up during yesterday's game. It was a fastball over the middle of the plate, a pitch that the Papi of old would usually either deposit into the rightfield seats or into the gap for extra bases.

Ortiz is still homerless for the year in 96 at bats over 25 games. He has a .208 batting average and just 12 RBI. He isn't driving the ball whatsoever. How long are we going to watch possible runs go by the wayside as Francona continues to pencil Papi into the 3-hole in the lineup, night after night? Why not take some pressure off, by sliding him down to sixth and giving Jason Bay a shot at the coveted third spot? This is no aberration, no fluke due to small sample size. We're in the second month of the season and a guy who used to be one of baseball's most feared hitters is floundering. On Saturday night, the Rays pitched around Dustin Pedroia (albeit, the MVP) to get to Ortiz. Ask yourself if that would EVER happen at any time over the previous six years. Other teams can see it. Ortiz can see it. Fans can see it. Why can't Francona see it's hurting his team?

The Majors' worst shortstop didn't help things yesterday, either. Julio "The Hijacker" Lugo dropped a transfer from Pedroia on a possible double play ball that would have gotten Brad Penny and the Sox out of the inning. Of course, the miscue led to runs. He didn't stop there. He made a bad throw in the eighth inning on a Carl Crawford grounder that was ruled an infield hit, but upon further review from yours truly, would have been an out had a good, strong throw been made. So, instead, he allows a guy who had already stolen five bases on the day to reach once again. Crawford promptly stole a record-tying sixth base on his way to providing the Rays with a much-needed insurance run. Bravo, Julio, you have once again managed to draw the ire of Sox fans everywhere.

Brad Penny pitched fairly well in the loss. He went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts, in falling to 2-1 on the year. James Shields took the ball for the Rays and went 7.1 innings, giving up two earned on six hits with six strikeouts, in improving his record to 3-2. Kevin Youkilis hit his sixth homer of the year in the eighth inning off of Rays reliever J.P. Howell to bring the Sox within one run. That would be all they would get, as Rays closer Troy Percival came on to pitch a perfect ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Tonight, Boston begins it's first-ever series at the New Yankee Stadium. Jon Lester (1-2, 5.40 ERA) faces Phil Hughes (1-0, 0.00 ERA), with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 from the Bronx.