This is it. This is the night David Ortiz jumps into a phone booth and Big Papi steps out. Before the season, I wrote this:
I think we will see the triumphant return of the most prolific clutch hitter Boston has ever seen. There was a perfect storm of maladies that converged on Ortiz last season. Any one of them could have caused a hitting slump: all of them at once would be pretty tough for anyone to overcome.
After a slow couple of weeks, I think Ortizzles problem this April is sitting squarely on his shoulders. Last year’s start is in his head, the voice of doubt made louder by the looming presence of Mike Lowell on the bench. I think he is a few good swings away from picking up where he left off at the end of last year: as one of the league’s most productive sluggers.
Why tonight? Why not. Papi is 2-for-4 with two homeruns against Texas starter Colby Lewis. Call me stupid or stubborn or nostalgic, but I’m not ready to give up on him yet.
Brain-dead radio WEEI callers are, of course, calling for Adrian Gonzalez and looking to see what free agents are available after 2010, because clearly this season is over. Not me, I’m calling for the return of Big Papi: 2-for-3 with a walk and his first homer of the season. And a Red Sox win.
What say you, SG Nation?
