David Ortiz Doesn't Want To Be A Distraction In Final Season
BOSTON (CBS) -- This season will be David Ortiz's last, and the Red Sox slugger hopes to ride off into the sunset as a World Series champ for the fourth time in his career.
What he doesn't want to be is a distraction to his teammates or organization. Ortiz has been a larger than life figure in Boston sports since helping break an 86-year World Series drought back in 2004, so that may not be all that easy as the city, and fans around baseball alike, bid the DH a final farewell.
But even if there are a few distractions throughout, Ortiz wants everyone to know he isn't going to just fade out of the spotlight. He wants to go out with the same pop you've heard off his bat with all 503 of his career homers.
Ortiz held court Tuesday down in Fort Myers, Florida as he begins the final installment of his 20-year MLB career, and says he's ready to hang up the cleats after this season.
"I don't know how it's going to be right after I'm done, but I think I'm ready to pass the torch," Ortiz told reporters at the Red Sox' Spring Training facilities. "I think right now, everything is heading in the right direction. I've seen a lot of athletes, when they're done they feel like they still have something in the tank and come back. Hopefully that's not my case.
"I look around me and everyone is in their 20s," he said with a chuckle. "I think I'm ready. We have a long season and hopefully I don't cause any distractions. I plan on winning this year and I'm more than happy with what the front office did this offseason. They made all those moves for us to have a better season this year, but I take that personal. I feel like they made those moves not just to have a better season, but to win a World Series. Hopefully that is the case."
Even at 40, Ortiz is ready to continue to mash like the best of them. And if his bat can't do the talking this season he'll be sure to get the most out of his teammates, much like veterans of the Sox clubhouse once did with him.
"I'm still hungry. I was going at it this offseason to come in and have another good season. I'm going to be pushing my teammates the best I can," he said, confident in what the 2016 Boston Red Sox have to offer. "I think we have a balanced team, a little bit of everything. I'm a big fan of underdogs; I love when people say we're going to finish behind anyone in the league. That motivates me and the team that wins the World Series isn't the one with all the super stars, but the one with the good balance.
"I'm very excited with what we have going on right here right now."
Ortiz knows his final season will feature rival clubs saying "bon voyage" along the way. He saw Derek Jeter's farewell tour two years ago, which offered a glimpse of what he can expect. There will be trucks and trinkets and memorabilia dished out before games, and Ortiz hopes those quick ceremonies won't be a distraction to himself or his teammates. But that doesn't mean he won't be soaking it all in, thanking the fans at every stop along the way.
"It's not anything crazy. You go to a city for four days, it's not like they're throwing a party every day. It's a one-day thing and they let you know ahead of time. I'll give my appreciation to the fans, no matter where we go to play," he said. "It doesn't matter who you play for, as a player you have to be thankful to the fans for the support through the years. We make our living because of the fans. I will never forget about that. I always try to be the best I can be for the fans. It doesn't matter who you're cheering for, you're supporting me because you're a baseball fan. I'm going to show my appreciation to everyone and we'll move on."
With 162 regular season games, and hopefully a lengthy installment of October baseball, to go, Ortiz doesn't want to reflect on the first 19 years of his career just yet. But with the three World Series titles, 17 postseason homers and dozens upon dozens of those Big Papi clutch hits, Ortiz has already taken his spot next to the greats of the organization. He will some day see his No. 34 gracing right field at Fenway Park, and knows that accomplishing everything he did for a team like the Red Sox is an opportunity and honor that very few are presented with.
"From the outside you look at yourself and the big picture and be like, 'wow it's been an unbelievable journey.' I'm really proud that my name gets thrown into the mix with those legends that are going to be there," he said.
Ted Williams famously said farewell to his career with a home run in his final at-bat, crushing one final pitch into the stands at Fenway Park.
"I don't know if that's going to happen. It ain't that easy," Ortiz said with a laugh. "I'm just going to try my best."