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Ortiz to Gabbard: Keep doing your best »
July 31, 2007
David Ortiz has not been putting up the power numbers that most people have expected.
Entering tonight's game, the Red Sox' designated hitter has only 16 home runs and has gone 38 at-bats since his last one, on July 16 against Kansas City. Ortiz has only three homers in his last 29 games, totaling 116 at-bats.
But Ortiz, who is battling his way through torn meniscus in his right knee, is batting .316, and even though has has only two RBI in his last nine games, neither general manager Theo Epstein nor manager Terry Francona is down on Ortiz, who established a club record with 54 homers a year ago.
"David is having a great year," said Epstein. "He may not be putting up numbers (he has in the past), but he has battled through some leg problems and seems to be better lately. He's not a complainer. I wouldn't bet against him. He's doing everything he can. Everyone's entitled to a slump."
Francona went out of his way to talk about other ways in which Ortiz has been trying to help the club, despite his physical discomfort.
"We see him trying to steal second on a 2 and 2 pitch, and going from first to third on a base hit," said Francona. "Sometimes you don't get as many hits as you'd like."
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 5:26 PM | Permalink
