University of Kwazulu-Natal

Why David Ortiz Considers His Legendary Final Mlb Season Confusing Nes

Bonisiwe Shabane
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why david ortiz considers his legendary final mlb season confusing nes

David Ortiz knew better than to think the good times would roll forever. The Boston Red Sox legend reflected on the final season of his Major League Baseball career in an interview MLB.com's Ian Browne published Sunday and revealed the "confusing" aspect of that unforgettable campaign. As Ortiz in 2016 was positing perhaps the greatest retirement tour in MLB history, some wondered whether he'd reverse his already-made decision to retire after the season. "I think everybody wants to do that, but I don't think anyone retires after putting up a season like that. It felt confusing," Ortiz told Browne. "When you look at a guy who is about to retire, you don't think he would retire with numbers like that.

But I was done, man. I ran out of gas." By the time Ortiz's tank reached E, he had more doubles (48), home runs (38) and RBIs (127) than any other player in history in a final season. His feats helped the Red Sox win the American League East and reach the playoffs, where they fell to the Cleveland Indians in the AL Division Series. Looking at David Ortiz in his final Major League Baseball season, one would have assumed he could have played a few more seasons. He had a year most MLB players would kill for.

Although he was 40, the Boston Red Sox DH led the league in doubles, RBIs, and slugging percentage. Recently, the Hall of Fame hopeful admitted he simply ran out of gas but also spoke about something else that concerned him had he pushed his career along another year. After Ortiz spent 20 years in the big leagues and retired in 2016, he finds himself on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time. Big Papi spent the last 14 years of his illustrious career with the Red Sox, where he became a fan favorite. He also turned into a superstar. Boston signed Ortiz when the Minnesota Twins released him after the 2002 season.

That year, he had his best season with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. In his first year in Boston, Ortiz began a string of five straight seasons with 100-plus RBIs when he drove in 101 runs and smacked 31 home runs. Ortiz went on to collect 483 home runs in a Red Sox uniform, giving him 541 for his career. In Boston, he won three World Series titles and was a 10-time All-star. He was known for his clutch postseason performances with the Red Sox. Ortiz has a strong shot of becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

According to Ryan Thibodaux, who is keeping tabs on the public ballots, Ortiz has 83.6% of the votes with 150 ballots on file. In order to get in, a player must receive 75% of the votes. David Ortiz explains the emotions he felt in his final game while also expressing pride in the Red Sox's ability to go from worst in the AL East in 2015 to first in 2016. (1:10) He lost a step. His bat is slowing down.

He isn't getting the jumps he used to get. His slider is flat. His slow start is a liability. He has no position. He has lost velocity. What is he taking?

Yes, even David Ortiz heard some of these comments about his career, and it wasn't that long ago. The reality is that players don't get to ride off into the sunset on their own terms without, at some point, being on the receiving end of such commentary. In fact, no one exits without cuts and bruises, maybe even a few arrows to the back. It doesn't matter how glorious, thankful or championship-caliber the ride was just moments before. David Ortiz is leaving at the top of his game, having the greatest over-40 final season in history. His hands are adorned with rings.

He has brought victory and glory to his city, country and family. Then in this final campaign, he led the league in many major offensive categories and helped carry his team to a division title after it finished dead last a year ago. So why in the world would he leave with so much left in the tank? From SABR member Jayson Stark at ESPN.com on September 14, 2016: Nearly 19,000 men have played baseball in the major leagues. I’ve decided that their careers all had one thing in common: Not one of them had a final season as spectacular as the grand finale currently being crafted by a man named David Americo...

Willie Mays hit .211 the year he said goodbye. Hank Aaron batted .229. Harmon Killebrew hit .199. Goose Gossage had a 4.18 ERA. Robin Roberts went 5-8, 4.82. John Smoltz and Phil Niekro both had ERAs north of 6.00.

And that’s normal. So keep that in mind as you watch Big Papi heading for the finish line. He leads the whole sport in slugging. He leads the whole sport in doubles (tied with Daniel Murphy). He leads the whole sport in OPS. And he’s 40 years old.

Seriously? Which means it’s time to begin actively debating a question I don’t ask lightly: Is this the greatest “retirement season” in baseball history — or even sports history? It just might be.

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