David Ortiz will retire at end of 2016 season.

[The Price Is Wrong]

David Ortiz now ranks 7th in MLB in OPS, with a .308 / .393 / .673 / 1.066 slash line. At least at the moment, he is ahead of Bryce Harper, defending NL MVP.

There's "going out on top", where you retire before you're an embarrassment and people are looking away from the awkward spectacle you're making... and then there's going out literally on top, where you're still one of the best in the game.

If he keeps this up, I hope Dombrowski and Pedro et al will start whispering in his ear, "you know, you could build a lot more hospitals and schools in the DR with another $16M..."

 

[Average Reds]

I want him to keep playing because I don't want to think about a Red Sox lineup without him.

I want him to retire after this year because I don't ever want to consider the prospect of wanting to see a Red Sox lineup without him in it.

 

[ALiveH]

1.066 OPS would tie for his career high. 187 OPS+ would be his career high by a wide margin. We're 1/5 of the way through the season. If he keeps on this pace (a very tall task), it would arguably be the best year of his career at age 40. Pretty amazing, possibly unprecedented.

 

[grimshaw]

Sign him to a multimillion dollar minor league deal next year to play at home. Paper move option him on the road. Win.
Three quarters joking.

 

[Average Reds]

1.066 OPS would tie for his career high. 187 OPS+ would be his career high by a wide margin. We're 1/5 of the way through the season. If he keeps on this pace (a very tall task), it would arguably be the best year of his career at age 40. Pretty amazing, possibly unprecedented.

Not unprecedented. Ted Williams put up an OPS of 1.096 at age 41. Even more impressive was his OPS of 1.257 (233 OPS+) at age 38, which I categorize as the greatest post-35 offensive year in MLB history. (Non-PED category.)

But yeah, Papi is on a tear and it is wonderful.

 

[Rasputin]

He only needs 67 to tie Ted Williams for most homers in a Red Sox uniform. If he gets another 20-25 this year, he might think he's only a couple seasons away.

 

[BaseballJones]

Not unprecedented. Ted Williams put up an OPS of 1.096 at age 41. Even more impressive was his OPS of 1.257 (233 OPS+) at age 38, which I categorize as the greatest post-35 offensive year in MLB history. (Non-PED category.)

But yeah, Papi is on a tear and it is wonderful.

Pretty sure that Papi isn't nearly the hitter Ted was. I strongly suspect he'll go through a significant slump at some point this year, and when he does, how many of us here will be saying, "ok, he looks cooked"? By year's end, his numbers will probably be pretty darned good, but it won't be a career year for him.

 

[dhappy42]

At what point do the Red Sox try to talk Ortiz out of retiring and ask him to play one more year?

 

[RIrooter09]

At what point do the Red Sox try to talk Ortiz out of retiring and ask him to play one more year?

If he's still hitting like this at the break I would say.

 

[joe dokes]

At what point do the Red Sox try to talk Ortiz out of retiring and ask him to play one more year?

They wont. They dont have to. He knows that if he's still a good hitter, they'd love to have him. I'm sure they told him exactly that last winter before he announced his plans. And if he gets any sort of itch not to retire, he'll tell them and they'll work something out. But I dont think that's going to happen either.

I think the ultimate respect the Sox show him is to respect the decision he made. That sort of stuff is important to him and I think the team knows that.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

They wont. They dont have to. He knows that if he's still a good hitter, they'd love to have him. I'm sure they told him exactly that last winter before he announced his plans. And if he gets any sort of itch not to retire, he'll tell them and they'll work something out. But I dont think that's going to happen either.

I think the ultimate respect the Sox show him is to respect the decision he made. That sort of stuff is important to him and I think the team knows that.

Really, the biggest show of respect and desire to have him keep playing would be to pick up his 2017 option. He of course could still retire as planned, but I can't think of a better way for the team to say we wish you'd stay.

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

At what point do the Red Sox try to talk Ortiz out of retiring and ask him to play one more year?

On the duck boat.

 

[joe dokes]

Really, the biggest show of respect and desire to have him keep playing would be to pick up his 2017 option. He of course could still retire as planned, but I can't think of a better way for the team to say we wish you'd stay.

My bad. I completely forgot about an option. That would be a nice gesture.

 

[Soxfan in Fla]

On the duck boat.

DDski yells at him over the mic "this is your fucking team and we are picking up your fucking option. See you in February Papi.

 

[nothumb]

On the duck boat.

If the Sox win the WS this year I would say it becomes even less likely that Ortiz changes his mind. Going out on top has to be a big part of the goal.

 

[gryoung]

It's early May and there's lots of baseball to be played over the next 5 months. I certainly want Ortiz to maintain his current production, but with any 40 year old player there's risk.

Let him have a good season, retire as planned, and the Sox move ahead with new-found roster flexibility that might support some of their high-level young talent coming up.

 

[JimD]

From the 'What's Gone Right?' thread:

Building on that, by hitters in hot streaks:

Papi's BABIP is 30 points higher than his career rate, and is up 66 points higher than last year. It's mostly from him hitting more flyballs, and higher velocity because his soft contact is exactly the same as normal. It probably isn't anywhere near sustainable.

He has actually been able to pull the ball with more authority as well, so he is beating shifts using the Ted Williams style but that has nowhere to go but down.

Probably best not to get carried away and just to enjoy Ortiz now (and hope that the all-but-inevitable BABIP normalization isn't too severe).

 

[grimshaw]

From the 'What's Gone Right?' thread:



Probably best not to get carried away and just to enjoy Ortiz now (and hope that the all-but-inevitable BABIP normalization isn't too severe).

Ya, but this is the "Jesus Christ Papi!" thread which I have posted in. The other is just analyzing how everyone is doing it as a whole and what to possibly expect moving forward.

 

[dbn]

As a David Ortiz fan, I hope de does retire after this season. It'll be awesome to see him go out still one of the best hitters in baseball at age 40.

As a Red Sox fan, I hope they find a way to make him change his mind.

 

[The Price Is Wrong]

Probably best not to get carried away and just to enjoy Ortiz now (and hope that the all-but-inevitable BABIP normalization isn't too severe).

Debbie Downer it all you like, but Ortiz is now 3rd in baseball in OPS, behind only Manny Machado and Daniel Murphy. And he is walking at a higher pace than the rest of the top 10 save Harper, so it's not all BABIP-driven. His BABIP the last two seasons was extraordinarily low by his standards (.256 and .264, vs a career .300), so his .329 is not all that outrageous. Manny Ramirez's career BABIP was .338 - he was a better hitter than Papi, but what I'm saying is, he's in a sustainable range.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

http://m.mlb.com/video/v687943883/mlb-tonight-features-the-story-of-maverick

 

[Rasputin]

If the Sox win the WS this year I would say it becomes even less likely that Ortiz changes his mind. Going out on top has to be a big part of the goal.

How many players have won the world series five times with the Red Sox?

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

http://m.mlb.com/video/v687943883/mlb-tonight-features-the-story-of-maverick

Wow. Thanks for posting that.

Everyone else, if you've got 10 minutes, try to watch that without breaking down.

 

[BestGameEvah]

Wow. Thanks for posting that.

Everyone else, if you've got 10 minutes, try to watch that without breaking down.

Well, that was just perfect! Thank you for that gem.

 

[OfTheCarmen]

Well, that was just perfect! Thank you for that gem.

I watched that this morning and it was terribly moving. Great to see the team and the players doing things like this. Certainly was a little dusty, but I was home alone so it was ok ;-).

 

[Average Reds]

In the office, had to close the door to keep the dust out. (Or maybe in?)

Millar is as much a part of the story as Ortiz. (With the exception of the inability to hit bombs on command for sick children.) I've always thought of him as something of a good-natured clown, but he certainly seems like a solid guy. And of course Papi is Papi.

 

[BestGameEvah]

I watched that this morning and it was terribly moving. Great to see the team and the players doing things like this. Certainly was a little dusty, but I was home alone so it was ok ;-).

I stayed in town for the series so was at this game. We were sitting up about 10 rows so didn't get to see all that went on. The up close and personal with Maverick just blew me away, poor little guy. Hoping to see him come playoffs!

 

[DeadlySplitter]

After a kinda lean homestand through yesterday, today's near-cycle puts Papi at a 1.100 OPS.

.423 wOBA before today, that will head on up.

 

[soxhop411]

IT was 2009 and many reporters and fans though ortiz was toast. People thought he should retire or be benched..... And here we are today......
(from 2009)
Simmons: It's hard to say goodbye to David Ortiz

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

After a kinda lean homestand through yesterday, today's near-cycle puts Papi at a 1.100 OPS.

.423 wOBA before today, that will head on up.

And they are nearly through a quarter of the season (i.e. the sample size is decent). Its astonishing...

 

[Plympton91]

Everyone has a price.

What's your price for 2017, David?

 

[Dogman]

He should ask for 25% ownership stake. When they settle for 10%, we all win.

 

[soxhop411]

Brendan C. Hall ‏@BHallESPN 15m15 minutes ago
David Ortiz just left the club house. Declined to interview. "Just say I'm a bad m******f*****"

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

Ortiz left without talking just yelling to media "Just say I'm a bad mother fucker. I'm out"

 

[swiftaw]

http://m.mlb.com/video/v687943883/mlb-tonight-features-the-story-of-maverick

Damn, it's dusty in my apartment.

 

[Rough Carrigan]

How many players have won the world series five times with the Red Sox?

Harry Hooper is the only 4 time winner with the Sox. Duffy Lewis didn't play in 1918.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I'm okay with DO retiring. He has made his mark in Boston. Nothing else to prove.

 

[Sampo Gida]

So whats that for Papi, 23 career walk off hits including the post season? Does anyone have more?

 

[Sampo Gida]

David Ortiz now ranks 7th in MLB in OPS, with a .308 / .393 / .673 / 1.066 slash line. At least at the moment, he is ahead of Bryce Harper, defending NL MVP.

If he keeps this up, I hope Dombrowski and Pedro et al will start whispering in his ear, "you know, you could build a lot more hospitals and schools in the DR with another $16M..."

Almost half goes in taxes. 16M isn't going to convince him. Respect him with 30 which is what Bautista says he wants, and you might have a chance at convincing him. He might be receptive to some deferred money.

 

[Rasputin]

Harry Hooper is the only 4 time winner with the Sox. Duffy Lewis didn't play in 1918.

That was kind of the point.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

Can someone explain why the walkoff was ruled a double? Seems to me the game was over when he reached first base.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Can someone explain why the walkoff was ruled a double? Seems to me the game was over when he reached first base.

You get as many bases as the runner who scores the winning run takes to score if you actually touch that many bases.

 

[ifmanis5]

Think we need a thread breakout with poll- should Ortiz retire this season or not?

 

[Boggs26]

Think we need a thread breakout with poll- should Ortiz retire this season or not?

He should retire immediately upon touching home plate following his World Series winning walkoff homer. It would then be impossible to go out further on top than David Ortiz.

 

[joyofsox]

So whats that for Papi, 23 career walk off hits including the post season? Does anyone have more?

I count 20 - with Boston.

 

[SumnerH]

I count 20 - with Boston.

20 ties him for 4th all-time with Andre Dawson and Roberto Clemente.

Dusty Baker had 21, Tony Perez 22, and Frank Robinson 26.

 

[Blue Monkey]

20 ties him for 4th all-time with Andre Dawson and Roberto Clemente.

Dusty Baker had 21, Tony Perez 22, and Frank Robinson 26.

I assume this is regular season only?

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Per ESPN:

With his walk-off double, Ortiz joins Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron as just the third player in Major League Baseball history with 600 doubles and 500 home runs in his career.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

I've already decided the headlines after he wins the WS with a walkoff home run will read "Papily Ever After".

 

[SumnerH]

I assume this is regular season only?

It should include postseasons as well.

Perez (1976 WS Game 2, singling in Griffey Sr to break a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 9th) is the only person ahead of Ortiz with a postseason walkoff hit.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/10-things-i-didnt-know-about-game-ending-hits/ has the list; at the time Ortiz had 18, and I believe his only 2 game-enders since then are today and the 3-run blast in this game against the Rangers (June 6, 2013):

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS201306060.shtml