David Ortiz will retire at end of 2016 season.

Mueller's Twin Grannies

critical thinker
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Dec 19, 2009
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Agreed 100%, but that award has traditionally been an offensive award, by and large, and was back then too. I just remember a lot of people were up in arms about how low he finished in the voting. I don't think it's unfair to say he was shown some anti-DH bias then and several times throughout his career, especially since he finished much higher in the voting in later years despite playing in the field less than he did in 2003, when he actually played a fair amount of 1B once Giambi got hurt.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Dec 4, 2005
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Yeah I have no idea what you're talking about. In 2003 ARod destroyed Papi offensively and won a GG. I'm not aware of the 'up in arms' outrage you're referencing. Papi had a good year and it was his coming out, but he played 128 games, 2/3 of which at dh and really was no match for MVP unless you are of the school that an MVP needs to be on a playoff team.

Edit: 'destroyed is too strong; he had a better year
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

critical thinker
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Dec 19, 2009
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Again, I'm not saying should have won it in 2003, just that he might have deserved more votes than he got. At no point, in any of the seasons in which A-Rod won the balloting was Ortiz better. I know I originally implied he was robbed one year but I had my years mixed up and in the year that A-Rod won when in a last-place team, Ortiz finished outside of the top three, so my argument at the outset was wrong and I retracted once I realized my mistake.
 

JohntheBaptist

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Eh. I'm not trying to pick on you but he may not have been in the top 3 MVP discussion for his own team in 2003, and he still finished 5th in the league in voting. He had a lower OPS in fewer games than Trot Nixon. I think you could argue he got too many votes that year.
 

AB in DC

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Jul 10, 2002
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End of an era.

It’s been known since last November -- when he announced it -- and then after the recently concluded 2016 season -- when he actually did it -- and now it’s official. As posted on the MLB transaction’s page on the league’s website, Ortiz’ retirement went through on Tuesday, ending the longtime Red Sox DH’s career after 20 seasons between Minnesota and Boston
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Reverend

for king and country
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The sight of Ortiz rounding first, arm raised, as the entire rest of the team runs the other way toward home plate, is the greatest sight human eyes can see.
I was at his last game. We waited fucking forever for him to come back out, hoping he would, because he wouldn't come out while the other team was celebrating. Respect.

But he came out. He spoke. I didn't understand a word he said. But it was awesome.
 

SumnerH

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I was at his last game. We waited fucking forever for him to come back out, hoping he would, because he wouldn't come out while the other team was celebrating. Respect.

But he came out. He spoke. I didn't understand a word he said. But it was awesome.
Gods answer letters.
 

uncannymanny

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Jan 12, 2007
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I was at his last game. We waited fucking forever for him to come back out, hoping he would, because he wouldn't come out while the other team was celebrating. Respect.

But he came out. He spoke. I didn't understand a word he said. But it was awesome.
I was there with my dad. I was so disgusted by the result of the game we left, missing the speech. I didn’t think he’d come back out after the loss knocking them out of the playoffs. I hate myself for that decision.
 

Reverend

for king and country
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That’s rough, man; I’m sorry to hear that. And it was a pretty bad loss, like you said. But you got to see his last game; to steal a line from a friend of mine, even if he made some good ones, if he makes the Hall it won’t be for making speeches. So you’ll always have that, yeah?

Anyway, I’ll spoil this in case you don’t want to look—my buddy sent it along just today and I get that you might not want to see it. But hey—you might.
27805
 
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uncannymanny

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We heard the cheers from up Beacon St and my heart sank. It would be an all time spirts memory. In the end, it’s ok...I saw the man play for years, including some in person where the ball didn’t die at the warning track.