Big papi's recent slump

Question

since Manny left, Papi is hitting about .250 with no homers. now that Manny's gone, do you think Ortiz won't be the hitter he was the past 4 years? I think Manny's protecting him helped Ortiz become the hitter he is. he will slowly diminish. this is all coming from a Sox fan.

Answer 1

I think we gotta take the good with the bad. Ortiz has an August slump and will come out of it, Manny or no Manny. We just don't usually focus on it because we were hearing Manny talk about wanting to be traded.  

Answer 2

I think it's just part of the game...He'll come out of it and hit just fine. Protection in a lineup is semi-overrated. Sure, it helps to have better hitters around you, as you get more people on base and better situations to hit in...but in the end most pitchers are going to pitch to a specific hitter's tendencies regardless of the hitters around him. And a good hitter is going to succeed without without other good hitters...but other numbers (RBI, Runs, etc) that count on others may suffer. I'd think Boston has the talent around Ortiz to keep him in the elite hitter tier.

Answer 3

Where is Manny's protection in LA?  Ortiz's is just in a slump and once he starts hitting all will be forgotten.  True, he will not see as many good pitches as he once did...because let's face it Jason Bay is no Manny.  But when Papi is on it only takes one.

Answer 4

I don't think the wrist of Ortiz is 100% and he is just not hitting well right now.  Ortiz and the other MLB players are professionals but all of them will go through a period such as Ortiz is facing now.  He is too good a hitter to be kept down forever and one of the MLB teams is going to pay dearly the day his swing comes back.