David Ortiz needs to learn to keep his mouth shut

From Buster Olney's blog on ESPN:

Said David Ortiz: "We don't need to worry about anybody; everyone needs to worry
about us."

Now, I will be the first to admit that the Yankees have looked awful so far this year. I will also begrudgingly admit that the Red Sox have looked amazing so far this year. They have cruised through the first quarter of the season without any blemishes. Josh Beckett on the DL with his old recurring blister problems is about the only hurdle they have encountered so far and quite frankly good for them. Theo Epstein has put together a wonderful team, and they should feel a bit arrogant and cocky. However, quotes like the one above have a history of coming back to haunt players later on down the line.


If you have read any of my stuff in the past you know that I have enormous respect for David Ortiz and what he has been able to do with the bat, and how at times he has single handily won games for them in the past. However, last year as the Red Sox were fading and he was injured down the stretch, he opened his mouth and said he deserved to win the MVP over Derek Jeter (though both lost out to Justin Morneau) because he is a power hitter and Jeter is not. He said this things as the Red Sox ultimately finished 3rd behind the Yankees and the Blue Jays. I opined at the time why Ortiz should not win the MVP.


Now I am seeing a disturbing trend from Big Papi, that Red Sox Nation should be concerned about, and that is getting too cocky too early in the season and ruling the Yankees out too soon. It is often better in sports to keep one's mouth shut, rather than give your opponents motivation or worse having to eat crow later. Needless to say, I am certainly hoping for the latter.


Someone told me this weekend, that the Yankees need to go about 77-42 for the rest of the way in order to get to 97-65, and finish in the thick of the wild card and perhaps the divisional title depending on the bumps that the Red Sox encounter between now and September. Now, while this would be amazing run, I believe the Yankees are capable of such a run with the way the offense and pitching is constructing.


The Yankees have been devastated by injuries to the rotation, have a weary overused bullpen and an anemic offense outside of Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter. If Roger Clemens returns and can keep his ERA under 3.50, and Phil Hughes can be a solid 5th starter and the rest of the offense (Damon, Giambi, Matsui, Abreau, Cano) can get back on track, then this team could go 77-42 or better. They have the tools to do it, the question is now, do the have the heart to suck it up and give everything they have to get there?

Now the flip-side is, if the Yankees remain in the tank and are still reeling by the middle of June, I don't foresee a repeat of 1978, when they battled back from 14 games out in July to beat the Red Sox in the infamous Bucky Dent Home Run Game.

Then again, maybe it is the curse of Zim