Category Archives: Sports

Not only MVP. Big Papi deserves the Red Sox C

Big Papi leads the team

Big Papi leads the team

For any Red Sox fan the 2013 season has been truly remarkable. Finishing 2012 among MLB’s worst seven teams, they now find themselves within one game of clinching the World Series, sharing MLB’s highest win percentage with the Cardinals.

This season will be remembered for many reasons, including the way the Red Sox played as a team, with premier and bench teammates playing their roles in the team’s best interest, without personality conflicts marring the efforts of the whole. The solidarity among players has been visible in their beards, reminiscent of the House of David barnstorming teams from the first half of the past century.

The playoffs were memorable, with grand slams by David Ortiz and Shane Victorino being just some of the highlights. And the World Series has not been less exciting. Games 3 and 4 will leave baseball fans with unprecedented memories, including a game-ending obstruction call in game 3 and the equally surprising game-ending pickoff of Kolten Wong in game 4.

These have been spectacular plays, changing within seconds the outcome of crucial games. But baseball is a game of both instant moments and the long haul. And in the latter David Ortiz is distinguishing himself in the record books. Five games into the series Big Papi has been batting an impressive 0.733 with a 0.750 OBP, placing him only behind Billy Hatcher whose numbers were 0.750/0.800 in the 1990 World Series. Continue reading