Papi's Back

[RocketsDWM]

David "Big Papi" Ortiz is back tonight vs the New York Yankees. He has been sorely missed as the rest of the lineup has tried to step it up in his absence (most notably JD Drew, Dustin P, and Youk). So what are your thoughts on him for the rest of the season? What type of numbers can he put up? Is he too much of an injury risk to trade for?

[Bloody Sox]

David "Big Papi" Ortiz is back tonight vs the New York Yankees. He has been sorely missed as the rest of the lineup has tried to step it up in his absence (most notably JD Drew, Dustin P, and Youk). So what are your thoughts on him for the rest of the season? What type of numbers can he put up? Is he too much of an injury risk to trade for?

Technically, the rest of the lineup did more than try to step it up...

Batting average: .280 before; .279 after.
Runs per game: 5 before; a hair over 5 after.
Home runs per game: 1.05 before; 1.15 after.
On-base percentage: .353 before; .360 after.
Slugging percentage: .441 before; .450 after.

Based on the batting practice swings before his rehab stint (when he was hitting some bombs), as well as some of the deep HRs he was hitting down in the minors, I'm pretty confident that he's feeling really good and will be near peak-form. I can see 12-15 HRs the rest of the way as a good possibility. Obviously the risk of re-injury is significant, but not huge.

[acsguitar]

Poopi

[RocketsDWM]

David "Big Papi" Ortiz is back tonight vs the New York Yankees. He has been sorely missed as the rest of the lineup has tried to step it up in his absence (most notably JD Drew, Dustin P, and Youk). So what are your thoughts on him for the rest of the season? What type of numbers can he put up? Is he too much of an injury risk to trade for?

Technically, the rest of the lineup did more than try to step it up...

Batting average: .280 before; .279 after.
Runs per game: 5 before; a hair over 5 after.
Home runs per game: 1.05 before; 1.15 after.
On-base percentage: .353 before; .360 after.
Slugging percentage: .441 before; .450 after.

Based on the batting practice swings before his rehab stint (when he was hitting some bombs), as well as some of the deep HRs he was hitting down in the minors, I'm pretty confident that he's feeling really good and will be near peak-form. I can see 12-15 HRs the rest of the way as a good possibility. Obviously the risk of re-injury is significant, but not huge.

Lately though, they have been struggling. And those numbers are due to a handful of Red Sox who, as I mentioned before, were the key catalysts during his rehab. I think his presence in the lineup helps out the other guys who may have been pressing too much in his absence.

[tah161]

I think he is going to have a huge rest of the reason. He's eager to get back and is going to put the team on his back carrying them to a division win by 5 games over the Rays/Yankee's.

[RocketsDWM]

Papi felt a "click" in his wrist last night per the Boston Herald.

If Papi should go down, should they sign Bonds or consider it a lost season? I just dont see how they could recover from this.

[Yoda]

Good thing they traded Manny. But since everyone (not me) believes that Bay isn't that much of a downgrade maybe he can carry the load.

[Field]

With that type of pitching staff I'm not sure how you could just 'call it a lost season' if Papi goes down.

[decoy562]

Well the Yankees lost Joba so now they're equal...

[Yoda]

Well the Yankees lost Joba so now they're equal...

Even if the Sox lost Ortiz for the season, they are in a better situation than the Yanks right now since they've had a lot less injuries and their pitching staff is still very much intact.