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"People need to realize that having Manny behind me, I still led the league (in 2006 and 2007) in walks," Ortiz said. "So it wasn't like the pitchers were like, 'Here, (hit it).' Two years, I led the league in walks, with Manny behind me. Manny was injured a whole bunch of times and I still hit without him. So now, because I injured my hand and I came back and I had a tough year, they're going to point at it? That tells you a lot. I hit without Manny before, didn't I? They pitched me tough with Manny (in the lineup), didn't they? So why should I worry about what they say?" Ortiz also said on Monday that his hand is fully healed. "My hand is pain-free," he said. "It's a huge difference. (Last season), I was wondering if I could swing at pitches inside, outside, low fastball, high fastball and thinking about how I was going to feel afterward. I don't have to worry anymore." |
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is determined to prove to his critics that he can hit without Manny Ramirez in the same lineup.