Ortiz Says Media Wrote Him Off, Vows He Won't Be Pinch Hit For Again

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Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz says that the media wrote him off and that he won't be pinch hit for again.

Ortiz criticized Terry Francona in a radio interview for showing a lack of confidence in him prior to a recent hot streak.

"I was mad. I was absolutely mad," Ortiz said on WEEI's Big Show, referring to the second time he was lifted for a pinch hitter, April 27 in Toronto. "If you ride with me, you're going to get two things. Either you're going to win or you're going to die with me.

"That's the way it is, that's the way it's been as long as I've been here. ... You gotta believe in your players. Period. You choose to have me on your roster since Day 1. You gotta ride with me."

Ortiz said he had "turned the page" and also issued a "guarantee" that his days of returning to the dugout for a pinch hitter are over.

He is hitting .248 for the season after hitting just .143 in April.

Via ESPN

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