Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 25, 2007
Fitter Papi

This is scary. David Ortiz arrived at camp in better shape than he was last year:

Even though he established a team record by clobbering 54 home runs last season, the Red Sox designated hitter heeded the advice of manager Terry Francona, who suggested in late September that he try a different direction with his offseason workouts to relieve stress from his knees. Ortiz arrived in Fort Myers with less weight around the waist and more muscle in the chest and shoulder area. "I turned 31 this offseason and now it's a whole different process with your body," Ortiz said.

Sounds like he's shooting for Maris' AL record of 61 homers.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:49 AM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

An article in the Providence Journal quoted Papi as saying that, before upgrading his workout this offseason, he was bench pressing "200-225 pounds," but now he's upto 300 lbs. What amazes me is that, with his size, he was only putting up 225 lbs. before 2007.

Posted by: tas at February 25, 2007 11:51 PM

Well, if you conisder that alot of his size before was NOT muscle, then it is understandable.

Posted by: Steve M at February 26, 2007 11:21 AM

re: Big Popi & Little Popi

David Ortiz gave Ryan Howard the nickname "Little Popi" at the All Star Game last year after Howard demolished all records by winning the Home Run contest with a variety of tape measure blasts that landed in the tririvers of Pittsburgh.

If it's the home run record, don't bank on Ortiz breaking it in Boston, with it's long right field fence and relatively neutral home run park dimensions. More generally, the AL now has a tougher home run park schematic geenrally.

meanwhile, the NL is somewhat easier and Howard, who blasted 58 last year, if they pitch to him, has Citizens Bank Park, with a Home Run Factor of 128 in his favor, plus other cozy parks to hit in in the NL.

If I had to bet between them, i'd say Howard had the better shot at 60+.

--arthur john kyriazis, philly

Posted by: arthur john kyriazis at February 27, 2007 09:06 AM

Ortiz:

*Heart problems last year
*Posting career years in his 30s, with an abnormal trend
*Massive cranium, and growing still

Has anyone suspected HGH with this guy yet?

I wouldn't put 60 homers past him.

Posted by: notsellingjeans at March 1, 2007 08:49 PM
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