David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox' Lack of Sportmanship and Poor Attitude

David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox are in first place and everything seems well for the "Nation," but the team’s attitude needs adjusting, specifically the attitude of Big Papi. For 86 years, the Red Sox were the little brother. They couldn't win, blaming it on the dreaded curse, but their two titles in the last 10 years have brought on a rather unbecoming side effect. It gave the members of those teams a sense of self-entitlement. 

This year, one player has shown this disgusting arrogance more than any other. David Ortiz has been a part of two controversies, and both were caused by a pitcher pitching inside to him. Let me repeat that, they pitched him inside; they attempted to back him off of the plate, as any good pitcher would. They didn't send him some chin music or show any real attempt to hit Ortiz.

The first incident occurred at Yankee Stadium during the last Yankees vs. Red Sox series on the seventh of June. The Sox swept the series, and at times appeared to bully the Yanks by continually plunking their stars.

In this game, Ortiz came to the plate to face Yankee rookie reliever Hector Noesi. Noesi threw an inside fastball that Ortiz took offense to. Ortiz was able to easily get out of the way, and Noesi then pitched away. Later in the at bat Ortiz hit a home run and quickly let the rookie know how he felt about the earlier pitch.

Instead of acting like he does on every other home run, he flipped the bat, clearly showing up the pitcher. If this had been the starter, the next time Ortiz came up he would have gotten a ball in his ear, but this was a reliever and a rookie.

He wasn't going to get a chance to do that even if he had the guts to do it. CC Sabathia finally got retribution for the young reliever by hitting Ortiz in his backside in his start during the series.

At the time this seemed like an isolated incident, it isn't Papi's M.O., but after an event that occurred Friday, it may become his.

In a game that the Red Sox eventually won 10-3 over the Orioles, Ortiz did worse than he did with Noesi; he actually tried to punch Kevin Gregg (the Orioles pitcher) after an altercation that occurred during the eighth inning at Fenway. Gregg threw three inside fastballs to Ortiz and that set him off. He started to walk toward the mound and the benches cleared, but nothing of significance happened. That significance came after the next pitch.

On the next pitch Ortiz hit a simple pop-up to center field, but a couple of things weren't so simple about this pop-up.

First was the fact that he swung on a 3-0 pitch, despite the route that was taking place on the scoreboard (attempting to run up the score). Second, he posed instead of running to first base.

Gregg began to yell at Ortiz for this display, and Ortiz charged the mound. They both began throwing haymakers but not a single blow landed. It was a rather funny spectacle actually; it looked like the two worst heavyweight fighters in a championship bout. Gregg was throwing punches with his glove on, but it should lead to suspensions for both players and possibly others. 

The question is, what has changed? Why is Ortiz getting mad at pitchers for doing their job?

Not one of the four pitches in question looked as if they were attempts to hit the perennial All-Star. Is it that Ortiz just can't take it anymore and has had it with people attempting to pitch in a way that could get him out? Does he think that he is entitled to only outside pitches unlike anyone else?

I'm not really sure what the reason is for this angry Big Papi, rather than the happy one we have known for years. But one thing is for certain, this isn't how the game is played. If you aren't hit by a fastball then don't take offense. Let the pitcher do his job and you do yours.