David Ortiz has elevated the fan experience to a new level. He has taken New England sports fans to a place where no others have been. He has put them in a state of mind where they expect a game-winning home run. And he has delivered.
Does anyone know how hard this is? A home run, John Updike once reminded us, cannot be hit at will. And yet it seems that Ortiz can dial up a game-winning blast every time.
Every time.
Big Papi did it again last night. With the Sox trailing, 8-6, in the bottom of the ninth, with two men aboard, and a 2-and-0 count, Ortiz launched another heat-seeking game-winner into the center-field bleachers. This time the victim was Cleveland closer Fausto Carmona. Dr. Fausto never knew what hit him. But he sure knew who hit him.
And so we saw it again. The Ortiz tour-de-bases while the visitors walked off the diamond with their heads down. The patented helmet flip as Ortiz approached the gang of teammates surrounding home plate. ``Dirty Water." Then ``Tessie." Then the interview with Tina Cervasio on the big board. Then 36,387 pouring into the streets singing songs and slapping one another on the back.
There never has been anything like it in Boston sports. There never has been anyone like David Ortiz in our town. Sure, there were a couple of players with more talent, but no one ever has had a prolonged stretch like this. Not Ted. Not Russ. Not Bobby. Not Larry. Not Tom. They did other things, and won (in some cases) a lot more rings. But no player in Boston sports history has sent home this many people with electrifying moments of greatness.
This simply does not happen in baseball. Ortiz has turned major league baseball into Wiffle ball games you'd play with makeshift rules regarding rooftops, clotheslines, and summer winds. Big Papi is an action superhero come to life. He is a cartoon figure who jumps off the screen and gets it done in real life in real time. He is the mythical Joe Hardy with no apparent time limit on his powers.
Fenway fans were plotting the walkoff win before the inning started. Alex Cora was scheduled to lead off, and if two of the first three batters reached base, Ortiz would come to the plate representing the winning run. That's all that was needed, and that, of course, is what happened. Cora cracked a single to left, and Kevin Youkilis, the Greek God of Walks, drew a hard-earned bases on balls. Manager Terry Francona knows enough not to bunt in that situation. It most definitely would take the bat our of Ortiz's hands. So Mark Loretta popped up, and fans were almost glad to see him make an out. It enhanced the Ortiz drama.
