David Ortiz saw buddy Alex Rodriguez win a World Series this year with a loaded Yankees roster, now Ortiz would like some help in the Red Sox lineup. (AP file)

David Ortiz met with the media in the interview room at Fenway Park Thursday afternoon to talk about his upcoming Second Annual David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic, along with the event’s auction, both of which will benefit the David Ortiz Children’s Fund. (The charity provides children in New England and the Dominican Republic access to the pediatric critical care they need for full and productive lives.)

Ortiz also touched on a variety of subjects, including one he brought up at a similar press conference at this time last year — whether or not the Red Sox need another big bat in the middle of their lineup. Last year Ortiz went on record as saying it should have been a priority. This time around?

“I say that like a year ago and everybody looked at me like I was a [expletive] clown. I say, ‘We need another 30-home-run-hitting guy.’ ‘What, you crazy!’ Everybody talking trash. Now what?” Ortiz said. “Everybody will always welcome a 30-home-run-hitting player. Every time, every situation. You want to compete with those guys across the street, you better bring it, period.”

The question was then asked if the acquiring a middle-of-the-order back would remain of the utmost importance even if the Red Sox re-sign Jason Bay.

“I’m going to leave that up to you. You’re the one with the power of the pen,” Ortiz said. “We always need help. We always need guys capable to produce. That’s what everybody chase in the offseason, a guy who can come in and supply powers, RBIs. This is a team that’s playing in this division. Everything is powerful right here. You’ve got the world champions in the East. You’ve got Tampa Bay in the East. You’ve got the Blue Jays getting stronger every year in the East. You’ve got Baltimore who you don’t know if they’re going to come kick your [butt] all year round in the East. So, you better get ready to play in the East.”

One subject that Ortiz also talked about at length was his approach to this offseason, which will include him starting hitting nearly two months earlier than last year. The designated hitter will head to the Dominican Republic Friday to continue his workouts, which he explained will be similar to the offseasons when he wasn’t hampered by injury.

“I always do that,” Ortiz said. “I try and get myself exercising. I’m a big guy. I’m a guy who no way can sit down and watch TV and eat. I hate to come the following year and people start to say I’m overweight, not in shape, and too old. You have to take responsibility in whatever you do, and especially at your job. I know that I don’t want to be going through that. I just maintain myself, working out, doing things, burning calories, trying to stay in good habits so when you come to the hard work the following year, it’s easy.”

Something he wanted to make clear, however, was that is commitment to his health had nothing to do with the fact that he is going into the last guaranteed year of his contract.

“I always look at my last year like my first one because what I’m doing right now I’m doing every year. I don’t want you guys to think I’m doing what I’m doing right now because it’s the last year of my contract and I’ve got to put it together,” he said. “No, I do this every year. Every year after the season I continue working because I want to bring my best to the field.”

As for Ortiz’ reaction to Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein’s comments after the season that the team needed the DH — who turned 34 years old Wednesday — the player seemed to have little concern.

“I’ve always been a force here. I’ve always been the guy that this ballclub counts on. I know that for a fact. I’m going to prepare myself and come back and try to do it again,” Ortiz explained.

“This year is going to be the one year where is going to be a lot of expectations around here. I hear a lot of people talking about this ballclub needs to get younger, this ballclub needs to this, this ballclub needs to do that. As long I know the Red Sox, the Red Sox have had veteran players around. You never have a team out there under the [average] age of 30, that I remember. I’m not saying having young players around is a bad thing, but veteran players know how to deal with pressure and things like that.

“Comments doesn’t make anything better. What you do will make things better … I’m just going to go back to the basics. What I normally like to do. One thing nobody can take away from you is your bat. If anybody takes my bat away from me, I won’t be able to play because that’s the only thing I do.”

12 Comments for “A motivated David Ortiz”

1. mike Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

   Thanks for the memories David. You are a clown. You haven’t gotten a big hit since ‘07. You were awful against the Rays in ‘08 ALCS, awful against the Angels this season. You got hit .230 this year with 29 homers, mostly against the Orioles, Jays and the rest of the tier 2 teams. Your contract is almost as bad as Mike Lowell’s. You’re lucky you still have a job. Next year, you will be signing with Oakland for the minimum exception. You may be 34, but you look 44. You have neglected conditioning, and the hard work that made you good. You’ve aged 10 years in the past 2 years. Your bat speed is abysmal. You can’t get around on a major league fastball anymore. Just shut up and feel lucky you have a job. We’re tired of your big mouth. We all know you took steroids, so your 52 HR season is tainted. And we know your buddy Manny did too.

2. Louie Mc Farland Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

   Mike, Bite me. You are a Yankee fan. SHow some support.

   Red Sox Forever

3. Steve Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

   couldn’t have said it myself.

4. Andrew Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

   Wow. First of all, the whole “Ortiz took steroids” thing is inaccurate. He took a supplement that triggered a positive test. Plus he hit 54 homers in 2006, not 52 genius.

   Also, Ortiz is right in that we need a 30 home run guy. But not just that, we need a 30 home run guy who also consistently hits .300, because Jason Bay isn’t going to do the job. He strikes out way too much. We have too many hitters who strike out a ton. We have a bunch of mediocre hitters who also hit for power, but what we need is a GREAT hitter who can hit for power AND average.

   But one thing I will agree on is that Ortiz needs to shut his mouth and stop bitching because he can’t hit without Manny Ramirez protecting him. I want Ortiz gone anyway, but if he’s going to complain about this and that, then he needs to get the hell in shape this winter and not show up to camp a fat slob. He also needs to hit better than .230, and by June 1, he better have more than 1 fucking home run.

5. redsox1935 Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

   David has done his greatness for us however his time has come to realize he is not the MAN anymore.

   Everybody come to this time.

   Thanks for the memories!

6. Scott Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

   David, play your golf, but remember you need to do some conditioning work this off season and some real weight lifting. Someone needs to work you
   over till you are dripping wet and ready to eat raw meat. You don’t know
   what working out really is. If you had to do my workout, you’d be ready
   to kick some butt for another six years. Don’t let 34 be your swan dive.
   Don’t be another Mo Vaughn.

7. Joe Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 7:27 pm

   Andrew. What child like innocence you possess!! Christmas must be so fun for you!

8. ALbert Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

   WOW! so much F’ing hatred across EEI for a man who’s carried the Sox THIS ENTIRE DECADE!!! Was anyone out there bitching like Mike about Jim Rice during his last 2 years!!!

   If Ortiz is working hard, it makes me happy to see him coming back… he’s definitely got something to prove!!

   As for not having any clutch hits since ‘07… was anyone else at the White Sox game that Wakefeild started in August… I was… Ortiz’s walk off homerun seemed pretty f ucking clutch to me!

   As for complaining about WHO Ortiz hit all of his homeruns off of… Mike you need to F uck off he can only play the teams on the schedule and oh by the way there are 3 “tier 2″ teams in the AL east what do you want the guy to do….AND NO ONE HIT A DAMN THING IN THE ALDS, THATS WHAY THEY GOT SWEPT, you can’t even start to bit ch about Ortiz without bit ching about the entire team!!

   But you wouldn’t know that you’re a damn Jankees fan who knows nothing about the Sox OR how their front office works… THANK GOD

9. scott seems hot Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

   Hey scott,

   Jacking off DOES NOT COUNT as a workout!!! hahhhahah I bet you workout more than a professional athlete!!! that’s why you seem to think everyone on this site wants to know about your grueling work out regiment!

   Jim rice said it best.. “I’ve never worked out a day in my life”

   a bat weighs 30 ounces… how does bench pressing 300 lbs help you hit a ball….

   What Ortiz needs to do is get a machine to fire golf balls at a 100mph while he tries to hit em with a broomstrick!

10. louis 056 Says:
    April 21st, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    The Red Sox management should send David Ortiz for and eye exam and xray his
    hands because maybe his hands are hurting or he’s adjusted his swinging from
    when he injured his hands that his swing and timing is off. He seems to be
    missing the ball when he swings and I think he needs to go and have his eyes
    checked. I remember Jim Rice at the end of his batting career that he had
    trouble seeing the ball, I think that this could be David Ortiz’s problem is
    he’s not seeing the ball and isn’t catching up to it. I also think that David
    Ortiz should work with Jim Rice as his hitting coach or higher his former hitting coach back so that they can annalize his timing maybe they can find
    out why. I think that David Ortiz needs to have his eyes checked asap.

11. louis 056 Says:
    April 21st, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    I likes what the Celtics did last night without Garnett.

12. louis 056 Says:
    April 21st, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Terry Francona should send David Ortiz to pawsox for batting practice and he
    should look at the Tom Selleck Mr baseball when the Japanese manger said you
    have a hole in your swing. David has a hole in his swing. He should watch that
    movie.

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