David Ortiz gets another game-winning hit at Fenway Park and we hear it everywhere -- he did it again, it's more surprising when he doesn't win the game, is he human? -- but is it true? Does Ortiz excel over and above his usual performance in walk-off situations?
I took a look at all Red Sox home games since Ortiz joined the team in 2003. When I started, I figured that contrary to what we all think, Ortiz doesn't always win games in walk-off situations. We simply forget the times he has made an out.
Well, in the last two seasons, that's simply not true.
He DOES do it all the time.
2003: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, BBSince the end of the 2004 regular season, Ortiz has come to the plate in a walk-off situations 19 times -- and reached base 16 times. He is 11-for-14 (.786), with 7 HR and 20 RBI.
2004: 2-for-8, HR, 3 RBI
2004 PS: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB
2005: 3-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB
2006: 5-for-6, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB
In 2005 and 2006, he is 8-for-9, with 5 HR and 15 RBI!
Ortiz Walk-Off Chances At Fenway:
Date Opp Inn On Out Score Pitcher/ResultThere is nothing left to say.
2003
0615 Hou 10 1 1 2-2 Dotel
BBI
12 0 0 2-2 Bland
3U (Sox 3-2 in 14)
0719 Tor 9 1 2 4-4 Acevado
4-3 (Sox 5-4 in 10)
0726 NYY 9 2 2 4-4 Benitez
Single to CF (Sox 5-4)
0823 Sea 10 1 1 6-6 Rhodes
P6 (Sox 7-6)
0923 Bal 10 0 0 5-5 Ainsworth
HR (Sox 6-5)
2004
0411 Tor 9 1 2 4-4 Kershner
F8 at track
12 1 0 4-4 Lopez
2-run HR to LF (Sox 6-4)
0415 Bal 9 0 1 7-7 Ryan
F8 (Bal 12-7 in 11)
0507 KC 9 0 0 6-6 Macdougal
K (Sox 7-6)
0529 Sea 9 1 2 4-5 Guardado
F8 (Sea 5-4)
0530 Sea 11 0 1 7-7 Putz
K (Sox 9-7 in 12)
0611 LAD 9 2 0 1-1 Martin
Single to RF (Sox 2-1)
0923 Bal 9 2 2 7-9 Ryan
F9 (Bal 9-7)
2004 Post-Season
1008 Ana 10 1 2 6-6 Washburn
2-run HR to LF (Sox 8-6)
1017 NYY 9 3 2 4-4 Rivera
P4
12 1 0 4-4 Quantrill
2-run HR to RF (Sox 6-4)
1018 NYY 10 0 0 4-4 Heredia
K
12 0 1 4-4 Loaiza
BB
14 2 2 4-4 Loaiza
Single to CF (Sox 5-4)
2005
0602 Bal 9 2 2 3-4 Ryan
3-run HR to CF (Sox 6-5)
0830 TB 9 0 1 6-6 Borowski
BB (Sox 7-6)
0906 LAA 9 0 1 2-2 Shields
Solo HR to RF (Sox 3-2)
0916 Oak 10 2 1 2-2 Cruz
BBI (Sox 3-2)
0929 Tor 9 2 1 4-4 Batista
Single to LF (Sox 5-4)
2006
0611 Tex 9 2 2 2-4 Otsuka
3-run HR to RF (Sox 5-4)
0624 Phi 10 1 1 3-3 Gordon
2-run HR to CF (Sox 5-3)
0626 Phi 9 0 0 6-6 Cormier
4-1
11 1 1 6-6 Gordon
BBI
12 2 2 7-7 Condrey
Single to LCF (Sox 8-7)
0729 LAA 9 1 1 6-6 Rodriguez
BBI
11 2 1 6-6 Romero
Single to LF (Sox 7-6)
0731 Cle 9 2 1 6-8 Carmona
3-run HR to CF (Sox 9-8)
Update: Reader Franco notes that from the 2004 playoffs, there have been 13 potential walkoff games and Ortiz has delivered the winning hit in 11 of them. In both of the other two games, he walked (one regular and one intentional).
7 comments:
Is there some higher gear...some happy place...that he reaches in these situations?
I'd part with a lot to know what it's like inside his head at these moments.
oops, there is more to say.
this doesn't count the times he has tied home games in the 7th or 8th innings or road games in which he has hit HRs/driven in runs in the top of the 9th or extra innings to win games.
these are only specifically walkoff situations at home. for example, games in the bottom of the 9th in which he could only tie the game are not included.
in one of the magazine ads to promote his second solo album, keith richards photographed in black and white, sort of in the dark and shrouded in smoke. the only text on the entire page was this:
not madonna
god
He's an honest family man, and we are so lucky to have him. Kudos to Kyle Snyder...he'll be pitcing in Wakey's spot, and when Timmy gets back, he'll be another needed brick in the bridge to our Paps. Great post! Great club......
I don't know if he's honest, and I wouldn't care if he had three wives and two boyfriends. He's the most amazing hitter I've ever seen. I'm so happy he's on our side.
Great post, Redsock.
The blog over at Baseball Reference offers this piece of history on walk off hits since 1957. Unofficial record seems to be Frank Robinson with 26 (12 homers) plus a BB. And that's over the course of 20 seasons...
I'd be curious to see how these numbers stack up against the reigning AL MVP.
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