*2009 MLB Thread*

[VTDragon]

Originally Posted by PeteSB75

... I find it interesting how long Sox fans will hold on to the slightest glimmer of hope that Papi is not done, but they start turning on Matsuzaka the moment he shows any weakness. He was our best pitcher last year.

Well he had a lot of wins, that does not necessarily make him the best pitcher. He rarely got out of the sixth inning and had the most run support of any Sox pitcher. I admit to being one of Papi's fans who don't want to give up on him and your'e right, I'm almost eager to throw Dice-K under the bus.

Why? I think it's a combination of the fact that it is really hard to dislike Ortiz and it's really hard to watch Dice-K pitch.

Papi is a genuine big kid playing a game he loves and you can't help but root for him. At one point during his slump he was very frustrated and did not want to talk to the media. He simply said to them "Just put down that Papi stinks". Hard to picture many other major leaguers saying that. We also remember all his contributions to the series wins in 04 and 07. As for Matsuzaka, he fiddles and diddles and nibbles the corners and never seems to bear down and challenge a hitter until a couple of guys are on base. He seems to shake off Variteck more than he listens to him and is downright stubborn in his approach to pitching. Sometimes it is downright excruciating to watch. Finally, he seems downright distant to the average fan. Yea, I know there is a big language and cultural gulf there, but that doesn't change this fans' perceptions.