David Ortiz: 'I'm not just sitting around'

David Ortiz hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 16, missing eight straight contests due to a bout of dehydration that was followed by flu-like symptoms and, lately, "overall soreness."

Still, don't interpret his absence from the lineup as a symptom of laziness or apathy.

"I'm not just sitting around," Ortiz told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald on Tuesday. "I'm doing the things that it takes to get to what I want to be. It's not like I'm totally unplugged. No, no, no, it doesn't work that way, buddy. I'm not a superhero."

Ortiz, the venerable designated hitter who clobbered 35 home runs with an .873 OPS over 142 games for the Boston Red Sox last season, recently resumed taking batting practice on the field but was also watching video and swinging in the cage as he nursed his various maladies.

Despite mounting concern from fans, Ortiz insisted he's taking the steps necessary to be ready for Opening Day even though he hasn't appeared in a game in more than a week.

"It's like when you go home but you don't stop at the supermarket that night, and then your friend is worried because he's staying at your house but he doesn't know what you guys are going to having for breakfast," Ortiz said. "It's like, 'Buddy, I got you. I know what I got in the fridge. I know what we can make. I take care of you in the morning. Go to sleep.'"

"I pretty much understand how people freaked out and panicked," Ortiz said. "But you know what, though? It's not something that made me worry. I understand people worrying about it, which is fine. That's part of the game. But I know myself. Hopefully people don't worry much about the things that I got to do to be ready for the season, because I will show up."