Ortiz: 'It's just one of those seasons not everything is flowers and roses'
David Ortiz is struggling and the Boston Red Sox are losing.
The combination doesn't sit well with the nine-time All-Star and it resulted in a sit-down with manager John Farrell in an attempt to allow Ortiz to get some things off his chest.
"We talked a little bit of everything," Ortiz told Rob Bradford of WEEI. "John knows me. John has been my coach for a long time and he wants to make sure I have fun, because he says when I have fun and I'm smiling things come easier.
"I told him straight up, 'John, it's hard for me when we aren't winning. When we're winning and I'm not hitting I can deal with it. I know how to deal with it because at least we're winning. But when we're not winning and I'm not hitting, it's super hard on me.
"This is the time I'm have a hard time sleeping, when things are going like that. That's me. I'm not playing the game just for playing it. I want to do some damage and we walk home with a 'W.'
It's been a slow start for Ortiz in his 19th major league season. Through 41 games, the 39-year-old is hitting .221/.311/.383 with six home runs, 18 RBIs and 30 strikeouts. His .135 average with runners in scoring position is the worst mark on the team.
"It's just one of those seasons not everything is flowers and roses, and I'm not just talking about me. I'm talking about the team in general," Ortiz said. "It's like John and I were talking about, if we're winning and I'm not hitting I can deal with that. I'm OK with that. But if we're not winning and I'm not hitting, that's like double trouble."
Farrell relishes opportunities like these, to sit down and talk with his players, letting them know that they're all in this together.
"There are opportunities of having a casual sit-down to ask what they're going through or give thoughts on what you see," Farrell said. "You can remind them who they are and what they've been over a long period of time and there is belief and trust in that even though it's a stretch of time where maybe things aren't going right. You just want to talk with them and let them know you're living it with them."