A Little Trouble for Big Papi

Extra Bases: 'Ortiz Catching Unfair Heat'
Papi's Talk About MVP Award Sparks Media Firestorm

This Is What Happens When You Wave the White Flag in August

Papi on not worrying about the MVP award: "I'm right there, but I'm not going to win it. They give it to Alex [Rodriguez] one year, even though his team was in last place, so now they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it. They gave it to Alex that year because of his numbers. But they always have a reason to vote for whatever, so that's why I don't worry about it. But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ball club, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games. Don't get me wrong -- he's a great player, having a great season, but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup. Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be." -- 9.11.06, David Ortiz talking about individual end-of-season awards with the Globe's Gordon Edes

Jeter fires back (ouch): "I don't have to do it in his lineup... I am not thinking about the MVP. We are trying to win the [AL East]. No one cares about individual awards." -- 9.12.06, Derek Jeter's not talking about awards

"... That rant may have just cost him [Ortiz] the award." -- 9.12.06, Jim Rome, ESPN's Rome is Burning

Wilbur: Power Struggles -- Ortiz, Jeter, and the MVP

Congratulations to Winthrop's Rick DiPietro
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