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Zo & Bertrand: What To Make Of Ortiz's Sick Day?

BOSTON (CBS) -- David Ortiz wasn't at first base or designated hitter for Sunday's loss against the New York Yankees.

Instead, the Red Sox slugger was home sick, sent home by team doctors with a respiratory infection.

"He was not available in any capacity," Farrell said following Boston's 8-6 loss to New York. "This came on throughout the game [Saturday] night, [he] was checked here this morning, and he was told, per doctors' instructions, to leave the ballpark."

Ortiz's sick day led to a few conspiracy theories on Sunday afternoon, with some thinking he just didn't want to play first base. The DH has made it clear that's not his preference, and according to reports, he was supposed to be in the field for Boston's first-half finale against New York.

Scott Zolak discussed these theories to start Monday's Zo & Bertrand, and while he's OK with Ortiz not wanting to play first base, Zo is pretty upset Ortiz's bat wasn't in the lineup on Sunday.

 

"How are you not available?" he asked. "David Ortiz's legacy has been big hits against the Yankees. For me, these three days were appointment viewing. I have to see this guy bat against them because the ball has a chance to leave the yard. Because he hates this team -- he respects them -- but that back and forth between the Red Sox and Yankees, how do you get in your car and drive home?"

"I find it very hard to defend," said Mike Flynn, filling in for Marc Bertrand. "This is a very specific game, a series against the Yankees that you need to win. You need to give it a shot. It's hard to defend Ortiz in this."

The Red Sox dropped two of three against the Yankees to fall to 42-47 on the season and are 6.5 games back in the AL East. Jon Wallach calls the Ortiz situation just another brick in the wall for the 2015 Boston Red Sox.

"The entire first half of the season, this is just another thing in a long line of crap that has happened to the team. Anyone who thought the Red Sox would climb back into this thing, you're crazy," said Wallach. "It's all part of one big ball of nonsense with this team."

 

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