Ortiz: Sandoval, Ramirez Off To 'Good Start' In Spring Training
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Echoing comments by teammate Dustin Pedroia on Monday, David Ortiz offered support for Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval as the Red Sox continue to work out at Spring Training as the 2016 season approaches.
Sandoval arrived at Fort Myers appearing overweight, dispelling previous comments by the team that he was asked to lose weight in the offseason. Ramirez arrived in top physical shape but drew scrutiny over his lack of a personal first baseman's mitt after he was presumed to be working on playing the position during the winter.
Ortiz said that both have been doing what they needed and gotten off to "a good start" in Spring Training that will continue with a bounceback season in 2016.
"Hanley and Pablo are in a really good situation right now, because they did during the offseason what they were told to do," said Ortiz. "Hanley coming in shape, Panda dropping some weight ... The mentality that they have going on right now, it carries over to the season - and all of a sudden, you have the two players performing at a level that everybody expects them to play."
Ramirez has faced questions about his maturity, work ethic, attitude, and effort (or lack thereof) on the field since his days with the Miami Marlins, and some of the issues reportedly remained when he came to Boston. Sandoval, meanwhile, irked many in the media with his apparent disregard for his weight and dismissal of the idea that he had anything to prove.
Ortiz believes that this season will bring out the best in both of them, beginning with a strong effort in Spring Training.
"They are great players," he said. "They've got the ability, they've got the attitude ... You're going to get what you expect from them, so this is a good start where they're at right now, so let's see how they play out in the season."
The question that prompted Ortiz's comments on Ramirez and Sandoval was what he did to help his teammates. He prefaced them saying he is always willing to offer advice to younger players based on his experience and that he has seen teammate Mookie Betts ask for advice, absorb it, and implement it on the field.
"I think everybody at this level knows what their responsibilities are, and through the season you get caught into so many things," Ortiz said, "and I think that's when I like to come in and tell you what I would do in your situation."
Ortiz's experience at first base could particularly help Ramirez as he gets acclimated to his new position. The optics of Ramirez and Sandoval's arrival (which, for the record, was early for both) hasn't been great so far, but after last season, they were bound to face scrutiny in some fashion. For now, Pedroia and Ortiz have their backs and expect them not only to perform much better in 2016 but put in the work necessary to do so.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
