Dombrowski: 'Total Confidence' Ortiz Will Come Through In Clutch
BOSTON (CBS) -- Even at the age of 40 and in the final season of his MLB career, David Ortiz continues to amaze those around him.
Ortiz is putting up monster numbers once again for Boston, batting .320 with a team-high .405 OBP and .695 slugging percentage. He also leads the team with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in his first 34 games, and showed off more of that patented late-inning magic on Saturday, hitting an RBI triple to tie things at 5-5 in the ninth before blasting a game-winning RBI double in the 11th to propel Boston to a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros.
Saturday's walk-off was the second game-winning hit for Ortiz in as many weeks. He started a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees on April 29 by clubbing a tie-breaking two-run homer off Dellin Betances in the eighth inning of a 4-2 Boston win. So far this season, 13 of Ortiz's 33 RBIs have come in the seventh inning or later this season.
As Red Sox fans continue to watch in awe, so does Boston's management. Dave Dombrowski took over as the team's president of baseball operations less than a year ago, but continues to be amazed by Ortiz's knack for coming through in the clutch.
"As many things as we see, and we see so many big moments, that was one of those where, I know I had to pinch myself afterwards," Dombrowski said of Saturday's heroics in an interview for Sunday night's Sports Final on WBZ-TV. "He's done it numerous times throughout his career to get those big hits, but when you experience like that it's a special moment, one you think back and remember where you were on that particular day.
"Certain athletes rise to the occasion; they slow the game down and don't do anything out of their ordinary. If anything they focus a little bit more to come through with those big hits or big shots. He has that ability to slow the game down. He looks so comfortable, you have total confidence he's going to come through," Dombrowski said of Ortiz. "He's been through it so many times he just doesn't get ruffled whatsoever. He handles everything in a normal fashion, even though the game may be on the line."
Dombrowski saw Ortiz work his magic plenty of times while on the other side of the matchup, and even said the Detroit Tigers had discussed intentionally walking Ortiz should he come up with a chance to do damage -- even with the bases loaded -- back in the 2013 postseason. But it remained just a discussion during the ALCS, and Ortiz made them pay.
"When I sat across the field, I used to say, 'Why did we pitch to that guy at that particular time?' We talked about, and it didn't come to fruition, in that 5-1 game in the eighth inning in Game 2 of the ALCS in 2013. We talked about walking him, and if they did it wouldn't have surprised me," said Dombrowski. "You take that fate, and figure it's part of it. I'm not sure why (the Astros) pitched to him [on Saturday]."
Ortiz certainly isn't playing like a 40-year-old at the moment, and if he continues this kind of dominance at the plate many are hoping he would reconsider his retirement. Sending a new contract offer Ortiz's way has been something to tickle Dombrowski's mind, but for the moment, he's just enjoying the ride.
"I'm sure hoping he can keep going like this, and if he does that's a heck of a void in the lineup. We'll tackle those things later on, but this is one of those things we're just enjoying the moment and watching him play," he said. "Let's hope he can keep doing it, because if he does he'll lead us to a lot of victories this year."
Dombrowski also touches on the importance Ortiz's influence on Boston's younger players. Watch Rochie's full 1-on-1 with Dave Dombrwoski in the video above, and tun in to Sports Final every Sunday night at 11:35 p.m. on WBZ-TV!
