BOSTON’S GLEE PARTY ON HOLD
Don’t treat Papi like a Big joke
Memo to the New York Yankees: Play it straight Thursday with the David Ortiz ceremony. That means no stupid jokes, like the look-at-me nonsense the Red Sox pulled back in 2013 when they “honored” Mariano Rivera by playing up their comeback in the 2004 American League Championship Series so much it seemed like that was the focus of the day.
No videos of pinstriped pitchers striking out Ortiz. And no clips of him flubbing a grounder at first on the infrequent occasions that the best-ever designated hitter picked up a glove, either. Not even if it would delight some among your fan base. Don’t pander to that element.
The Yankees revel in their image as a “classy” organization. Here’s a chance to prove it, showcase it, even. A smart, short appreciation of Ortiz should take place before the teams meet for the final time Thursday and that’s it. Even some of the Yankee players think so.
“I think you always have to honor the player,” CC Sabathia said. “I thought what they did in Boston (with Rivera) was terrible. But I thought what they did with Jeet (Derek Jeter) was great.”
The Red Sox lavished praise on Jeter leading up to his retirement the next year, feting him with a long ceremony at Fenway. When the Sox recognized Rivera, though, “It wasn’t playful,” Sabathia said. “It was more about the Red Sox than it was about Mo, them wanting to show what they’ve done. Mo’s got five World Series rings to their three. Don’t even go there.
“I think a player like that should be celebrated and not made fun of, even if it is your rival,” Sabathia added, referring to Ortiz. “You have to respect your opponent and he was a great one for a lot years, so we should show him our respect on the way out.
“I’m sure they’ll get it right. They have a good feel for that type of stuff. He’s been a Yankeekiller for a long time, but you have to respect it.”
Added Mark Teixeira: “I think we are a classy organization. I think the Red Sox are a classy organization. Keep it classy, you know? I remember when Mo had his video and they brought Dave Roberts (who stole a key base in the ’04 ALCS)— to me, that was unnecessary.
“I think we’ll do it the right way.”
The Orioles went for humor during their Ortiz ceremony last week, but it was off-putting. If you don’t recall, Baltimore “gifted” Ortiz the very dugout phone from Camden Yards that he annihilated with a bat a couple years ago. You could tell Ortiz didn’t really appreciate it. Who likes to be reminded of when they maybe weren’t at their best?
The O’s also showed videos of Ortiz homering against the Yankees, pitching it as “something both the Orioles and Red Sox could enjoy.” That one wasn’t bad, though it rankled Joe Girardi last week when reporters asked him for a reaction.
Leave the funny stuff to funny people. If you’re going for gags, why even bother honoring the guy? If it’s because you’re afraid of being the only club that doesn’t, well, that stinks, too.
Maybe the concept of clubs honoring other teams’ retiring players has gone haywire recently, but somehow these farewell tours keep happening.
So let’s have something simple Thursday night when the Bronx says goodbye to a truly great player and a truly great pain in the keister to the Yankees. A nice gift, some nice words, maybe another version of what Girardi said about Ortiz pregame Tuesday:
“Gosh, the year he’s having, I would really have to think about coming back,” Girardi said. “But I’m going to encourage him to retire.”
Then smart Yankee fans can cheer Ortiz, however briefly, a quick recognition of the man’s talent and career. If you don’t think he’s done something special, what have you been watching since
that day the Red Sox plucked him from the scrap heap before the 2003 season?
And when the game starts, Yankee fans are free to boo Big Papi, just like they always have. Of course, beware: Ortiz says he uses those hoots.
“It doesn’t upset me,” he said. “It motivates me.”