Ortiz flips out on critics

DUNEDIN, FLA. When it comes to the flip, Big Papi says critics should get a grip.

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is the latest baseball star to wade in on the question of flipping one’s bat after smacking a home run. Ortiz believes critics like former All-Star pitcher Goose Gossage — who dumped on Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista for his bat flip during last year’s playoffs — should clam up.

“Whenever somebody criticizes a power hitter for what we do after we hit a home run, I consider that person someone who is not able to hit a homer ever in his life ,” Ortiz told the Boston Globe .“Look at who criticizes the power hitters in the game and what we do. It’s either a pitcher or somebody that never played the game. And if you don’t know anything about it (shut up). Seriously.”