It is no secret the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox don't like each other, and Fenway fans got a rise out of their guy, Ryan Dempster, drilling Alex Rodriguez last Sunday. One big man on the Red Sox didn't like what went on that night, and his name is David Ortiz.
"I didn't like it. I don't think it was the right thing to do,'' Ortiz told USA TODAY Sports. "But we don't all think alike, and the guy who did it, Dempster, is a great guy. It's not that I didn't think it was right because Alex and I are friends, because once you cross the white lines, everyone's on their own."
Ortiz, affectionately known in Boston as "Big Papi" disagreed with the plunking on the basis of the Red Sox being in a tight hunt for a playoff spot. Putting men on base is not smart during important divisional games, according to Ortiz, and A-Rod's drilling seemed to invigorate the Yanks.
"We've got Tampa right on our heels, and that pitch woke up a monster in the Yankees' team at that moment. You saw how the game ended up. CC (Sabathia) was throwing 91 (mph) and started throwing 96. Alex later hit one way out there. You're talking about a good team that you can't wake up. But we learn from our mistakes.''
Dempster, who has since been fined and suspended five games for hitting A-Rod, has repeatedly denied doing so intentionally.
"I always put my team first,'' Dempster said. "I was throwing the ball really well until that sixth inning (when he gave up four runs and the lead) and giving us a chance to win, and I just didn't complete my job. If I would have done a better job, I think it would have been a non-issue.''
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