David Ortiz: lack of Boston Red Sox offense ‘like a disease’

The Boston Red Sox are crumbling before our very eyes. Toiling away in what should be a winnable American League East, certainly for the defending World Series champs, the Sox have now lost seven straight games after getting swept by the Toronto Blue Jays at home.

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There is plenty of blame to go around, but the slumping offense would have to be at the top of the list. Veteran slugger David Ortiz spoke to that fact after Thursday’s loss, saying that the team’s collective cold streak with the bats is like a disease (quotes from WEEI.com):

"“It’s like a disease going around. Nobody’s really doing much…We’re going to need to go back in and try to do something, something different.”"

At the top of the list of slumping hitters is Papi himself, as he went 2-for-22 on the disastrous home stand. On the season Ortiz is now batting .282/.379/.534.

As for the Red Sox, they have now fallen to 20-26 on the season. The only thing keeping them out of last place is the struggling Tampa Bay Rays. The only thing keeping them hopeful is the relative mediocrity of their division. They still have time to make a move, but with June just around the corner, they better look to get things right in a hurry.