Not all endorsements from teammates are created equal. When Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is the one to compliment a colleague in the lineup, one imagines that is worthy of extra attention.
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When a guy who used to hit in the same lineup as Manny Ramirez says that he is impressed and likes hitting in front of you, that is a big deal. Such is the situation for Yoenis Cespedes, a guy who has impressed just about everybody since his arrival in Boston as part of the blockbuster deadline trade that sent Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics.
Ortiz said the following about batting in the lineup in front of the Cuban slugger (from the Boston Globe):
"“I’ve seen better pitches to hit [with Cespedes]. He’s a really good player and a threat. Looking forward, it’s going to be fun next year having him there for the whole year. He makes me better. He makes Nap better. He makes everybody better.”"
The Red Sox are obviously thrilled with Cespedes. At the same time, many are willing to chalk up a significant portion of the recent struggles of the Oakland Athletics to his departure. A little perspective might be in order in both cases.
In 101 games in Oakland, Cespedes was batting .256/.303/.464. While many are presenting his results in Boston as the second coming of the aforementioned Manny Ramirez, he is batting .286/.301/.480 in those games. Those numbers are solid, certainly, and worthy of a good slugger in the big leagues.
But let’s maybe take a step back from talking about Cespedes as a guy who can change the complexion of a playoff race or a franchise by himself.