Ortiz rules the world

David Ortiz walked off with the World Series Most Valuable Player award on Wednesday, capping a dominant week in which he led the Boston Red Sox over St. Louis with a mix of power, patience and a most timely pep talk.

Ortiz hoisted reliever Koji Uehara over his shoulder after the final out of the Series-clinching 6-1 win, then the player they call 'Big Papi' raised the gleaming MVP gold trophy in his crowning achievement.

"I know I'm one of the forces for this ball club and I like to take things personal," he said. "And that's been my whole career, a challenge.

"I wasn't trying to be the guy, but I know I got to get something done to keep the line moving. I didn't even have to do anything today, I guess.The rest of the team really ook over."

Now a three-time champion, Ortiz is the last link to the Red Sox team that swept the Cardinals in 2004 and ended an 86-year title drought.

After a while, the Cardinals simply gave up trying to stop him. Ortiz walked four times - three of them intentional - in Game 6.

When he came to the plate for the last time, in the eighth inning with the outcome safely in hand, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina stood up and spoke to him in the batter's box. Molina softly patted Ortiz twice on the side in congratulation.

Ortiz watched four more wide pitches and trotted to first base, having piled up totals that not even slow-pitch softball players dream about: 11 for 16 (.688) with two home runs and six RBIs.

He ralso drew eight walks and legged out a few infield hits, reaching base a whopping 19 times in 25 plate appearances.

The sellout crowd broke into thunderous chants of "MVP! MVP!" each time Ortiz batted.

Associated Press

(China Daily 11/01/2013 page24)