David Ortiz explains why a strong year won't derail retirement
David Ortiz is on pace to have one of the best seasons of his illustrious career. He's also on track to record the best season ever by a 40-year-old. Of course, Ortiz is retiring at the end of the season, which has led some to ask a very simple question: Why?
Why retire after a season that has started with 10 home runs in 36 games? Why retire after a year that has seen him knock in the second-most RBI in all of baseball? These are al valid questions, but Ortiz has been quick to debunk them. It's not about age, it's about his body.
Sure, Ortiz is 40 years old, but he's not like other players -- physically and statistically. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Ortiz is bigger than most major leaguers, and it's taken a toll on him.
In addition to the daily grind on the field, the constant traveling has worn out the veteran slugger. He said flying around the country and traveling "pretty much every getaway day" is hard for him, and understandably so.
Ortiz acknowledges that he's been on a tear this season, and he credits that to him being a better hitter than he was early in his career.
It's unfortunate that we won't see Ortiz beyond 2016, but the mark he left on baseball for decades to come is undeniable. He'll go down as an all-time great.
