Detroit Tigers: Did They Really Have to Celebrate Big Papi?

Detroit Tigers Killer. Home run monster. Least favorite baseball player on the planet.

It is difficult to think of Big Papi without remembering the grand slam that destroyed the Detroit Tigers World Series hopes in 2013. He not only killed the Tigers, but he managed to walk away with the MVP of the whole damn thing.

And, Saturday night at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers gave him a big ol’ party.

Then, you know what he did. He hit another home run. This was his second one of the weekend series in Detroit.

I know that people think David Ortiz is an amazing baseball player. But, in all honesty, he is just a big man who hits home runs. Yes, this is nice, but it does not make him a complete player.

There have been several other baseball players who have deserved more praise that Ortiz. And, yet Tigers fans (or at least the Boston Red Sox fans) who were in the stands on Saturday and Sunday gave him a standing ovation. Yes, my Detroit-Tigers-loving fans, David. Ortiz. Got. Two. Standing. Ovations. In Comerica Park.

I know it can be difficult to be a Tigers fan at times, like when they only hit one run in a game or when the bullpen perfectly destroys a starting pitcher’s amazing game (cough..cough..Anibal Sanchez’s latest start). But, I just cannot see why the majority of the stadium could give THAT guy, David Ortiz, one standing ovation, let alone two.

I will admit that I did not stand up or clap. Although, I was standing when he was given the photograph and the dirt from Comerica Park, but I was not standing FOR him. I was just standing.

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In all honesty, I could see giving him a going away present with the idea of “Thank God, he’s finally gone.” But, that present would have to be something much less meaningful that dirt from Comerica Park. Maybe, a thank you card signed by all the players…but nothing more than that. Justin Verlander should have jumped for joy knowing that will (hopefully) never have to throw another pitch to that man. And, Brad Ausmus had to be ever-so-grateful that he never has to plan how to pitch to him.

There have been countless baseball players pass through the halls of stadiums all over the country. It’s going to get very old, very fast if they all have to have farewell tours and special gift presentations at every park. These men have millions of dollars and could very easily buy anything they wanted. They have already received more love and praise from their home-team fans, why do they have to get applause at the away ballparks, too.

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When Comerica Park sounded like Fenway Park after Big Papi hit his home run on Saturday night, it was clearly the sign that the farewell tours need to stop. Exuberant cheering should only happen when a Detroit Tigers player hits a home run at Comerica Park.