Red Sox redux: David Ortiz is whining about his contract again

David OrtizBoston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, center, sometimes sounds like a lone wolf when he complains about his contract, as he did again this week.

David Ortiz gets no respect.

David Ortiz is being embarrassed and humiliated by his employer.

Nobody respects David Ortiz.

If the Red Sox slugger can sing the same song with numbing repetition, why can't we?

In a Spanish language interview with USA Today, Ortiz once again lamented the presumed injustice of his one-year, $14.575 million contract signed in the offseason.

Big Papi wanted two years. He has backed up his self-confidence with an All-Star year that includes 22 home runs, including the 400th of his career on Wednesday.

Ortiz seems determined to cast himself as the snubbed prom date, ignoring the fact that $14.575 million is not shabby in an age where fewer AL teams want a designated hitter who only plays the field when interleague rules leave no choice.

Not surprisingly, Ortiz says he will not negotiate during the season. The Red Sox have not indicated they would want to do that, either.

Ortiz is making Pedro Martinez (2004 version) look like a happy camper by comparison. Rather than savor a season that will extend his career, in Boston or elsewhere, all he can do is gripe about it.

Actually, he has a point there. The Red Sox have spent wildly on other players without Ortiz' track record.

That was done by a general manager who is not there now. The days of tossing multi-millions at this free-agent eye candy or that one look over in Boston, if you consider that Cody Ross, Kelly Shoppach and Nick Punto were the only offseason free agent signings last winter.

Ortiz made nearly twice as much as all three of them combined. As he should.

He is having a a fine year by any standards, a remarkable one for a 36-year-old. Ortiz is in his best shape in years, and nobody has publicly asked him why it took him until his mid-30s to get in such shape.

The funny thing here - though it gets funny with each Big Papi complaining session - is that nobody looked at the situation as embarrassing (let alone humiliating) except him.

There was not a long line of suitors for an aging but still productive platoon player, especially at Ortiz' price. Boston's one-year offer was seen around baseball as sound, sensible and fair.

Ortiz hit 29 homers with 96 RBIs and a .309 average in 2011. He received a raise of more than $2 million, but the one-year aspect irritated him.

He is on pace for a bigger year in 2012. Ortiz might hit 40 home runs this season.

If he can capitalize by signing an extended deal after this season, good for him, even if that means leaving Boston.

But enough with the Rodney Dangerfield act. It is tiresome, false and unfair.

Ortiz has respect from within and outside the organization. The only way he might jeopardize a part of it is if he keeps whining about his contract with every chance he gets.

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