David Ortiz Responds to Valentine Criticism – “Must Have Some Mental Issues”

Ortiz thinks Valentine needs medicine or something

The Boston Red Sox and slugger David Ortiz finalized a two-year $26 million contract at a press conference Monday at Fenway Park. The two sides had agreed on a deal Friday.

Ortiz thought it might be a good time to respond to recent criticism by former manager Bobby Valentine who implied that Ortiz missed the latter part of the season, not because of injury, but because of a blockbuster deal the Red Sox made with the Dodgers.

“He realized that this trade meant that we’re not going to run this race and we’re not even going to finish the race properly and he decided not to play anymore,” Valentine said in an interview on “Costas Tonight” on NBC Sports Network. “I think at that time it was all downhill from there.”

Ortiz said today”after he went on national TV to say what he said, he sent me a text message trying to tell me that it was the media trying to change things. I did not respond to the message and I said to myself, this guy must have some mental issues or needs medicine or something? I said, I am dealing with someone crazy and I am not going to drive myself crazy, so it is better if I leave it alone.”

Ortiz said that he was speaking up now because he had been focused on finalizing a two-year deal with the Red Sox. “Never bite the hand that feeds you, because in the end that will come back to bite you,” Ortiz said.

Whether you believe Valentine or Ortiz, or neither, does not really matter at this point. Ortiz has been known to speak his mind in no uncertain terms, but I have never seen him in a disguise sitting on a bench after being ejected from a game.