Brian McTaggart checks in with some words from Ortiz:
"At this point of the year, playing teams like this, they don't need to send anybody out there they feel like is not going to get the job done. I told them I understand. This is an important time of the year, and they have a couple of young guys that can throw the ball well. I don't know what they're going to do, but they didn't obviously feel like they can keep sending me out. I don't want to pitch like this and not have them confident in me. Even though I never wanted this to happen, it's part of the game."
Let's be clear, I feel bad about this. I wish it could have worked out for Ortiz.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
