ANAHEIM, Calif. - Ask David Ortiz how often he thinks about the fact that he is without a homer in his last 133 at-bats, and the Red Sox designated hitter doesn't lie.
``Every day,'' Ortiz said. ``Every day. Sleeping. Eating. Having breakfast. It's bad. You've got guys around the league that don't even have home run swings and they're hitting home runs like crazy. You think about it. You think, whoa, what's up?'' But Ortiz is not struggling in solitude. Players from across the game have reached out over the last few days, particularly after ESPN caught Ortiz screaming into his helmet following a popout during Sunday night's nationally televised game vs. Tampa Bay at Fenway Park.
By Monday morning, Ortiz estimates he had received between 50 and 70 text messages from players like Ryan Howard of the Phillies and the New York Mets' Carlos Delgado and Alex Cora, an ex- Sox teammate.
``Everybody,'' Ortiz said before going 0-for-3 in last night's 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. ``Just telling me, `You know how good you are and how good you can be. Things aren't always going to be flowers and roses. We learn from our mistakes and what doesn't break you makes you stronger. So don't listen to any of the crap that people have to say. You've done a whole bunch of things to get it done, and you're going to get it done again.' ''
Of particular importance to Ortiz was the call he received from Delgado, a slugger who knows a thing or two about slow starts. Last year, Delgado was hitting just .198 with three homers at the end of April and had to endure many of the same questions now dogging Ortiz.
``Delgado and I, we talked for like an hour,'' Ortiz said. ``I've always been a huge fan of Delgado. When he was in the AL East (with Toronto), he always used to talk to me about things and I would have questions for him. Last year, when he was going through all that, I was one of the guys really worried about his situation.''
Howard told Ortiz not to pay attention to his critics. Easier said than done.
``People don't know,'' Ortiz said. ``Sometimes they think we just come here to play Baseball and that's it. . . . We have things to worry about. Sometimes that gets in the way. It's hard to have that free, open mind you need to play this game. There's no way you can play this game with a busy mind. No way. Physically I am better than ever. . . . But sometimes this game gets in your head.''
Ortiz is feeling it, but he seemed in good spirits.
``Of course it doesn't feel right,'' he said. ``I'm a home run hitter. That's one thing I'm not thinking about. Home runs are going to come.''
- jtomase@bostonherald.com
