I know his numbers are good as is but I can't belive he keep pulling the ball when all he'd have to do is hit dribblers down the third baseline. I know he's just trying to hit homers but sometimes I'd rather him just get on base.

There are many players in the same boat, Thome is another one but these guys are up there solely be that big bat. If they were to start changing their approach some of their power may be lost...it still may not be a bad idea to tray and slap one down the line every now and then!

because he's not getting paid to just get on base

thats not what he gets paid to do. no one goes to see ortiz drop one down the line or hit a ball intothe left-center gap

he gets paid to pull the ball. its how he was taugh to hit, its how he hits well, and its how he makes him living

Because he's so fat, all his weight shifts to one side and makes him pull.

Because he is so productive hitting the way he does. The last several years his OBPs have been .433, .413, .397. If he were to start hitting the other way his average (and OBP) may go up a little bit but it would probably result in a big-time loss of power, making him an overall less productive hitter. Since he gets on so much as it is I don't think anyone can really complain that he makes too many outs.

He is a pull hitter, his swing style just makes it hard for him to purposely hit the ball to left field. The reason that opposing teams play the full right shift on him is because he can't hit it to left field. Believe me, if he could he would, because he has hit into the shift enough times to know that left field is wide open. Have faith, Papi will hit the ball when it counts. I don't blame you for wanting to see him on base though, because he has some BLAZIN' speed!!! lol

Why change a good thing? And as far as his size, it would actually be easier to just *doink* the ball over there towards third than to turn and pull the ball. You can usually get a lot more power behind a ball by pulling it like that. A lot of lefties pull the ball like that a lot, actually more often than not lefties are known for it. A lot of times right field is shorter than any other point in the park, so it's easier to hit it out.

Why does he need to?
And do you really want him on the bases?

pitchers have learned on ortiz that you cant let him get his hands extended so they try to make him pull every pitch by jamming him up and in with fastballs which are near impossible to push to the opposite field

because he is a one deminsional player, he cant field, cant run, or throw. he just hits hr's, his claim to fame. he has peaked over the last few years

In 2007 Ortiz has hit the ball to the opposite field 30.82% of the time at Fenway, and 29.69% of the time everywhere else. (This includes both hits and outs.)

So roughly 30% of the time, he goes the other way. I don't think his spray chart is all that one-sided. 70-30 seems pretty normal.

Manny Ramirez (a pretty good opposite field hitter) has only gone the other way 37% of the time at Fenway. Youkilis at 36% at Fenway. Papi isn't that far off.

That is a great and logical question. If you watch his "shift" it's absolutely ridiculous! If he could hit to the opposite field, like RYan Howard, he could double his numbers. So....why doesn't he learn to hit the other way? That's a question to ask Dave Magadan their hitting coach. If he can change Coco Crisp's swing, he can sure change Papi's swing.