For people who drive standard or have at least tried to learn, the most difficult part of the learning process is getting moving in first gear without stalling.  Shifting from first to second is also tough but once you can do that, you can do the rest.  David Ortiz’s 2009 season follows a similar start.  Mired in a deep slump (if slump is even the word as it was raised that Papi was done and would never recover) that led to questions about his health, age and even his eyes, the Red Sox designated hitter did not hit a homerun until May 20.  That did not lead to much of an emergence as Ortiz did not hit another until June 6.  After lastnight’s win over the Nationals in which he hit a three-run shot, Ortiz has seven total on the season.  Seven homers with a .219 batting average on June 25 is not what anyone would have expected from David Ortiz in the offseason.  Discounting the slugger’s “lost” two months of this season, one would find quite an impressive June.

In 18 games this month, Ortiz is batting .327 with six homers, eight walks, 15 runs batted in; reaching base at  a clip of .413.  Knock out the games between his first and second homeruns, Big Papi is batting a robust .357 and reaching base at .460.

In comparison, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira cooled slightly from his May– .330, 13 hr, 34 rbi, .391 obp  –to put up June numbers of .297, 4, 13, .409.  Alex Rodriquez is hitting .152 with 2 h and 13 rbi yet is getting on base at .317.  Just call him Mr. Je-June.  It must be noted that A-Rod is playing with a temporarily-fixed torn hip labrum.  Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell attempted to play with a torn hip labrum during the 2008 ALDS against the Angels to painful results.  Cardinals 1B and Sports Illustrated posterboy  Albert Pujols (Pujols is to SI as Springsteen is to Rolling Stone) has smashed 10 homers and 28 rbi in June to go along with a .295 average and .398 obp.  Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez has also cooled from his early season smashing to June bat .238, 4, 7, .467 (walks…the folly of being the lone slugger in an NL lineup).  Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera is .274, 5, 9, .346 for June.  Rays 1B (and Havermill, MA; Northeastern alum–catch that, John?; former member of the Red Sox and Yankees; current AL homerun leader) Carlos Pena is .250, 5, 11, .381 for the month.  Add Red Sox leftfielder Jason Bay to the list of players whose June is not as hot as May as he is hitting .266, 4, 20, .341 on the month but still driving in runs.  Former Red Sox and current Dodgers leftfielder Manny Ramirez is .000, 0, 0, .000 for June so Bay is a definite upgrade there…

Is Big Papi back?  Maybe; there is still a lot of season to go.  He is however in high gear and cruising.  At the very least, he can rival teammate J.D. Drew for the title of Mr. June, as Drew’s .292 average and 48 total June homers in his career are the best of any other month of the year for him.