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Pain, criticism won't keep Big Papi down

By Howard Bryant
ESPN.com

Monday, August 27, 2007

NEW YORK -- Before the first game of a doubleheader with the Los Angeles Angels 11 days ago, David Ortiz was a walking exhibition of pain. He had already taken a cortisone shot in his shoulder and told the Red Sox medical staff and his manager, Terry Francona, that he didn't want another in his knee. His back, which hasn't become news yet, has been killing him. Cortisone, Ortiz reasoned, masks the pain of injury, and he wants to feel some of that grinding knee discomfort as a gnawing reminder n ...

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