said. Its because those guys always come to us for advice. W

BOSTON -- In whats become a regular scene, David Ortiz stepped into the dugout, preparing for batting practice, when a team staff member asked if he was ready.Not far away, a group of fans waited to be brought in, eager to chat briefly with the 40-year-old Ortiz, take a photo and wish him well.In Big Papis final season, everyone who comes to Fenway Park wants their chance to say goodbye -- and its taking a toll on Bostons larger-than-life designated hitter.Very busy. Kind of tired of it, a little worn out, the Red Sox star told The Associated Press before a nationally televised game against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday night.Nearing the last month of his 20th regular season, Ortiz at times wishes he didnt pronounce this his final year. The baseball season is long and hard enough, and this goodbye grind is more than he anticipated.My job is kind of tiring, he said. Adding more things to it is a lot. ... Im really busy and not getting to enjoy things.Of course, no one would know that by the way hes hitting.Entering Sunday, Ortiz is batting .319 and leading the Red Sox with 30 homers and 100 RBI. Hes reached 30/100 for a club-record 10th time -- Hall of Famer Ted Williams is next on the list with seven.His season has been so good, many around the majors have said the slugger should come back for a 21st year.At last months All-Star Game in San Diego, Angels star Mike Trout said, I dont think Big Papi is going to retire. I keep telling him that. With those numbers, I wouldnt.This month, during an on-field ceremony honoring Ortiz in Detroit, Tigers star Miguel Cabrera, speaking in Spanish, pleaded with Ortiz to play another season.Ortiz laughs at those comments.Thats great, man, he said. I have a great relationship with them. Being older, Ive kind of been like a mentor to them. I know they really appreciate everything, all the talk and all the stuff that we ask a veteran to do with them.I guess when you have somebody that is good with you -- that does good things with you -- you definitely want to have them around.Ortiz doesnt save mentorship for teammates. He often chats with opponents on the field during batting practice and takes pride in others cherishing his advice.I always talk to them. We have that relationship through the years, he said. Its because those guys always come to us for advice. Whenever someone can give you advice, you turn to them as your mentor, somehow, some way.So maybe its no surprise how Big Papi wants to be remembered as a player.Just a friendly person, he said. Terribly friendly with everyone.Ortiz shows up for work hours before each game, getting the treatment he needs to prepare his aching feet and legs. The club has monitored his playing time, giving him planned rest and taking him out in lopsided games.I have to get lined up to different things and I try to be here very early so Im not in anybodys way, he said. Everybody has to do things and get ready. Its not just David Ortiz.But still much of it falls on Ortizs shoulders.On Sunday, before he stepped onto the field for batting practice, a woman stopped him to ask a question:What are you going to do after you retire?Take a long vacation, Big Papi replied.He then posed for a photo with the mom, dad and two children before going out to take his swings.When he returned, another group of fans waited eagerly for their personal farewell. Wholesale Air Max . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. 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Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. DENVER -- Kenta Maeda allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, rookie Corey Seager tied a Dodgers record for shortstops with his 19th home run and Los Angeles beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.Maeda (10-7) gave up four hits and struck out five for the Dodgers, who lead the NL wild-card race. Maeda, who walked none and hit two batters, has allowed three runs in 18 2/3 innings against the Rockies, with 22 strikeouts and two walks.Pedro Baez and Joe Blanton combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Kenley Jansen threw a hitless ninth for his 32nd save in 37 chances.Colorado had scored 19 runs and with 28 hits in the first two games of the series. The Rockies lost for just the second time in nine games.Tyler Chatwood (10-7) allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings for Colorado, which trails by three games for the NLs second wild card.David Dahl hit a two-run homer in the fourth and has hit safely in his first 10 games in the majors.With the Dodgers trailing 2-1, Seager hit a solo homer in the fifth that tied the Dodgers shortstop mark set by Hanley Ramirez in 2013. Yasmani Grandal had a two-run triple late in the innings.Howie Kendrick singled in a run in the fourth.HOME FIELDINGIn the second inning, Joc Pedersons sharp groundball down the right-field line had a chance to score Grandal from first in the second inning, but a fan leaned over the wall and scooped up the ball. Grandal was given a double, and Maeda hit an inning-ending flyout. The fan was removed from the game.ICHIRO 3,000 WATCHMiamis Ichiro Suzuki comes to Coors Field two hits from becoming thhe 30th player to reach 3,000 in the major leagues.ddddddddddddHe is 0 for 10 since his last hit, on July 28. With left-hander Jorge De La Rosa starting for the Rockies, it is not clear whether Suzuki will start.DAYTON ADDED TO BULLPENThe Dodgers added a ninth arm to their bullpen on Thursday, recalling LHP Grant Dayton from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioning RHP Brock Stewart to Triple-A. Stewart allowed nine runs in four-plus innings in a 12-2 loss to the Rockies Wednesday.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: LHP Rich Hill (blister on hand) played catch Thursday and hopes to start for the Dodgers on Sunday against Boston. We havent locked it in, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, but I think our goal is for Rich to make the start on Sunday.Rockies: OF Daniel Descalso made a diving, head-first catch into the left field wall off the bat of Seager in the third. He left the game after the inning with a bruised left shoulder. ... OF Carlos Gonzalez was out of the lineup after spraining his left ankle in the seventh inning Wednesday. . SS Trevor Story (thumb) underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. Everything went well, manager Walt Weiss said. No surprises.UP NEXTDodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir (9-4, 4.41 ERA) is to start Friday against Boston and knuckleballer Steven Wright. Kazmir allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings against Arizona on Saturday,his first loss in nearly three months.Rockies: De La Rosa (7-7) has thrown a quality start in seven of his last eight outings. ' ' '