FORT MYERS, Fla. -- This is the end, or, at least the beginning of the end.
David Ortiz has already begun a series of "lasts'' -- his last arrival at spring training, his last kick-off press conference -- and there will be many more as he enters his final season in the big leagues.
In wide-ranging comments Tuesday morning, Ortiz seemed to be approaching 2016 with a mixture of wistfulness and anticipation, eager to take it all in while at the same time, block it all out.
He knows he's going to be assaulted with a mixture of emotions along the way, and knows he has a responsibility to fans who will want a long, goodbye embrace.
Even before the season begins, Ortiz is already fielding questions about the permanency of his decision. What if, he was asked more than once, he has another monster season? Will be tempted to come back for 2017, for which he has a contract option?
"I don't know how it's going to be right after I'm done,” he said. "But I'm ready to pass the torch. I think right now everything is going in the right direction. I've seen a lot of athletes, a lot of us kind of feel that they still have something left in the tank and want to come back. Hopefully, that's not my case.
"I think I am (making the right call in retiring). I thank God every day for the opportunity to have the career that I've had. I think everyone has that moment and I feel like: it's time to go. I've got some knowledge, based on everything I want to do and what I have done. Plus, I look around me and everybody's twenty (years old). I think I'm ready. That's why I announced it. For now, it's going to be that way.
"Nothing is forever. It's just time to do different things.”
But foremost, he spoke of the responsibility he has to his employer and his teammates, and the desire to go out on top.
"Hopefully, I don't cause any distraction,” he said. "I plan on winning this year. I'm more than happy with what the front office did this season. I think they made all those moves for us to have a better season this year. But I take that personally. I feel like they made these moves not just to have a better seasons, but to win a World Series. Hopefully, that's the case.
"Hopefully, this is not a distraction because I know it can be. But me personally, I'm going to try my best to focus on what I do and keep on trying to win ballgames and go from there.”
There will be, he knows, demands on his time, with ceremonies and media attention. But to the degree that it's possible, he will try to treat 2016 like any other season.
"I'm not planning on putting a lot of pressure on myself,'' he said. "Besides being my last season, I know there's a job that I have to continue doing. And let me tell you, that job is not easy thing to do either. So I'm just going to take things day-by-day and hopefully, it's not going to be any distraction for my teammates or even myself.
"I need to focus on what I like to do. That's the only way I can play the game. I'm not the type of player to get away with not focusing. I've got to focus, I've got to be on it. I like to be a good teammate, especially with the younger players. I like to help them out. I know there's going to be a lot of teams out there to congratulate you and I appreciate that. But I don't want it to be a distraction, either. So hopefully everything goes smooth.''
As he visits American League and National League cities for the last time, Ortiz will be feted by teams. But as he says his goodbyes to opponents and others, he wants to highlight one group in particular.
"I want to show my appreciation to the fans,” he said. "It doesn't matter who you play for. I think as a player, you have to be thankful for the fans for the support throughout the years because we make our living because of the fans. I never forget about that. I always try to be the best I can be for the fans. It doesn't matter what team they're cheering for. You are supporting me because you're a baseball fan, so I'm going to show my appreciation for everyone and we'll move on.''
The warmest emotions, of course, will come in his adopted home city, a place Ortiz spoke of fondly. Red Sox fans have had a long love affair with Ortiz and it was evident Tuesday that the feeling has always been mutual.
"First time I ever played at Fenway Park, it made me feel like I was playing back in my country because of everything around me,'' he said. "I came from an organization (in Minnesota) that had (artificial) turf. We don't have turf in the Dominican; we had grass. So walking into Fenway, feeling the grass, feeling that summer heat, feeling everybody on top of you, feeling everybody watching you, knowing how much our fans suffer each time we lose a game.... My first year here, I kind of noticed a lot of (similarities). That's how we are back home. We live for the game, we love for the game, we support the game and Red Sox fans, man, they're just like me. It was easy for me to adjust myself to our fans.
"Every time we lose a game, we suffer just like them. It's so important to win and all of a sudden, you don't, it's something that eats at you. Red Sox fans, that's how it's always been. A lot of guys misunderstand (what it's like playing in Boston). They feel like that's pressure. I don't see it that way. I think for us as players, it's a challenge for us. You don't take anything for granted. I"m lucky that they've embraced me because they know I go out there and try my best.”
Ortiz enters 2016 with 503 homers, just 18 behind Ted Williams at 521, but he's loathe to focus on individual acclaim, especially after two straight last-place finishes.
"Stat-wise,'' he said, "I think when you play, you don't really worry about it. Those are numbers that really count once the time comes for you to be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame. But when you play, I think you should focus on winning games, bringing the best to the table every day for teammates and fans and try to go home with the crown at the end of the season. To me that's the most important thing.
"To me, winning is all that matters. The personal number thing, the time will come for that too.''
Fast-forwarding to the end of the season, Ortiz was asked if he would like to go out the way Williams did -- with a homer in his final at-bat.
"Hopefully, I don't know when my last at-bat is going to be because I want to go to the post-season,'' he said. "I don't know if that's going to happen.''
And final day heroics?
"It ain't that easy,'' he said with a chuckle. "I'm just going to try my best.”