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 the Kansas City Royals beat the Red Sox 10-4 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.Ortiz hit his 534th homer on Sunday, a solo shot that tied him with Jimmie Foxx for 18th on the career list.Hes batting .319 and leads the Red Sox with 31 homers and 101 RBI, reaching 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. Philadelphia Phillies Pro Shop .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Stitched Phillies Jerseys https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/ . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Phillies Jerseys 2020 .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Phillies Jerseys 2019 . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another crucial round of Premier League fixtures. The top four are all in action live on Sky Sports this weekend as the race for the title and the top four hots up.Leicester will be looking to move a step closer to their first Premier League title when they take on West Ham at the King Power Stadium but defeat could hand Tottenham, who face Stoke at the Britannia on Monday Night Football, the opportunity to close the gap. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be looking to stay in touch when they take on Crystal Palace on Super Sunday, while Manchester City face Chelsea in a mouthwatering Saturday Night Football clash.Merse correctly predicted six Premier League outcomes last time out, and also called one perfect score as Southampton beat Newcastle 3-1. Mersons last predictions Result Merses prediction West Ham 3-3 Arsenal 1-2 Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich 2-1 Southampton 3-1 Newcastle 3-1 Swansea 1-0 Chelsea 1-3 Watford 1-1 Eveton 1-2 Man City 2-1 West Brom 2-0 Sunderland 0-2 Leicester 1-1 Liverpool 4-1 Stoke 2-1 Tottenham 3-0 Manchester United 3-1 Read on to see who he is backing this week...Chelsea v Man City - Saturday Night Football, 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HDThe gap between Manchester City in fourth and Manchester United in fifth is just five points and I fully expect Louis van Gaals side to close the gap by the time kick-off comes around at Stamford Bridge. Its a massive game for City. Merson thinks Chelsea can beat Man City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge They had a brilliant result in midweek and you have to hand it to them after they reached the Champions League semi-finals, but they cannot take their eye off the ball against Chelsea. Its still a huge ask to win the Champions League so the league is crucial. However, I think Chelsea will win this and blow the top four wide open.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)Leicester v West Ham - Super Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HDI was really disappointed in West Ham the other night. I had only really seen highlights of Slaven Bilics side this season and thought they looked excellent, but having watched the whole game against Man United, they were really poor. Merson thinks Leicester will have too much for West Ham on Sunday United put in a very good display at Upton Park but for me, West Ham didnt do enough. They didnt get enough crosses into the box and there is no point playing Andy Carroll if you are not going to get the ball into the penalty area. If youd have asked me for a prediction on Monday Id have said Im not sure, but now I cant see anything but a Leicester win.However, I still see a twist to come in the title race.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HDArsenal are the best team in the world when the pressure is off. They will win this game because Crystal Palace are now in a position where they can afford to rest players ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign They can lose this game heavily, it wont matter. The manager, the players and the fans will move on to Wembley. Arsenal will win this game.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)Stoke v Tottenham - Monday Night Football, 8pm, Sky Sports 1 HDI never go against Stoke at home. They are a very good team in front of their own fans but for me, Tottenham win. I really fancy an away win. I have been impressed with Spurs; they are a good, good team. Merson is backing Tottenham to win at Stoke on Monday Looking ahead to next season, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool all need players.dddddddddddd Tottenham only need a few fringe players, they dont need players to go straight into the team. I really think they are well up there again next season, one of the favourites.Im backing them to win on Monday night.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)Norwich v Sunderland - Saturday, 12.45pmNorwich have to make sure they dont lose this game. As long as they dont get beat Alex Neil will be happy, but if they win I think Newcastle are pretty much down. Its as simple as that! Norwich host Sunderland in a crucial clash at the bottom of the table For Sunderland its a cup final and they have to win it. What score do I go with here? My mate Jeff is a big Sunderland fan so I cant go against him. Im going for a draw here because Sunderland have been playing well recently. Theyve not had much luck in my opinion and thats why the results havent quite gone their way.Theyll get a point here but Jeff wont be happy.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Everton v Southampton - Saturday, 3pmIts a tough game to call. Its a weird situation for Everton because theyve got an FA Cup semi-final coming up but Roberto Martinez is under some serious pressure. Theyve got the date at Wembley next week but cant go into that on the back of a defeat - the fans are on his back as it is. Martinez would love to rest some players but I just dont think he can afford to. Everton beat Southampton 3-0 earlier in the season A heavy defeat to Southampton and he will be under severe pressure. It will all come down to how much bottle he has. If he has the courage to rest all the players he needs for next week, then they lose this game 3-1, but if he plays a full-strength side then I see a 2-1 home win. It all comes down to Martinez and I hope he has the bottle to rest all his big guns ahead of the FA Cup semi-final.I dont envy his situation. Anyway, well go for a draw here. All the best!PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)Manchester United v Aston Villa - Saturday, 3pmManchester United were outstanding in midweek. They thoroughly deserved their victory at Upton Park. In the first 20 minutes against Tottenham last Sunday I thought they played very well and looked very comfortable. But in the end they lost 3-0 and if youd just watched the opening you would have been left scratching your head and wondering how that happened! Merse thinks Manchester United can build on their midweek victory by beating Aston Villa They now have a FA Cup semi-final on the horizon but there will be no resting players from United, who still have a chance of reaching the top four. With Aston Villa the visitors they have a real opportunity to close the gap to Manchester City in fourth and I think they will do it in style.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Newcastle v Swansea - Saturday, 3pmNo matter what the result is in the early kick-off between Norwich and Sunderland, Newcastle have to win. A Norwich win and a Newcastle defeat will near enough see Rafael Benitezs side down. Newcastle Uniteds clash against Swansea is a must-win, says Merson If you have watched Newcastle recently defensively they have been atrocious. However, Im backing Newcastle to win. They have to put everything on the line on Saturday and for me, that will be enough.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)West Brom v Watford - Saturday, 3pmThere have been plenty giving West Brom a bit of stick in recent weeks but I thought they did well against Manchester City. When you look at the sides in the bottom three and you look at West Brom, I think theyve done great. Watfords Spanish manager Quique Sanchez Flores could rest some of his starts ahead of next weeks FA Cup semi-final On the other hand this is a perfect game for Watford ahead of the FA Cup semi-final. Its a totally different situation to that of Everton. Quique Sanchez Flores can rest every single one of his starting 11 this week and get beat 5-0 and the fans wouldnt care less. They would still clap them off.Watford have secured their top-flight status and reached the FA Cup semi-final, thats some achievement. For Everton, they have 11 international footballers and a very good team but they are not in the top half. Thats the difference.West Brom win here against a depleted Watford side.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)Bournemouth v Liverpool - Sunday, 1.30pmAfter Liverpools incredible win over Borussia Dortmund on Thursday night they have to concentrate on the Europa League. Liverpools top-four ambitions are pretty slim when you look at the table. They can still do it but victory over Dortmund put them two games away from a final and potentially three away from a place in next seasons Champions League. Liverpools 1-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season was Jurgen Klopps first in charge at Anfield They could win their next seven league games and still not make the top four. Bournemouth just did enough against Villa and were nothing special, so I still have to back Liverpool for a win.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)PLAY SUPER 6!Theres another £250,000 jackpot up for grabs in the latest round of the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game. All you have to do is predict the scores of the six selected matches. Its free to play so get your entries in before 3pm GMT on Saturday for the chance to win.PLAY NOW... Also See: Premier League questions Papers: LVG on the way out Live on Sky Get Sky Sports ' ' '