Hi to everybody out there.

Welcome to my new blog, and my new website, DavidOrtiz.com.

Why start a Web site now? The main reason is because I’ve got a whole bunch of stuff going on off the field, and I think this would be a great way for the fans to connect with me directly rather than just going somewhere else that’s not focused on what I want to do.

I think that by having my own Web site, people can see whatever I’ve got going on and hopefully decide whether to get involved, whether it be a link to my charity, the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, a new commercial or endorsement deal, or updates on my charity golf classic.

Fans can also hear what’s on my mind when it comes to myself, the team and what might be going on around the league.

Things have been clicking for me at the plate lately, and I feel good. As for earlier in the year, when I was having a tough time, as I always say, sometimes there are things that people don’t get to see that bother you and gets you out of the way you’re used to. Sometimes, it can be personal stuff or other things. I’m a guy who doesn’t like to relate my personal life to how I’m going in the game, but we are human. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much you try. You can’t avoid that.

The good thing now is I feel good — I’m back. I’m the kind of guy who a lot of people count on, and I’ve got to try to keep it that way.

The first two months, I had a lot of ups and downs, and then there was just one day when I started to feel good, and I hit it good, and I had bad results. Now, I’m putting good swings on the ball, and I’m getting my hits. Even on those bad days now, I’ll take a bad swing, but I’ll still produce. Things even up.

We have the All-Star break coming up next week, and this is the first time in awhile I’ve actually had it off. Don’t get me wrong, it was great making the All-Star team the last five years. I had a great time. But maybe it will help to shut it down and think about what went wrong for me to not be there.

This year, the game is in a National League park, and the Red Sox spoke to me early in the season about the ballot. I told them I agreed that Youk should be the first baseman on the ballot. He’s the guy that’s been playing first for us for the past few years, and he’s doing a great job. I’ve been honored by the fans voting me on in the past, but I think it would have just been wrong to not have him on the ballot as the first baseman. That wouldn’t have been fair. Youk has been great for us this season, and I’m happy he will be representing us at the game this year.

Also congrats to my other teammates who made the team: Bay, Dustin, Papelbon, Josh and Wake.

As a designated hitter, I would have been chosen as a reserve if I had a good season, as has happened in the past. I know the first couple of months of the season were tough for me, so I wasn’t even expecting to be at the All-Star Game this year. I’m just going to chill out with the family and do things I haven’t had a chance to do the last five years. I knew my family was getting used to being at the All-Star Game, and that was a fun time. It’s an experience. But now, I’ll just hang out, refresh and get ready for a great second half.

We have a lot to feel good about at the All-Star break. This is a good team. We’ve been winning games and building something good around here. We saw it before in 2004 and 2007 where you just chip away and next thing you know, you’re fighting for a championship.

This team the past five years has been all about chemistry, and we still have it. We’re still rolling the same way like always.