BOSTON -- Adrian Gonzalez was beckoning him from elsewhere in the clubhouse, pregame preparations needing to be undertaken in advance of Thursday night’s game against the Marlins. But David Ortiz wasn’t done meeting with the media. He had more to say.

To that point, the question had been flattering, focusing on the fact he’d homered in three straight games and had hit .429 since Saturday. But just as Gonzalez called to him to come, the designated hitter playing on a one-year deal was asked if he was tired of being forced to prove himself. And, shooing his teammate, he needed to answer.

“Hopefully,” he said, “this is my last year trying to prove people wrong.”

Winning was his only focus, he said subsequently, but the purpose of his thinly veiled response was as plain as the day was hot. Without demanding it, the frustration behind that comment made known he believes he deserves a multi-year extension — and that should be remembered when considering where his conversation with reporters went from there.

This was nothing new from Ortiz. It was just a month ago that he spouted off about a lack of respect from both the media and the front office, saying he didn’t think he was being given his due as a leader. And the similarities in the timing of those opinionated expressions might not be coincidental.

Like this one, which came a day after his grand slam helped the team to its fourth straight win, his solo homer before that May 21 rant sparked a comeback resulting in a third consecutive victory. On both occasions, he was hitting well. He was beginning to appear as important as he has in years. Yet he wasn’t seeing that production acknowledged with talk of an extension.

It follows the pattern he established last season, when he took to the high road — in the sense that he’s too good a teammate to outwardly put his future ahead of the club’s present, too proud to openly grovel and too smart to attack the folks who ultimately write the checks — but used three different ESPN outlets to subtly make his case.

In early August, a day after homering against the Yankees, ESPN Deportes reported that Ortiz was unhappy that the Sox were ignoring his expiring contract. A few days later, after the DH had four hits against the Twins, he suggested to ESPN Boston that he could possibly have seen himself as a Yankee in 2012. Then, after his best season since 2007, he repeated that threat by telling the ESPN mothership that he “didn’t know if he wanted to be part of this next year” because there was “too much drama” in Boston.

Those very sentiments, in mostly the same words, were repeated on Thursday — beginning when Ortiz was asked by a reporter to explain why he hoped this was the last time he’d have to prove himself.

“I’m just trying to deal with the drama here,” he said. “This is baseball, man. It seems like everything that goes around here is one of the Congress decisions that’ll affect the whole nation. It ain’t like that, man. This is baseball. You’re supposed to have fun as you’re performing out there at the highest level — but every day it’s something new, some drama, some more (expletive). I’m tired of that. I’m here to play baseball, man.”

He was then asked if he still wanted to return next year. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll think about it.”

A moment later, that comment brought about the question of whether he’s having fun this year. “Not really,” he said. Why? “Too much (expletive), man. Too much (expletive).”

At that point, Ortiz made clear the media was his intended target. He said reports of clubhouse dissension were a fabrication, insinuated that manufactured storylines have become tiresome, and suggested “people need to just leave us alone and let us play ball.”

Come game time, he even sent his first foul ball back off the window of the press box. (Presumptively, that was more coincidence than warning shot.)

But before that, he was asked if there’s too much pressure in a market this intense.

“It’s coming to be the (expletive)hole that it used to be,” Ortiz said. “Look around, bro. Look around. Playing here used to be so much fun, now every day it’s something new. Not related with baseball; not even related with baseball. People need to leave us alone. Play ball, man, and let us do what we know how to do.”

The last time Ortiz publicly opined that the drama may drive him out of Boston, he agreed to salary arbitration — and thus another season with the Sox — just 55 days later. He didn’t bother to see what else was out there. He didn’t even get himself to free agency.

He didn’t get the multi-year deal he wanted, either. But ultimately his commentary proved little more than the vocalized frustrations of an aging veteran outperforming his contract, his expectations, his historical predecessors — and worried he may not get the money or security to show for all that.

Thursday afternoon was a sign that he’s headed down that road again. As Bobby Valentine said Thursday, nobody better handles the drama or pressure of Boston than Ortiz. He thrives on it, in fact, which is a big reason why he jumped at the chance to return after last season, as well as why — regardless of what he says — he’d like to ensure that he’s back here for the foreseeable future.

He didn’t say that directly on Thursday, when he brushed off Gonzalez. But by continuing the trend of expressing his frustration at a time of prosperity for both his team and himself, he delivered his message loud and clear.

Dave D’Onofrio covers the Red Sox for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. His e-mail address is ddonof13@gmail.com.