Projo Sox Blog

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- News and notes from The Trop:

-- Manny Ramirez is the DH again tonight as the Sox abandoned the idea of having him play the outfield and using Sean Casey as the DH. Ramirez's hamstring is an issue, so the Sox want to keep him out of the outfield.

-- Alex Cora is getting a start at short over Julio Lugo. Lugo is hitting just .200 (5-for-25) in his last 30 games.

-- The Rays are trumpeting record-setting TV ratings for Monday night's win. The game got a 8.5 rating in the Tampa market and was No. 1 in the entire market at 10 p.m.

-- A story on the Sarasota Herald-Tribune web site today reported that the Sox have set an August deadline for Sarasota to make a proposal for the team to move its spring training headquarters there for 2010.

The club, however, has categorically denied that it has set a deadline.

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