Projo Sox Blog

BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- David Ortiz never would say that he and the Red Sox don't miss Manny Ramirez.

But that's not to say that the Sox can't win a second straight World Series without their future Hall of Fame cleanup hitter, currently starring just up Interstate 5 in Los Angeles, for the N.L. West champion Dodgers.

"Manny's situation was pretty obvious," Ortiz said Tuesday afternoon in the Red Sox clubhouse, before heading to the field for a workout prior to Wednesday's night American League Division Series against the A.L. West champion Angels.

"Both sides," he said, "knew they had to make a move. Manny had to go. The team had to have him go."

Even if that left Ortiz, a powerful presence at the plate, without one of them most dangerous hitters in the game hitting behind him.

"No question, not having Manny behind me makes pitchers and managers think differently about pitching to me," said Ortiz, who was walked six times in three games by the Angels last October, when the Sox swept L.A. in the ALDS.

"But I think the good news," he continued, "is that we're getting done without him. Kevin Youkilis has earned respect."

Youkilis has earned that respect by hitting a team-high 29 homers while batting .312 and also leading the Sox in RBI, with 115.

The way Youkilis sees it, Jason Bay -- obtained from Pittsburgh in the three-way, training-deadline deal that sent Manny to the Dodgers -- is the one who's seen as replacing Ramirez, because he's the guy playing left field.

"I think everyone's looking at Jason Bay as filling Manny's shoes," Youkilis said Tuesday afternoon. "But, the way it goes with us, you get put in the lineup, you play the game. No matter where I hit in the batting order, I just want to have good at-bats and try to help the team win."

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