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Postgame notes: Ortiz placed on disabled list

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE _ Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been placed on the disabled list with what manager Terry Francona described Monday night as a “partially torn ECU (or extensor carpi ulnaris) tendon sheath" in his left wrist.

“It’s what holds the tendon in place,” described Francona. “Surgery is very unlikely, but he will be placed on the disabled list.”

The Sox’ manager said Ortiz will be placed in a split or soft cast and the club will have more information on Tuesday.

Prior to tonight's game team physician Thomas Gill met with GM Theo Epstein and had a conference call with Francona to discuss the situation. After the game the manager spoke with Epstein again, but Francona did not want to speculate how long Ortiz would be out of the lineup.

“All of us want a chance to talk with David, with the doctors and we’ll map this out to the best of their ability,” Francona said.

He had a MRI taken on his injured left wrist at 2:30 Monday afternoon in Boston. Ortiz suffered the injury during an at-bat on Saturday and said he felt a 'pop' when he hit a foul ball.

Because the news of Ortiz’s trip to the DL, most of the Red Sox players didn’t know about the situation immediately after Monday's game.

“We just have to keep playing the same way we’re playing until he gets back,” said Manny Ramirez, who always hits fourth in the order behind Ortiz. “He’s a big part of the team and we need him. What can you do? You don’t plan on getting hurt. When things happen you have to be patient. We’ll play like we’ve been playing and we’ll wait for him.”

Francona said the club will wait until Tuesday to make a subsequent roster move. At some point, it’s possible the Sox will recall outfielder/first baseman Brandon Moss from Pawtucket.

With Ortiz on the shelf Ramirez will serve as the club's DH from time to time.

"I think it's nice to give him [a rest from playing left field] sometimes and keep his bat in there,” said Francona. “I don't think he wants to be a DH, nor do we want him to be."

Manny's hamstring, according to Francona, is a little sore, too.

"We pray that (Ortiz) gets better soon and move on," said Ramirez.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 10:20 PM | Permalink

Moss named International League Batter of the Week

PawSox first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss has been named the International League Batter of the Week.

The 24-year-old Red Sox prospect recorded a four-homer week and a .400 average. He belted three homers in one game on Saturday in Durham.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 7:08 PM | Permalink

Hazel Mae leaving NESN

NESN announced late Monday afternoon that Hazel Mae, the anchor of the network's SportsDesk program and host of various Red Sox and Bruins programs, will leave the network at the end of June.

"After four incredible and exciting years at NESN, I’ve decided now was the right time for me to make this difficult decision to leave,” she said in a statement released by NESN. "It has been both a personal and professional privilege to be a part of NESN and the dedicated SportsDesk team. During my time with the network, I’ve had more than a few once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, including the chance to cover two World Series and a Super Bowl. I am grateful to the Red Sox and Bruins ownership groups, NESN president, Sean McGrail, and all the players and staff who have supported and challenged me. Most importantly, I’d like to thank the amazing and passionate sports fans of New England, who have welcomed me into their homes and given me a chance to do the kind of work I enjoy."

Mae joined NESN in August, 2004 and has served as the anchor for SportsDesk and the host of the Ultimate Red Sox Show and The Buzz.

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:02 PM | Permalink | Comments 2

Ortiz update

Red Sox PR man John Blake just informed us that the team is still evaluating the David Ortiz situation. The slugger, who injured his left wrist during an at-bat on Saturday, had a MRI today. Dr. Thomas Gill, GM Theo Epstein and Ortiz are deciding the next course of action.

This news doesn't sound good for Papi. He said he felt a 'pop' when he fouled off a pitch during his ninth-inning at-bat and had to be removed from the game.

If Ortiz lands on the disabled, it's likely the Sox will recall outfielder/first baseman Brandon Moss from Pawtucket.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 6:31 PM | Permalink

Pregame notes: Still waiting on Ortiz

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz had a MRI taken on his injured left wrist at 2:30 this afternoon, but the team does not have the results at this point. As soon as the Sox release the information, I'll post it ASAP.

He suffered the injury during an at-bat on Saturday and said he felt a 'pop' when he hit a foul ball.

"I think he got scared initially," said Francona. "Then he went through a period where he tried to talk himself into thinking it's nothing. Then he started to worry, which is normal."

** Francona made it official that Justin Masterson will start for the Red Sox Tuesday at Fenway Park. The Red Sox will have to make a roster move to make room for the rookie right-hander. Francona said that will be announced on Tuesday.

**Francona is giving second baseman Dustin Pedroia the day off. The manager said Pedroia is a little beat up and felt it was a good time to finally give him a rest. "We want to give him a night to rebound," said Francona.

**With Ortiz on the shelf for now, Manny Ramirez will serve as the club's DH. "I think it's nice to give him [a rest from playing left field] sometimes and keep his bat in there. I don't think he wants to be a DH, nor do we want him to be."

Manny's hamstring, according to Francona, is a little sore, too.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:04 PM | Permalink

Tonight's lineups

BOSTON

Ellsbury, lf
Lugo, ss
Youkilis, 1b
Ramirez, dh
Lowell, 3b
Drew, rf
Crisp, cf
Cora, 2b
Cash, c
Wakefield, sp

BALTIMORE

Roberts, 2b
Markakis, rf
Mora, 3b
Huff, dh
Millar, 1b
Scott, lf
Hernandez, c
Jones, cf
Bynum, ss
Guthrie, sp

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:01 PM | Permalink

Oh, those Yanks

Looks like Red Sox Nation has a kindred spirit in a pastor from Baltimore . . .

Posted by Art Martone  at 4:42 PM | Permalink

Number 500, from the seats

Joe McDonald's sister was at Saturday night's game and got a picture of Manny Ramirez hitting his 500th home run:

Posted by Art Martone  at 4:40 PM | Permalink

All-Star voting: Red Sox remain ahead at five positions

Kevin Youkilis (first base), Dustin Pedroia (second base), Manny Ramirez (outfield), Jason Varitek (catcher) and David Ortiz (designated hitter) remain in the lead at their positions in the latest tally of fan balloting for the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, Texas' Josh Hamilton has moved ahead of Vladimir Guerrero to take one of the three top outfield spots, along with Ramirez and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki. Two Yankees -- shortstop Derek Jeter and third baseman Alex Rodriguez -- are comfortably ahead at their positions.

Click here to see the latest vote totals.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:55 PM | Permalink

Perspectives on Manny's 500th

In The Boston Herald, John Tomase writes today that Manny Ramirez has become one of the most popular players in baseball -- a popularity that he writes could be seen this weekend in Baltimore even beyond the tens of thousands of Red Sox fans at Camden Yards: "Far from just Red Sox fans, the people cheering No. 500 wore as many shades of orange and black as red and blue. Orioles fans could be seen standing with their Red Sox counterparts as Ramirez circled the bases. Yesterday the park was once again filled with chants of "Manny!, Manny!"

In The Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo writes that back in 1995, young Ramirez hit seventh in the Cleveland lineup, behind current 500-home-run club members Eddie Murray and Jim Thome, as well as 465-career-home-run man Dave Winfield and Albert Belle, who hit 50 home runs in that '95 season. Talk about power.

Speaking of former Indians teammates, Thome, who reached 500 home runs last season, had congratulations for Ramirez yesterday. Thome, now a member of the White Sox, said, "It's almost like your brother has done it. It's pretty cool."

ESPN's Jayson Stark measures Manny up against future 600-home-run club member Ken Griffey Jr., and concludes that Griffey is the greater player. "I deduct points for all those jogs to first base, week-long midseason vacations and inability to fit spring training into our man Manny's busy schedule," Stark writes.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:59 PM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Back on track in Baltimore

Click the play button below to hear Sean's comments, recorded this morning in Seattle. The topics: Boston's bullpen on a hot streak, Manny's 500th home run, David Ortiz's injured wrist and the fantastic debut of Cincinnati's Jay Bruce.

Here are some excerpts from Sean's comments:

On the weekend series: "If you had said a week ago that the Red Sox were going to come home with a .500 record [on the current road trip -- something that hasn't been decided quite yet] and do it on the strength of a bullpen and an offense that suddenly was very much in gear, I think people would have had a pretty hearty laugh over that. You look at how the trip started: 1-5 in Oakland and Seattle, where the offense was almost nonexistent, and the bullpen wasn't very trustworthy, and then they got to Baltimore, had the day off, and it was like someone flipped a switch. They start cranking out the runs and getting very good relief from a number of guys in the bullpen, and turned the trip around."

On Ramirez: "I don't think there's any question, having seen him the last couple of weeks, he would joke about it before the games and with his teammates in the clubhouse, but I think it was wearing on him, the fact that it took so long to get not only 500 but 499. He hit three home runs I think in the span of 25 or so games -- that's certainly not usual and normal production for Manny. So the fact that he got 500 on Saturday night I think does remove some pressure from him, whether it be self-induced or not, and the fact that he hit one yesterday indicates that, you know, he might be able to cut loose now. Everybody has stopped watching and stopped anticipating every at-bat, and things can return to normal for him."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:11 AM to Projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam | Permalink

Baseball Today: Monday, June 2

AP Photo

TRIPLE THREAT: Pitching. Offense. Defense. That just about covers it in baseball, and when you have all three working then your problems -- which seemed so insurmountable at times last week -- melt away. Yesterday Bartolo Colon (above) took care of the pitching and his teammates took care of the rest as the Red Sox won their third straight in Baltimore, 9-4. Joe McDonald has the details of an afternoon in which things went so smoothly that even Julio Lugo ("Yes," writes Joe. "That Julio Lugo.") contributed with the glove. The Boston Herald's John Tomase focuses on the field work of Dustin Pedroia, who "made a trio of stellar defensive plays that left his uniform a nice shade of dirt ." They play the series finale tonight and, as the Boston Globe's Gordon Edes notes, a victory will enable the Sox "to break even on a 10-game trip that had appeared to be a disaster in the making when they lost five out of six on their first two stops."

Tomase reports that as Colon was walking back to the dugout after being lifted in the seventh inning, Orioles coach Juan Samuel told him, "You've got your (expletive) back." So, it appears, do the Red Sox.

AP Photo

THE DARK CLOUD AROUND THE SILVER LINING: But it's not all blue skies with the Sox these days, not with David Ortiz sitting on the bench, his left wrist in a brace. He said he felt a "pop" in the wrist when he fouled off a pitch in the ninth inning Saturday night (above) and the pain was such that he couldn't continue the at-bat. Nor, obviously, could he play yesterday. McDonald reports x-rays were negative but Ortiz will return to Boston for an MRI today. The Herald's Rob Bradford talks to J.D. Drew, who had a wrist injury in 2005, and who says, "Hopefully it’s nothing major. Wrists are tricky, man."

AP Photo

HISTORY MAJOR: But the big news of the weekend was Manny Ramirez, who finally reached the 500-homer plateau Saturday night in Boston's 6-3 victory. (projo.com) He'd said he wanted to do it at home, but with so many Sox fans at Camden Yards (above) it was the next-best thing. (When I called McDonald in the press box Saturday night after he'd done it, Joe was laughing. He reported that as Manny took the field in the middle of the seventh after hitting No. 500, the P.A. system starting playing Sweet Caroline and the scoreboard read something like, "Here's a treat for all you Red Sox fans here tonight." And then the music stopped abruptly and the scoreboard flashed: "NOT!") McDonald has many details from the milestone moment, including an interview with the Woo brothers, who caught the historic homer; the reaction of Sean Casey, who's now seen three players hit their 500th homer, and how Ramirez' teammates felt afterwards.

We even got to know how Ramirez felt about the whole thing because -- unlike years past -- he talks to reporters nowadays. And that, reports the Herald's Rob Bradford, is because of a decision Ramirez made over the winter to be more approachable and accessible. ("I decided that talking to the media wasn’t going to hurt.") The result is that the public now sees what only his teammates and friends used to see. Which is, as Kevin Millar told Tomase: "He’s got a uniqueness about him that’s easy to like when you get to know Manny. He’s very soft-hearted and a warm guy. Fans see that side of him now more than they did earlier in his career."

AND NOW? Baseball Musings' David Pinto believes Ramirez can reach 600 career homers, but wonders -- because "the [offensive] falloff we saw from Manny in 2007 appears to be real" --- if he'll still be with the Red Sox when he does.

THE REST OF THE STORY: This news-filled weekend began with a slump-busting, 5-2 win in 13 innings Friday night that, McDonald reports, had many facets besides seven scoreless innings from the bullpen (which he recounts in the game story): The contributions of Mike Lowell, both offensively and defensively; a running attack which set a franchise record for steals in a game, and even a defensive gem -- yes, again -- from Lugo. It wasn't all good, though; McDonald relates a busted suicide-squeeze attempt that cost the Sox a run and, it sounds like, swore Terry Francona off the play forever.

MOVING FORWARD: Craig Hansen delivered a scoreless inning in yesterday's game, striking out two of the three batters he faced. Prior to yesterday he had been the subject of a McDonald profile, in which Joe concluded: "[It] appears the hard-throwing right-hander has finally arrived."

FALLING BACK: Clay Buchholz, on the other hand, is back in the minors for a while, after his second rehab start for the PawSox didn't go too well. (projo.com)

THE VERDICT IS . . . It's old news now, but for the record: Daisuke Matsuzaka has a mild rotator-cuff strain. (projo.com)

REALITY STINKS (OR SOMETHING): The blog Oriole Post notes that the ratio of Red Sox fans to Oriole fans at Camden Yards was something like 80-20 this weekend, but puts the blame for it right at the organization's doorstep. ("[Ten] losing seasons, bad drafts, Peter Angelos, bad ushers at the Yard & horrible baseball have perhaps relegated a lot of Baltimore fans to stay home.")

MY HERO: Canadian high schooler Brett Lawrie, who's projected to go in the top 15 in Thursday's draft, says Dustin Pedroia is his role model. (baseballanalysts.com)

TOOL SHED: Joe Posnanski has a post about "how scouts judge players’ tools (hitting, power, speed, defense, arm) on that famed 20-80 scale" and does a Royals-Red Sox comparison that, ah, definitely favors Boston. (joeposnanski.com)

TREADING WATER: But the Sox, despite their string of success in Baltimore, haven't been able to gain any ground on the first-place Rays, who -- reports Joe Henderson of the Tampa Tribune -- are riding the destiny train after Gabe Gross' 10th-inning homer gave them their third straight win over the White Sox. Making it especially special for Gross: His parents and grandmother were there to see it. (Tampa Tribune) One reason for the Rays' success, writes the St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin, is the team's unprecedented amount of depth.

SLOW DOWN THAT BANDWAGON, I WANT TO JUMP ON: Joel Sherman, writing on foxsports.com, is the latest to declare the Rays are for real.

THINK AGAIN: Ozzie Guillen went off after yesterday's loss, telling the media to expect changes before the White Sox' next game Tuesday because "[if] we think we are going to win with the offense we have, we are full of [bleep]." (Chicago Sun-Times) And, of course, when Ozzie Guillen says something controversial, can Jay Mariotti resist the temptation to unload? (Chicago Sun-Times) (That, folks, is Webster's definition of a rhetorical question.)

BULLET DODGED: It looked far worse than it actually ended up being; when Nick Blackburn lay spreadeagled on the mound after taking a Bobby Abreu liner off the face, you couldn't help but fear the worse. But Blackburn was okay -- he had to come out of the game, but didn't suffer as much as a broken bone (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) -- and the Twins went on to beat Darrell Rasner and the Yankees, 5-1. (New York Daily News) Abreu was relieved Blackburn wasn't hurt badly (LoHud Yankees Blog), as were we all.

CHANGES: When last we saw Morgan Ensberg, he was doing a guest spin on Phil Hughes' blog. Today he's an ex-Yankee, designated for assignment so the Yanks could recall Scott Patterson. (New York Daily News)

MARTYRDOM: Let's see. Scott Proctor threw at Kevin Youkilis' head last June and got away with it. Joba Chamberlain threw twice at Youkilis' head last August and was suspended. Chien-Ming Wang hit Youkilis in the wrist last September and knocked him out of the lineup for over a week. Kyle Farnsworth threw at Manny Ramirez' head in April and got suspended. But the blog IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS . . . caught says the pro-Red Sox/anti-Yankee persecution reaches all the way down to the minor leagues.

MARK IT DOWN: Willie Randolph thinks last month's Yankees-Mets rainout will be made up on Friday, June 27 as a day-night, Yankee Stadium/Shea Stadium doubleheader. (New York Daily News)

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, BUT I'M SORRY I DID: Even though Gary Carter continues to insist he wasn't politicking for the Mets' managing job, he says he plays to apologize to Willie Randolph for the controversy his comments caused. (Palm Beach Post)

LATE THUNDER: The Rays weren't the only team to win in their last at-bat yesterday. Both the Angels (Los Angeles Times) and the Tigers (Detroit News) did it, as well.

SAY AGAIN?? According to Cecil Cooper, home runs when you're trailing in a game are rally-killers. (Houston Chronicle) Our friends at Fire Joe Morgan are speechless.

ON THE MOVE: Tigers manager Jim Leyland has decided to shift Carlos Guillen from third base to left field on occasion to get Brandon Inge more playing time. (Detroit Free Press)

HOLLIDAY TIME NEARS: The Denver Post's Woody Paige, declaring the Rockies' season to be over, says the Rox should trade Matt Holliday because if they don't, they'll get nothing in return when he leaves via free agency at the end of 2009.

HERE AND THERE: Mark Prior will undergo his second season-ending shoulder operation in two years. (San Diego Union-Tribune) Pinto believes it's time for Prior to hang up the spikes and start a new career . . . John Smoltz is altering his arm angle and moving to the bullpen because he says that, at age 41, he knows time is running out on his big-league career and these are the only things he can do if he wants to keep pitching (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . The Giants' Shawn Estes fractures the thumb on his pitching hand when he tripped on the stairs between the visiting clubhouse and dugout Friday night, and will be out indefinitely. (San Francisco Chronicle)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:17 AM | Permalink