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May 29, 2007
Pre-Game Red Sox notes for May 29.
Cleveland @ Boston; 7 p.m., NESN
-- David Ortiz is out of the lineup for the third straight game due to sore hamstrings. He says he can run fine but is sore and it’s uncomfortable when he’s in his hitting crouch.
Manager Terry Francona said he’s trying to be smart with Ortiz and not rush him back and risk any serious injury.
''He’s improving but not to the point where I felt comfortable playing him today,’’ he said. ''We sat around and talked about it last night for awhile. I kind of tried to tell him because he feels such a responsibility to be out there that I don’t want him to hurt himself. By trying to get this under control, we don’t have to fight it all year. I trust his judgment, too. I know he wants to be out there, I know he’ll be out there so we’re just going to keep an eye on him.’’
With Ortiz out, the Sox have chosen to shift Manny Ramirez to designated hitter and insert Wily Mo Pena in left. Francona sees this as a great opportunity to rest Ramirez, who leads the Sox with 49 games played.
''It’s the perfect chance,’’ he said. ''We actually told him he could do that in Texas on Sunday but he wanted to play left field. Anytime we can keep his bat, that can only help us in the long run. Anytime you can keep the bat and keep his legs refreshed, that’s good.’’
-- Kevin Youkilis is batting third in Ortiz’ absence. He’s riding a 20-game hit streak, leads the team with a .354 average and is playing as well as anyone on the team. His value is clearly on the rise.
''Wherever somebody sits, we put Youk to balance out our lineup,’’ said Francona. ''It’s been tremendous because he’s such a professional hitter that he can cover us if it’s the 3-hole, the 5-hole, the 4-hole, hitting second. You put him anywhere and he gives you a great at-bat and it seems to balance out that lineup.’’
Youkilis is hitting .438 (39-for-89) during his hit streak. He is batting .408 in May (42-for-103). His inside-the-park homer on Monday was the 48th by a Red Sox at Fenway Park.
-- Another player on the rise is second baseman Dustin Pedroia. He has hit safely in a career-best 8 straight games and has seen his average skyrocket from .182 to .298 over his last 18 games. He had three hits in Monday night’s win over the Indians.
Francona was asked if Pedroia is exceeding expectations.
''I think if you go back and look at all the questions and answers, I think we said, 'Young kid playing here in April, you might not see the player you’re gonna see.' I think now we’re seeing the player we hoped for. I actually think that he and (Alex) Cora (combined for) a real good second baseman. What they give us both together has been phenomenal.’’
Cora got off to a great start filling in for Pedroia and is still hitting .319 in eight fewer games than Pedroia. There were rumblings of elevating Cora back in April but Francona said the patience the club showed is paying off.
''I know there was some clamoring to give up on Pedroia early. I think that would’ve been a big, big mistake,’’ he said. ''He’s a pretty good player. He knows how to play the game.’’
Pedroia has recorded multiple hits in his last two games and 3 of his last 4. He has eight multiple-hit games in May.
-- All eyes will be on Josh Beckett tonight. He's making his first start in two weeks after slightly tearing the skin on the middle finger of his right hand.
-- KEVIN McNAMARA
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