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September 7, 2007
--Doug Mirabelli's left hamstring, which he strained while running the bases in the third inning Thursday night, is "more tender than we were hoping," said manager Terry Francona this afternoon.
So Mirabelli, who had been making his first appearance since Aug. 17, when he suffered a right calf strain, will be out for a while. There is no timetable for his return. Francona, though, said the Sox have no plans to add another catcher to the roster as of now, electing to go with Jason Varitek and Kevin Cash. Francona said Mirabelli could work behind the plate in an emergency.
--Manny Ramirez's rehabilitation from an oblique strain continues to progress, Francona said, but it will continue in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., because the Sox' left fielder has been given permission to go home for personal reasons. He was scheduled to depart today and return to Boston on Sunday.
"He's getting close to resuming baseball activities," said Francona, who added that, as with Mirabelli, there is no timetable for Ramirez's return to the lineup.
--Brandon Moss, an outfielder in the Red Sox system, is going to play first base for Santiago in Winter Ball.
Francona said Moss, who was promoted from Pawtucket to Boston when the rosters expanded on Sept. 1, was willing to go to winter ball and willing to learn a new position, giving him more versatility. Francona was on the field at Camden Yards early this afternoon with Moss, showing him various footwork and talking about the mental and physical aspects of the position.
The Sox manager made an outfielder-to-first baseman conversion during his professional career.
--Tim Wakefield reiterated this afternoon that his back was not bothering him in his disappointing start Thursday night (6 runs, 9 hits, 3 2/3 innings).
He said he didn't feel comfortable at all on the mound, but wasn't using a 10-day layoff (he was scratched from a start last Friday because of a sore back) as an excuse. He's scheduled to throw a side session tomorrow.
-- The inside of Mike Lowell's left foot, just under the ankle bone and around the instep, is tender today. Lowell fouled a ball off his foot Thursday night, but didn't have to leave the game.
"My speed game may have to take a hit," joked Lowell, who is no baserunning speedster.
--Eric Gagne, who had a successful bullpen session (20-25 pitches) yesterday, will throw another side session tomorrow.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 4:51 PM | Permalink
