Hanley hurtin’ at plate
DH works to regain power stroke
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Head-to-head numbers offered an easy justification for Hanley Ramirez’ absence from the Red Sox lineup yesterday.
He was a career .154 hitter against Royals starter Ian Kennedy, while the designated hitter’s replacement, Chris Young, was 1-for-2 with a home run against the right-hander.
But Red Sox manager John Farrell did not offer such an excuse. Instead, he admitted what’s been plainly obvious for weeks.
“Because (Young has) had good at-bats,” Farrell said. “And it’s looking like to me like the shoulders are bothering Hanley, and his at-bats have not been what he’s capable.”
Looking for a long-ball miracle with two outs in the ninth inning, Farrell called on Ramirez to pinch hit, but he flied to center to end the Sox’ 6-4 loss.
Ramirez is meant to be the Red Sox’ most prototypical power threat, and their most natural fit for the cleanup spot. The team has asked him to play the field only twice, meaning his value comes entirely from his bat.
Ramirez is hitting just .239 and slugging .394. He has one home run and no other extra-base hits in the past two weeks. He’s hit .171 since the last week of May.
It’s an unexpected development following last season’s 30 home runs and career-best 111 RBI.
“To me, getting Hanley back close to the level he performed at last year would be like a midseason trade, in my mind,” Farrell said. “He was a dominant middle-of-the-order force for us last year, and we need more production.
“Here’s the thing: Hanley’s working at it. From his work in the cage to his work on the field, offensively. Trying to get him back in the middle of the field, consistent approach with the authority he can swing the bat, that’s priority No. 1. And I think that gives him the plate coverage he’s been accustomed to, the production that’s there. But his presence in our lineup is critical.”
Ramirez’ struggles do not entirely explain the Sox being last in the American League in home runs, but they play a role. Mookie Betts leads the team with 12 homers, Andrew Benintendi hit his 10th yesterday, and Ramirez’ nine leave him tied with Mitch Moreland and Jackie Bradley Jr.
Xander Bogaerts, who hit No. 5 yesterday, is the only other Red Sox player with more than four.
Ramirez’ shoulder problems are well established, and he’s twice missed time this season with neck and trap soreness. Today’s off day should give him back-to-back days to rest, but Farrell is banking on Ramirez returning to his old self.
“Just the consistency or his typical consistency to impact the baseball,” Farrell said. “This is an abnormal year for him. I think there’s physical reasons that it’s happening.”
Tomorrow for Pedey?
With a significant portion of his back still shades of blue and purple, Dustin Pedroia tried to convince his manager to let him play yesterday, but was turned down.
“I think we kind of took it out of his hands,” Farrell said. “This is a guy that wants to be on the field. He wants to play. But while that pooling of fluids has come to the surface, it’s gaining some mobility, but still when he went down to try to swing in the cage, there’s still some restriction there.”
Hit by a pitch Sunday in Houston, Pedroia was out of the lineup for all three games in Kansas City. Farrell said he’s hopeful that one more day of treatment will put Pedroia back at second base tomorrow night at Fenway.
“He has improved,” Farrell said. “Wanted to be in the lineup, but felt he needs another full day of treatment and likely again (today). . . . Wait and see, but he will hopefully be back in the lineup (tomorrow).”
E-Rod progresses
It’s been three weeks since Eduardo Rodriguez’ bullpen stumble and subsequent right knee subluxation. He’s been on the disabled list since, but the next two days should put him on the verge of a rehab assignment.
Rodriguez threw another bullpen yesterday, and tomorrow he’ll go through fielding drills off the mound before the series opener against the Angels. On Saturday, he’s scheduled to face hitters in a 30-pitch live batting practice.
“We can make at least a decent step toward that first rehab assignment,” Farrell said. “And then kind of see where it goes from there.”
Farrell said he’s “hopeful” Rodriguez will need only one minor league game before being activated.
Top pick signs
The Red Sox signed first-round draft pick Tanner Houck, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of Missouri. He will join the short-season Lowell Spinners. According to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Houck received a $2,614,500 signing bonus, which is slot value for the 24th overall selection.