Ramirez injuries pile up
Left biceps latest to stifle DH
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There are less than three weeks to go until the playoffs begin, and the Red Sox’ $22 million designated hitter has started just twice in the last six days.
Hanley Ramirez was out again last night as the Red Sox began a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the last time the teams will meet in 2017.
Ramirez has been out of the lineup for two straight and manager John Farrell revealed Thursday that his cranky shoulders have “flared up again.”
But yesterday Farrell said Ramirez was suffering from a different ailment.
“Hanley’s sore, left biceps has flared up on him,” Farrell said. “He just came into the clubhouse here after getting an MRI, so we’re waiting on the results of the test done here today. I don’t have a further update and I don’t have a return date back in the lineup, either.”
It may not seem like much of a loss, since Ramirez is just 6-for-44 (.136) with one home run since Aug. 31 as his season average has dipped to .238. But this is usually the time of year in which Ramirez turns into a monster.
He did it in 2013 with the Dodgers, when he hit .355 with 19 homers from June 19 through the end of the regular season. He did it last year with the Red Sox, hitting .295 with 22 homers from July 20 through the end of the season. And he’s a career .333 hitter with a .959 OPS in the playoffs.
What’s currently plaguing Ramirez, if Farrell is to be understood, is a culmination of injuries.
The biceps is the latest part of his body to feel the pain.
“I think it’s been more of a flare-up of some of the things he’s been dealing with and it reached the point where when he came in yesterday it was even more present,” Farrell said. “He just feels like he can’t trigger. It’s the left shoulder, so as he gets to the point of contact it’s like, as he describes it, not feeling like he can fire through as he typically does.”
The 33-year-old Ramirez is under contract at least one more year with a vesting option for 2019 that kicks in if he reaches 1,050 plate appearances combined between 2017 and 2018 and does not finish the 2018 season on the disabled list. He has 522 plate appearances this year.
Designated designs
There was some thought to putting hot-hitting catcher Christian Vazquez in the lineup at DH, but with Chris Sale on the mound and his usual catching partner Sandy Leon in the lineup, Farrell instead went with Dustin Pedroia at DH while Brock Holt got his second straight start at second base.
Pedroia is essentially playing on one knee, given the inflammation in his left has hindered his ability to run. It’s an issue the Sox believe Pedroia may have to deal with for the rest of his career. Another day at DH could benefit him.
“It would be likely that he’s going to be off (today) after four consecutive days,” Farrell said.
Until Ramirez is ready to play, that could be where Pedroia stays, but Farrell wouldn’t commit to any one plan. Eduardo Nunez (knee) is recovering faster than anticipated and could return as soon as this road trip, perhaps out of the DH spot.
“I thought today’s early work, the way he was moving around, the way he swung the bat, that’s been a really positive development,” Farrell said. “If he’s not back to us and Pedey is down and Vazquez is not catching, Vazquez is another candidate to be in the DH spot.”
In the box
Next Friday will begin the final 10 games of the season for the Red Sox, but instead of getting a chance to cruise into the playoffs with ease, they’ll be biting their nails watching their starting pitchers take swings.
Three of their final 10 games are in Cincinnati, where the National League rules will turn the Red Sox pitchers into hitters.
Thankfully for them, Sale is not scheduled to pitch in the series. But the timing is still unfortunate.
“Its an oddity,” Farrell said. “You’re just hopeful the amount of work they can do in the cage, just getting their hands, wrists, arms accustomed to it. It’s not about what they’re going to produce, it’s a matter of just hopefully they don’t get hurt. That’s something we have to contend with.”