Ortiz on lookout for pal Ramirez

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Memo to anyone headed off to Turin today: Check the balconies of Palasport Olimpico, the slopeside galleries of Sestriere, and the eateries of the Olympic Village for the Red Sox' cleanup hitter. Your chances of glimpsing him early this week might exceed those of the fans who began gathering here yesterday for the first pitcher-and-catcher workout of 2006.

''I talked to Manny a few weeks ago," David Ortiz said upon arrival yesterday, ''and he was going to Italy [today]."

The good-will DH, who reported to camp three days ahead of schedule, instantly launched into a bellowing laugh. But, he didn't seem to know what to make of what Manny Ramírez had told him.

''He said he was going there," Ortiz continued. ''He probably was just [kidding]."

Evidently, the conversation didn't last long enough for Ortiz to find out for sure.

''When you talk to Manny," Ortiz said, ''he says his phone bill is going to be too expensive, so he can talk no longer than one minute."

That, one reporter pointed out, would be one minute longer than Ramírez spent talking last season.

''You ain't lying," Ortiz said.

Ortiz was asked whether he ever asked Ramírez directly if he was content with returning to the team, as the slugger told an ESPN Deportes reporter in early January.

''Actually, no," Ortiz said. ''We didn't talk about it at all. I read in the news that he said he didn't want to leave Boston. Sounds good to me. Having my man around once again. Hopefully, that will never change again."

Ramírez, as a position player, is expected to report Wednesday and begin workouts Thursday. However, MLB's mandatory reporting date isn't until Feb. 28. Ramírez, meanwhile, is scheduled to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic March 3-20. Most WBC teams are holding meetings the night of March 2, which means participating players are likely to leave their major league teams that day. With such a small window between the mandatory reporting date and the WBC reporting date, it's possible Ramírez could wait to join the Sox until late March.

The likelihood of this scenario is, of yet, unknown. General manager Theo Epstein continues to say the Ramírez issue is between player and club. Ramírez's agent, Greg Genske, has not returned messages left for him the last couple days.

Ortiz, meanwhile, acknowledged he's going to have to be an even more active peacekeeper/sitter/confidant to Ramírez if the Sox expect him to remain here for the three years remaining on his eight-year, $160 million deal.

It was Kevin Millar last summer who helped Ramírez back off his July demand to be traded and who marched Ramírez into manager Terry Francona's office the morning of trade-deadline day to make peace with the media and manager. Millar, of course, is now a Baltimore Oriole.

''Millar, he did a lot with Manny, trying to get him going," Ortiz said. ''I guess, like you say, I'm going to have to stick with it. I don't think anybody will be capable of [what Millar did]. Millar was an outstanding teammate.

''I have talked to Millar. He misses us a lot. The longer he was here, he kept this ball club going, one way or the other."

Ortiz, similarly, will miss Johnny Damon's presence.

''It sucks, man," Ortiz said. ''He's my boy, man. I talked to him a lot before and after he went to the other side. I wish him the best.

''When the opposing team [New York] is getting the first at-bat [at Fenway May 1] . . . I want to see what happens. Hopefully, people understand that this is a business. Players pretty much go for their future. I think that's what happened with Johnny."

Ortiz's future, though less pressing, is also an issue this camp. Ortiz is signed for $6.5 million this season with a sure-to-be-exercised club option for $8.4 million in 2007. He said in January that he'd like an extension of three or four seasons and, at the time, was hopeful a deal would be struck before spring training. On a three-year deal, he'd likely seek in the neighborhood of $40 million.

But Ortiz has no update on any talks, and the Sox, who have entered a silence-is-golden era, aren't inclined to comment.

''I'm not involved with it," Ortiz said. ''I don't know what's going on. Hopefully, something works. I want to stick around."

If he were allowed to enter free agency, could he see himself following Damon?

''I don't know," he said. ''Like I said before, hopefully I stay here the rest of my career. I like it here. Everybody's been really nice to me in Boston. Hopefully, I don't have to go through that."

For now, his focus is on the Sox and the WBC, though he thinks the event should be moved to midsummer.

''Everybody would be ready to go," he said. ''I know some guys, they take more than a month to get ready."

But, he added, ''I want to play. In the Dominican, people are very excited."

He laughed when apprised of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén calling Alex Rodriguez a hypocrite. Guillén contended that Rodriguez never intended to play for the Dominican Republic but pretended to in order to curry Latino fans' favor.

''I don't know about that," said Ortiz, who had A-Rod over to his Boston-area home one day last season. ''He's a professional and a very smart guy."

Ortiz, who lost the MVP race to Rodriguez despite submitting as compelling a case as any DH ever has, claimed ''it wasn't hard" to place second.

''I'm just happy and glad they thought I did a good job," said Ortiz, who delivered 21 game-winning RBIs and belted 26 homers in or after the sixth inning. ''The most important thing is knowing that you did what it takes to help your ball club.

''That's about it. I'm just going to try to keep doing what I'm doing, keep it that way. If it ever comes, it comes. If it doesn't, hang with it."

It will be difficult to replicate his 2005 season. For starters, he was exceptional. Furthermore, the Blue Jays added lefthanded closer B.J. Ryan. The Yankees added lefty specialist, and former teammate, Mike Myers. And, with a weakened lineup -- and thinned-out clubhouse -- Ortiz's responsibilities will grow.

''It's going to be a little hard, man," he said. ''It's going to be hard to not have those guys around, Millar, Johnny. Johnny, he was always throwing parties and things for the team at his house."

Ortiz said his home is too small to throw the parties, but he said he'll think of something. And, he'll prepare to be everything Ramírez needs him to be. Ortiz often has called Ramírez ''a box of chocolates," for his unpredictability.

''He won't surprise me anymore," Ortiz contended. ''I'm telling you right now."

But will Ramírez be with the Sox on Opening Day, ready to roll?

''He might," Ortiz said. ''I don't know. That's a good question."