Ramírez makes a pinch-hit cameo
TORONTO -- As predicted, Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramírez made his first appearance in a game yesterday after sitting out the last 12 and 22 of the previous 30 with a sore right knee. In the 5-3 loss to Toronto, Ramirez pinch-hit for shortstop Alex Gonzalez with a runner on first base and one out in the seventh inning and drew a full-count walk from A.J. Burnett.
Ramírez, who had taken batting practice for the third straight day, was replaced by a pinch runner, Alex Cora. The sizable number of Red Sox fans in the crowd of 42,267 accorded Ramírez a standing ovation when he came out to pinch hit.
``He told me he was available [Friday] night," said manager Terry Francona, who didn't share that information before the game, he said, because he didn't want to give a heads-up to the Blue Jays.
``If we can use his bat any way we can, we're going to use it."
Francona said it was doubtful Ramírez would start the next two days, but reserved the right to change his mind.
``We've been kind of talking about that with everybody," Francona said when asked about Ramírez's return. ``We don't want the season to wind down. We want it to come to a crashing halt. And so, until that point, do what you can to just help us out, because that's what you do."
In theory, Ramírez was sent to the plate by bench coach Brad Mills, since Francona had been ejected an inning earlier for arguing with second base umpire Doug Eddings, who ruled that second baseman Dustin Pedroia was not on the bag when he took a throw from third baseman Mike Lowell and attempted a double play relay.
Ramírez is 2 for 22 (.091) since taking himself out of a game against the Yankees Aug. 21. Just days earlier, Ramírez had reiterated his desire to be traded through agent Greg Genske. Before the game, Francona said he wasn't aware of Ramírez's trade request. ``The only thing I know is they had a meeting. I thought the meeting had been scheduled, but I wasn't in on it."
Francona said he hadn't noticed any difference in Ramírez's behavior in recent weeks.
``That's the hardest thing [to know], because of his lack of communication with you [media] guys, but he's actually been the same," Francona said. ``He rolls through life, he drives in runs.
``Again he's not playing, obviously. He's rolling through life and not driving in runs. Hopefully, it'd be nice to get him back even if it's the last couple of days."
Ramírez already was in street clothes and standing outside the clubhouse before reporters entered.
But Carlos Peña, looking to revive his career, also intends to be in the Dominican this winter, playing for Licey, one of two teams in Santo Domingo, the capital. David Ortiz usually shows up in January and plays a handful of games for the other Santo Domingo entry, Escogido .
``I don't feel comfortable just sitting back and not playing," said Peña, who has just 27 at-bats in 15 games (six starts) since the Sox purchased his contract from Pawtucket Aug. 28. ``I want to play, play, play, just learn by osmosis."
Peña hit an electrifying walkoff home run Sept. 4 against the White Sox, then had one at-bat in the next 12 days. He has made two starts in the last week, including his first appearance in left field last week against the Twins. He did not play yesterday.
The inactivity would suggest that the Sox have little interest in bringing back Peña. After being released by the Tigers in spring training, Peña signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, one that gave him the option to leave if not called up to the majors. Peña signed a minor league deal with the Sox Aug. 17, and was in the big leagues 11 days later.
``Hopefully, I'll get my shot, my everyday shot, maybe not this year," Peña said. ``What can I say? When I came over here, mostly in all honesty, I was just grateful to be here, I was happy to be here. Then after we got that out of the way, obviously my desire is to play every single day. I understand the situation here."
Peña, still only 28 and just two years removed from hitting 27 home runs for the Tigers, said he has not addressed his future with GM Theo Epstein or Francona.
``My challenge really is to enjoy the present, because I don't know what the future holds," he said. ``I pray and I wish that I get a shot, but I don't want to think about it too much."
He derives inspiration, he said, from Ortiz, who was Peña's age in 2003 when the Twins did not offer him a contract and the Sox signed him.
``I don't ever want to compare myself to David, but it's an inspiration to me, to be like, `Hey look, he did it, the underdog comes back and becomes the big dog,' you know what I mean? To me, that's an inspiration."
