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Manny update

TORONTO -- Ah, the long-awaited Manny Ramirez update for the day.

When asked about what Ramirez would have to show Francona and the team before being reinstated into the lineup, Francona said, "He needs to clear himself. The medical people have gotten fairly aggressive. He's swinging the bat fairly aggressive. But there has to be, I don't know about assurance -- peace of mind's probably not the right word -- but a confidence from himself that he can go play the game and not hurt himself. And that's a hard thing. Myself included. You see him go hit the ball out on the street, you go, 'Oh man.' But you can really make some disastrous mistakes trying to read somebody else's body. It doesn't work."

Francona said Ramirez would be re-evaluated each day, but it was up to him -- knowing his own body -- to determine when he felt comfortable with the progress he has made in coming back from the oblique injury that has sidelined him since August 28. The last thing they want is for Ramirez to reinjure the area.