Ortiz: "I don't need a day off."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Manager Terry Francona has been quite frank with David Ortiz since he's returned from the disabled list. He's asked his DH that if he needs a day off he will kindly accommodate him.

"He said, 'I don't need a day off!' " Francona said. And so David Ortiz is in there. He met with reporters earlier and said he felt a "click" in a ninth-inning at-bat Monday night that felt different than the "clicks" he had felt a few times since he returned. But he said he felt fine Tuesday.

"It's all right," said Ortiz. "I've got to deal with it the rest of the season. I'm gonna have good days and bad days ... someday it feels right, sometimes it didn't."

"Reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated," said Francona.

While Ortiz was recovering from the injury a person with knowledge of his status said Ortiz was told he would go through periods where the tendon in the sheath could pop in and out and he could feel some temporary discomfort. But according to a team source, what he felt in the ninth had nothing to do with the tendon.

Ortiz didn't seem to think he could alter or reduce his swing to reduce the potential for discomfort and still be effective.

Ortiz said Dr. Thomas Gill is aware of what's going on, but he doesn't think he'll see a doctor since any discomfort he's been experiencing is normal with this type of injury.

"Gotta play!" said Ortiz, who entered last night 1 for 15 with four walks since Manny Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers. Ortiz seems to be more concerned about his protection - Ramirez - in the lineup going away than anything else. He has been studying his swing on video quite a bit the last two days.

Francona admits he's gotten his days messed up lately. Dave Aardsma is throwing for Pawtucket in Scranton tonight. Bartolo Colon will go two innings in that one....

Mike Lowell said it would take 2-3 days for the full effects of the shot he received to dull the pain in his hip. But he was in there last night....

Francona had J.D. Drew back in the leadoff spot, but he said this will not be a permanent move. Right now Francona said he's merely trying "to get the lineup as elongated as we can." Francona is liking Kevin Youkilis in the clean-up spot.