Manny Ramirez was back in the lineup after a three-day abscence. (Charles Krupa/AP)
BOSTON -- The lineup on the clubhouse wall at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday did not include Manny Ramirez's name. Was the star slugger going to miss a fourth straight game because of the flu?
That was what Red Sox manager Terry Francona was led to believe earlier in the day after speaking with Ramirez. But shortly after Ramirez arrived in the clubhouse, things changed. The left fielder was feeling well enough to talk his way into the lineup. He batted third.
"He kind of came in and thought he would make himself available to pinch-hit, which is a step forward, but then he came back in and said, 'The [heck] with it, put me out there.' So that's what we did," said Francona.
Ramirez looked happy to be back
"I'm gonna go earn my money," Ramirez playfully said as he walked out the clubhouse door, bat in hand.
Later, he was asked how he felt.
"Muy bueno. I have to get outside and work on my silver glove," quipped Ramirez.
It was Ramirez's bat that the Sox were glad to have back.
Now, Ramirez will try and break out of the funk he's been in. Since the All-Star break, Ramirez is hitting .219 with two homers and eight RBIs.
Francona had to do some reshuffling of the lineup. Dave Roberts, originally slated to bat ninth and play right field, was scratched to make way for Ramirez. Kevin Millar moved from left field to right field, and from the third slot in the order to fifth. Jason Varitek moved from fifth to seventh and Kevin Youkilis moved from eighth to ninth.
New No. 2: The recently revolving lineup of the Red Sox took another twist Tuesday night, as Doug Mientkiewicz moved up to the two-hole. Youkilis had hit second the previous five games, as regular No. 2 hitter Mark Bellhorn is on the disabled list with a fractured left thumb.
"I think one of his strengths is that he can actually hit anywhere," Francona said of Mientkiewicz. "He's a left-handed hitter that puts the bat on the ball, hits an occasional home run, but hits the ball in the gap. I think he uses that hole real well. I think that's the hope, Johnny [Damon] gets on and we get the hole open and hit the ball through there. But Youkilis is going to hit second a lot."
Scott Williamson / P
Born: 02/17/76
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
Cautious optimism on Williamson: Despite Scott Williamson's latest setback (muscle strain in forearm), Francona has no reason to think the right-handed setup man is finished for the season. More will be known later this week, when Williamson undergoes an MRI exam.
"As far as missing the year or something, I don't think anyone is ready to say that," Francona said. "I think there's a decent chance that what happened to cause the inflammation is something that doesn't set him back for the rest of the year. But he also had inflammation, so we have to figure out why."
Williamson took the latest news in stride in what has been a year of frustration.
"Right now, it's just a muscle strain," Williamson said. "It's nothing really to be that alarmed with. Get the swelling out of there and get back throwing again. That's what I'm trying to do right now. Hopefully, by the end of this month, that's what everyone is shooting for. I felt it on one pitch, it kind of felt like a stretch. It's frustrating."
Leskanic improving: Curtis Leskanic, on the DL since July 25 with tendonitis in his right shoulder, threw a simulated inning on the Fenway mound prior to Tuesday's game.
"I thought he looked strong, which is good," said Francona. "As far as is he game-ready, I honestly can't answer that yet. I want to talk to him, I want to talk to the trainers."
Leskanic sounded like a man who was ready to return to work.
"I would hope to be activated this week, yeah, that's what I'm hoping," said Leskanic.
Though he hasn't been approached about it yet, Leskanic indicated he didn't want to go on a minor league rehab assignment.
"You know what, I haven't really talked to them about it. I just know I wouldn't want to, I don't want to waste any bullets, I don't know how many I have left," said Leskanic.
The tricky part about activating Leskanic would be finding a roster spot.
"We need to use very good judgment," Francona said. "We're at the time of the year where you don't just send a guy down, it's not April. These moves impact a lot of things so we have to just make sure."
Nixon still hoping: The Red Sox hope they haven't seen the last of right fielder Trot Nixon this season. Nixon, who has played just 29 games this season, was placed back on the DL on July 25 with recurring left quad woes.
"I think he's got a ways to go," Francona said.
If Nixon comes back, would it be strictly as a pinch-hitter/DH?
"I'd certainly hope he'd come back and play the outfield," Francona said. "But having him back in any capacity would be better than not having him. But I don't know, we just have to see how he feels."
Kapler knows role: Though Gabe Kapler has had three hits the last two times he's been in the lineup -- the latter of which was Monday night -- he didn't start Tuesday night.
Francona is impressed by the way Kapler handles his role.
"I think Gabe thinks he could help us every day, which I think is great," said Francona. "But I think we have a 25-man roster on a good team, and you have guys, you pick your spots and they really contribute, that's the way it's supposed to be."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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