Baseball notebook: Ramirez back at Fenway
Homers or hijinks, Boston Red Sox fans never knew what they would get from Manny Ramirez. Now it’s their turn to surprise the enigmatic slugger.
Will they think of his leisurely trots down the first-base line and boo? Or will they recall his drives over the Green Monster and cheer?
Ramirez’s former Boston teammates aren’t predicting how the crowd will react when he brings his act back to Fenway Park tonight for the first time since being traded in 2008. He’s expected to be the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series.
“People around here watched him play for a long time and have mixed emotions,” J.D. Drew said Thursday. “It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure.”
Mike Lowell plans to listen closely to the reception for the flaky Ramirez.
“I’m kind of curious to see how they react,” he said. “His offensive numbers were great, but I’m sure some people (thought) other things maybe were less than desired. So I guess it’s a big wait and see.”
To be continued
After seeming on the verge of announcing his retirement, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones changed course and said he won’t make a decision until after the season.
“Any more talk of the r-word will be reserved until the end of the season,” Jones said. “Somehow the cork got taken out. Well, I’m putting it back in right now.”
For two days, Jones had appeared ready to call it a career. Jones said he merely needed to work out some “red-tape issues” – including the $28 million he is owed for the final two years of his contract – and indicated he would make an announcement before the end of the homestand on Sunday.
Extended stay
The Pittsburgh Pirates extended the contracts of manager John Russell and general manager Neal Huntington for the 2011 season without making a public announcement during the offseason.
The Pirates were coming off a 99-loss season in 2009 and, amid slumping ticket sales, apparently felt announcing the winter deals might further lessen enthusiasm for this season.
Peavy feeling better
Jake Peavy’s previously sore shoulder is responding well to a change in medication, and the former Cy Young Award winner is expected to start Saturday for the Chicago White Sox in Washington.
The right-hander was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday in Pittsburgh and underwent an MRI exam.