Red Sox expect Ortiz wrist injury to heal itself

BOSTON -- On Monday night, Boston manager Terry Francona labeled the likelihood of in-season surgery to repair David Ortiz's injured left wrist as "very unlikely," and the Red Sox firmly believe there is almost no chance Ortiz will need a season-ending operation.

General manager Theo Epstein, noted that "the integrity of the tendon hasn't been comprised at all." As such, Epstein added "the doctors are pretty confident that ... there's a pretty significant chance that it'll heal itself."

Ortiz was sporting the cast -- extending from above his elbow to his wrist -- before Tuesday night's win over Tampa Bay. The wrist will remain immobilized for at least the next two weeks, at which time he will be reexamined.

If the immobilization helps the torn sheath surrounding the tendon to properly heal, Ortiz could return two weeks after that.

"The doctor says 70 to 80 percent of the people that have this, when they get a cast, it normally goes back (into place)," Ortiz said. "I have clicking when I move my hand. If the pain goes away, that's the main key. If the pain goes away and I still have the clicking, then I can probably play through it and maybe fix it after the season. Otherwise, if I still have the pain, I'm going to be out."

Even if the pain persists, there are ways for the Red Sox medical staff to combat that.

Ortiz was placed on the disabled list -- retroactive to Sunday -- for the first time since joining the Red Sox in 2003. His spot on the roster will taken by outfielder/first baseman Chris Carter, who was promoted from Class AAA Pawtucket.

Ortiz suffered the injury Saturday night in Baltimore when he hit a foul ball and heard something pop in his left wrist. X-rays were negative, but an MRI performed Monday revealed the damage done to the sheath.

Red Sox officials were careful to emphasize that the injury is dissimilar to the one suffered by Nomar Garciaparra in 2001, noting that Garciaparra's tendon had been damaged. By contrast, Ortiz's problem is limited to the sheath that protects the tendon.

The injury is rare for baseball players, but a fairly common one for hockey players and golfers. The former often incur problems because of the motion utilized in taking face-offs, while the latter generally hurt themselves simply striking the ball. Among golfers, Arnold Palmer is one of many who have suffered the malady.

Philadelphia outfielder Pat Burrell missed more than 30 games in 2004 with a similar injury before undergoing off-season surgery.

Should Ortiz miss only a month, the timing of the injury may be somewhat fortuitous. Interleague play will resume next week, meaning that the Red Sox will play nine games this month in National League parks where the designated hitter is not permitted.

In those games, the Red Sox can simply play Mike Lowell at third and Kevin Youkilis at first. In past seasons, Francona has had to sit either Ortiz, Youkilis or Lowell in N.L. road games.

"That (timing)," said Francona, "maybe lessens the impact."

For the time being, Francona has several options in remaking his everyday lineup. The manager said he didn't plan to go with a full-time, everyday DH to replace Ortiz.

Instead, Francona can mix-and-match. Against the Rays, he used Jacoby Ellsbury in left field, Coco Crisp in center, J.D. Drew in right and Manny Ramirez as his DH. That lineup gives Boston an improved and more athletic outfield, while giving Ramirez the opportunity to rest some.

Still, as Francona pointed out, Ramirez "has no aspirations to be a full-time DH."

Other options include utilizing Sean Casey as the DH. Casey had been in the original lineup Tuesday before Francona determined that Ramirez, who had been complaining about tight hamstrings in recent days, could use a respite from the field.

Carter could also see some time at DH in the absence of Ortiz.

As for the composition of the batting order, it seems likely that Tuesday night's lineup -- which featured Youkilis as the No. 3 hitter in Ramirez's customary spot -- will be the most popular. Francona said Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew were also candidates to see some time in the third spot.

If the team's projections prove overly rosy and Ortiz does need season-ending surgery, the Red Sox could seek out replacements in trades.

Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. could be made available, though he would likely insist that his new team exercise his 2009 option for $16.5 million. Griffey's teammate, free agent-to-be Adam Dunn, is another power option.

Dunn is a power lefty bat with four consecutive 40-homer seasons, but, in stark contrast to Ortiz, is not considered a clutch hitter. For his career, he has hit only .224 with runners in scoring position.

Finally, there's Gary Sheffield, beset by his own injury issues -- he's currently on the DL with an oblique strain -- who might be made available by the Tigers if the team can't scramble back into contention.

But it's the firm belief of the Red Sox that such talk won't be necessary by early July.

(Contact Sean McAdam at smcadam@projo.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)