BOSTON - Rusney Castillo sat out of Monday's game against the Indians. On Tuesday, it was Jackie Bradley Jr.'s turn.
Since Hanley Ramirez has returned to the team, the Sox have four outfielders for three positions.
While Bradley and Castillo were swinging hot bats during Ramirez's seven-game absence - especially Bradley, who hit .519 with three homers and 13 RBI from Aug. 9-15 - Ramirez was one of the team's two gigantic offseason signings, and the Sox intend on playing him in left field regardless of the results up to this point in his first season at the position.
There have been cries that Ramirez should try first base. There have been cries that he shouldn't play at all. But none of those cries are being listened to by anybody within the Red Sox organization.
Ramirez is the Red Sox left fielder. There's been no secret training at first base or third base or anywhere else for that matter.
"We're not hiding anything and we want to be as transparent as possible. So no he's not getting any type of work at first base at this point," Torey Lovullo said of Ramirez. "Hanley Ramirez is our left fielder and I think we are going to stay with that, we're going to try to give him the necessary work and the necessary reps and the necessary innings out there to get him to the point where he feels comfortable and we become a championship defense in the outfield.
"It takes time, it takes time. He's a converted infielder and it's a tough process. He's further from the ball but the ball is moving and traveling at different angles. I feel comfortable in saying that Hanley is doing the right thing and working as hard as he can to make it happen as fast as he can."
Lovullo claims to have seen improvement out of Ramirez. but says the team is still working with him to kick some of his infield instincts such as wanting to come in on balls hit his way. Ramirez has had plenty of balls get over his head in left field this season, the latest Monday night when a Lonnie Chisenhall line drive was hit past Ramirez just above his head on the warning track and off the Green Monster.