Return Of Ortiz Could Doom The Red Sox

David Ortiz, better known in Boston and in the majors as Big Pappi, missed 45 games for the Red Sox with a wrist injury that many thought would require surgery and end his season.

Ortiz is the Red Sox third place hitter in front of Manny Ramirez and is the equivalent of Derek Jeter as far a clutch hitting.

With ice water in their veins, they have created more memorable moments for their respective teams and fans to talk about for the next century.

Ortiz however is said to still be in some pain and not be at one hundred percent.

In Ortiz's absence J.D. Drew really stepped up for the Sox and was the player they thought they signed a couple years back.

Drew was however moved up in the order, batting in front of Manny Ramirez.

Ramirez, so far this season, has a .301 batting average, with 19 homers, 62 runs batted in and over a .400 on base percentage and to make those numbers even scarier is that Ramirez had a slow start here in 2008.

One has to believe that Drew saw some of the best pitches that any batter could hope for with Ramirez protecting him.

Whether he remains where he is or not remains to be seen, however, tonight, the first night Ortiz returned, although Razmirez was now out of the line-up, Drew was batting in the number six spot in front of rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie.

Although Lowrie is a highly respected prospect in the Red Sox system, he is not nearly as scary as pitching to Ramirez. Lowrie has a nice batting average, entering tonight with a .291 average, however, only has one homer and 10 batted in.

While I provided Ramirez's numbers, one doesn't have to see how he is doing this season as his track record alone for big hits and big flies is enough to not want to pitch to him.

He may have a poor attitude, with "Manny being Manny," and may be an under par outfielder at best, but no one can deny the fact that he is one of the best hitters to step up to the plate in this generation and maybe even in baseball history.

If you bat in front of him, chances are, you will just see better pitches as the pitcher would rather take their chances with you than let Ramirez have a chance to come up and do damage.

Now the tables are turned on Drew as the pitcher would surely rather go after Lowrie than go after Drew who has been so hot the past month and a half.

With Ortiz in the line-up as the DH, that means that Ramirez has to play the field, taking out either Coco Crisp or Jacoby Ellsbury; both great defensive outfielders

So, if Ortiz is not completely healed and is not the hitter that he used to be or even the hitter that Drew was in the three spot, their defense will suffer and while Ortiz's name strikes more fear in the heart fans and players alike, a name doesn't put runs on the scoreboard; a good and healthy player will.