A terrible month of August on the field looks to have taken its toll on the Boston Red Sox physically and psychologically. David Ortiz left the team before their series with Oakland kicked off Monday to return to Boston for further tests on his heart. He had originally spent a night there during the Yankee series for an irregular heartbeat, a condition that resumed during the West Coast swing. The team's medical director Dr. Thomas Gill issued a statement today that said that Ortiz wouldn't play return to the field before all tests are done and he's been issued a clean bill of health.
No matter that this news pushes the Yankees closer to a division title, best wishes for Ortiz to be back on the field and in full fitness as soon as possible. But with Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek struggling with injury or ego right now, the on-field ramifications of Ortiz's absence can't be understated. The Sox are a little short in the lineup even with their two sluggers and captain healthy, without them catching the Yankees, White Sox or Twins is a pipe dream.
It seems Theo Epstein shares that assessment with the news that David Wells is being shopped to interested parties. The portly lefthander has pitched well with nothing to show for it of late with Boston. Poor relief work has sullied some fine starts and there's more than one team that could use an experienced and relatively able arm. With the Sox reeling their way out of the hunt, there's great value to getting something in return for Wells at this late date in the season. Wells has already passed through waivers so he's good to go in a deal, perhaps to his hometown Padres? With the shortage of sturdy pitching in New England, a Wells trade would be tantamount to a white flag, something more than one Red Sox blogger has already done.
Comments