BOSTON -- Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez continues to inch closer to
game mode, as evidenced by the batting-practice pitches he hammered
well over the Green Monster before Friday night's game against the
Yankees. However, Red Sox manager Terry Francona doesn't expect
Ramirez to be back in the lineup for this weekend's rivalry showdown.

"He's doing a good job," said Francona. "Maybe by the beginning of
[next] week is somewhat realistic. But again, we just don't know. He
is making a lot of progress and he's doing a good job."

Friday marked the 16th consecutive game that Ramirez was out of the
lineup due to the strained left oblique he suffered against the
Yankees on Aug. 28.

"He came by [during Thursday's off-day] and did a good job," said
Francona. "[He] swung the bat well. He is making a lot of progress,
and he's doing a good job. But again, because of his ability to hit,
he hits a ball off the wall [in batting practice] and everybody thinks
he should be playing. There's a difference between taking swings in a
controlled environment, then going to BP and then going to a game.
It's just not realistic that you can let somebody do that. I wish it
were."

Could Ramirez be used as a pinch-hitter this weekend?

"You could tell [Yankees manager] Joe [Torre], 'Yes,'" quipped
Francona. "If you see him out there, he's hitting. But if one of you
guys wants to go over there and tell Joe he's standing over there
ready, I'd appreciate it. I don't know. We'll see."

So perhaps Ramirez will be back in there at Toronto on Monday night,
when the Sox open a three-game series against the Blue Jays. But
Francona made no promises.

"It's not even fair to him to put a day on it," Francona said. "The
guy came in on his off-day and then, because he hit the ball so far,
it's, 'Why is he not playing?' He wasn't expected to play today. He
needs to do some more things."

Source: Ian Browne / MLB.com