CHICAGO --
Stopping short of issuing a suspension and measuring their words carefully, the Red Sox yesterday effectively benched mercurial star Manny Ramirez indefinitely, electing to hold him out of the lineup last night even after Ramirez told them he was feeling better and was ready to serve as DH against the Chicago White Sox.
Ramirez, who hasn't played in a week, missed the entire three-game weekend series with the New York Yankees, then declined to pinch hit when asked Monday in Philadelphia, telling coaches and trainers he wasn't strong enough to hit.
He's been sidelined since being felled by a case of pharyngitis last Thursday night.
When Ramirez reported to the ballpark yesterday, manager Grady Little met with him in his office and told him of the his decision to purposely keep him out of the lineup. When Little informed Ramirez that his actions in the last few days had cost him the respect of his teammates, Ramirez, according to sources, told Little: "I don't care."
"He's available to DH today," said Little before last night's game at U.S. Cellular Field, "but my decision is I want to put the best team on the field to give us a chance to win. I like the way our club has responded."
The Red Sox front office later released a statement fully backing Little's actions.
The statement read: "As a front office, we fully support Grady's decision not to put Manny in the starting lineup (last night). Grady's going with a lineup that gives us the best chance to win as a team, and tonight that does not include Manny, despite his availability to DH.
"Manny's a big part of this ball club and we all look forward to getting him back on the field very soon and watching him help this team win some important ball games. Contrary to some reports, Manny has not been suspended. He's not in the lineup tonight and we all support Grady's decision."
The organization gave brief consideration to suspending Ramirez, but determined the former batting champion hadn't committed a serious enough offense to warrant such action. Also, a suspension would have almost certainly resulted in a successful appeal by the Player's Association on Ramirez's behalf.
The Sox appear ready to take stronger action if Ramirez doesn't respond positively to the benching.
Teammates and team officials were disappointed to learn that Ramirez was spotted out Saturday night, a night before he remained home and missed his third consecutive game. At noon Sunday, just two hour before game time, the Sox were unsure of Ramirez's whereabouts.
Their displeasure grew considerably when Ramirez twice told members of the coaching and training staff that he was too weak to pinch-hit Monday.
"It's always disapponting when you don't have the availability of one of your regular players," Little said. "Our ball club depends on Grady Little to put the best ball club on the field each night, and that's what I'm doing."
Added Little: "A lot of factors (went) into the decision. But they all lead to putting the team on the field that gives us the best chance to win."
The manager said Ramirez would return to action when Little believes the player's inclusion in the lineup would again be beneficial to the team's success on the field.
Ramirez appeared on the field yesterday afternoon shortly after Little met with reporters. Kevin Millar attempted to engage him in a serious conversation, jesturing earnestly with his hands to make a point, but Ramirez just laughed and repeatedly joked with his teammate.
Millar later declined to reveal the nature of his talk with Ramirez.
Ramirez took early hitting in the cage and was seen talking and joking with members of the White Sox in front of the home dugout at U.S. Cellular Field. Approached by a reporter, Ramirez good-naturedly declined comment on the message delivered by Little.
Several players privately endorsed Little's action, saying they were capable of winning without Ramirez. Others pointed out that the team is full of players willing to play at less than one hundered percent health.
"Nobody in this clubhouse has been affected by this," said one veteran player. "We're not going to be distracted."
David Ortiz, one of Ramirez's closest friend on the team, was surprised to learn from reporters of Little's decision to continue sitting Ramirez.
"He's the manager," Ortiz said "He's got his reasons, I guess. Manny's been sick. He's my boy. But if he's not ready, he's not ready. He knows we need him."
Ortiz said he'd been playfully prodding Ramirez to return to the lineup.
"I was messing around with him," Ortiz said, "telling him, 'I'm not a cleanup hitter -- get your (rear end) back in there.' He told me 'Don't worry --you're doing OK. I'll be back soon."'
Just not as soon, however, as he expected.
