By Daniel Barbarisi
The Providence Journal
Boston designated hitter David Ortiz had the entire weekend series against Seattle and Monday’s scheduled off day as a restful hiatus intended to get the slumping slugger turned around. Regardless, manager Terry Francona is not certain where he will bring Ortiz back when the Red Sox face the Toronto Blue Jays tonight at Fenway Park.
Will he be in his traditional third spot in the batting order, where he has hit since 2005? Or will he be dropped in the order, perhaps switched with fellow lefty J.D. Drew, who bats fifth and took over Ortiz’s third spot on Friday and Saturday?
“I don’t know,” Francona said. “I want to talk to him. And I haven’t wanted to talk to him yet because I’ve wanted to give him some room.”
Ortiz, hitting .208 with no home runs and 15 RBIs, has been replaced by Jason Bay or Drew as the third hitter and Rocco Baldelli as the DH.
Ortiz, who has not spoken to reporters since Wednesday, has seemed somewhat peppier in the clubhouse the last few days. All told, his homer-less drought extends back 143 at-bats to last Sept. 22.