David Ortiz

[sjguzin]

Looks like he's starting to take light batting practice. Anyone have a guess when he's due back? Been thinking about trading for him.

[Matthias]

Sounds like he's taking it slow; I wouldn't expect until after the ASB at the absolute earliest.

The Sox accelerated Ortiz's schedule a bit; he took soft toss each of the last two days. "I never thought I was going to have such a hard time hitting soft toss," Ortiz said, "but at the end, I took like 25 swings, and I started catching up."

Ortiz said he hopes he might be able to step into the cage next week.

"It's been hard for me since Day 1," said Ortiz, who has not played since May 31. "I'm not used to this.

"Every day I feel better. Every day I discover something new, but in a good way, you know what I mean? My problem might be that because I swing so hard, I've got to be 100 percent to play, Otherwise, I can have a setback and I don't think this team needs that."

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/r ... ra/?page=2

[tah161]

My best guess would be a couple weeks after the all-star break.

[Marino's Isotoners]

David Ortiz took some swings in the batting cage before Monday night's game against Minnesota. He hit a home run to right field on his first swing. He did the normal five rounds with about seven swings in the first few rounds and then the swings decreased in the later rounds.

Masterson sent down to become reliever; Ortiz takes BP

[RedSoxNation04]

Very good news for the Sox and all of us Big Papi owners. Take your time and come back healthy Big Papi!

[sweeper193]

Just hearing that Ortiz was able to swing with full power and hit 6 homers in BP really makes him an interesting trade target.. I'm curious when he comes back how the Sox's batting order will look, especially with JD Drew hitting so well

[Chicago RedSox]

Just hearing that Ortiz was able to swing with full power and hit 6 homers in BP really makes him an interesting trade target.. I'm curious when he comes back how the Sox's batting order will look, especially with JD Drew hitting so well

Would they dare push Manny back to the 5 spot?

[kid sox]

Just hearing that Ortiz was able to swing with full power and hit 6 homers in BP really makes him an interesting trade target.. I'm curious when he comes back how the Sox's batting order will look, especially with JD Drew hitting so well

Certainly this is positive news but I've also read where Ortiz was quoted as saying he doesn't expect to be 100% for the rest of the season. There is still no timetable for his return and there is the very real possibilty he could have a setback and have to shut it down for the rest of the season. If I were a Ortiz owner, I would take any reasonable offer.

Tread carefully.

[sjguzin]

I ended up trading for Ortiz. I gave up Zack Grienke & Casey Kotchman for D. Ortiz & Andrew Miller. I currently have Slowey for C. Buchholz, so I will then drop Miller and keep Slowey when Buchholz is called up. Just couldn't pass on the BIG PAPPI.

[RedSoxNation04]

Just hearing that Ortiz was able to swing with full power and hit 6 homers in BP really makes him an interesting trade target.. I'm curious when he comes back how the Sox's batting order will look, especially with JD Drew hitting so well

Would they dare push Manny back to the 5 spot?

Who knows at this point, but I would imagine Papi goes back into the three hole with Manny batting 4th and JD batting 5th. With JD in the 5 spot, you then go L, R, L, R Papi through Lowell. Of course, you also have to consider Youk. Lot of decisions to be made, but let's see him get healthy first.