Hanley Ramirez boldly claimed that his left hand is fine after going 0-for-3 with a walk in the Dodgers’ loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. Then he claimed — equally boldly — that he wouldn’t speak up if anything were wrong with his hand, which was struck by a pitch last Wednesday in San Francisco. Ramirez is 1 for 17 since.
“It is what it is right now,” he said. “But I’m 100 percent.”
Ramirez went on to lament his timing, saying “I’ve got to get back on track.” On Tuesday, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly agreed.
“More than anything, Mac (hitting coach Mark McGwire) sees him every day. I see him every day. We know what’s going on.
“I feel like he’s healthy. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. That part I’m not worried about. I think he’s just a little bit off.”
Today could be a get-well game for Ramirez. He’s 3 for 5 with a home run and a walk in his career against Phillies starter A.J. Burnett.