Big Papi Still Bothered By Injury

Davis Ortiz has yet to appear in a spring training game for the Red Sox as he continues to rehab his achilles tendon that was injured last July.At the start of spring training Manager John Farrell expressed confidence that Ortiz would be ready for opening day, but the Sox DH is sounding less optimistic. Big Papi expressed frustration at how long it is taking to get back to 100 percent but said while the achillies is heald, he is now bothered by some calcification that has formed behind it.

Ortiz did run the bases for the second time on Saturday with some success. Farrell has said the key is keeping Ortiz loose once he warms up. When asked if he thought opening day was realistic, Ortiz said  “We’re trying. I want to be ready, but injuries are injuries. You want to be back the next day, but it doesn’t work that way. I want to be sure that when I get back, it’s for the rest of the season,” he said. “I don’t want it to be one week on, two weeks off. That’s why we’ve been smart about how we’re approaching things, so when I come back and play, I’m going to get in the lineup and stay there.”