Hanley Ramirez injured himself diving for a Miguel Tejada grounder last night and is considered day-to-day.
Hanley Ramirez hit two home runs Wednesday night in Florida's 14-2 victory against the Houston Astros, as the Marlins won their seventh straight to match a season high. But he left the game in the fifth inning with a left shoulder strain after diving for a grounder. Ramirez, who had arthoscopic surgery on the same shoulder in October, said he hopes to return today or Friday at the latest. "Hopefully not even one game," Ramirez said when asked if he might miss any action. "I'm going to be day to day, hour to hour. We'll see how I feel tomorrow when I come to the back." When he does return, the Marlins can only hope he's at full strength. "We'll see," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Everybody is a little banged up this time of year but there's nothing serious. If we have to give him a day to get him better we'll give him a day." Hopefully it is nothing and maybe it is, but Hanley has history of shoulder problems and the hurting shoulder bothered him in his final at bat. If the Marlins do the drastic and maybe intelligent move of shutting Hanley down for the rest of regular season, they still can make an historic run at the playoffs. However, it will make it that much more difficult. With Hanley out of the lineup, the defense will actually improve with Alfredo at short. But as much as I like Alfredo, there is no way he can replace Ramirez's offensive numbers. Maybe it is nothing, but it being on the shoulder he had surgery on in the offseason does cause some concern.