LOS ANGELES -- Hanley Ramirez needed no words. He looked at media members wanting to talk to him hours before the Dodgers were going to attempt to sweep the Rockies and pointed to the lineup card to the left of his locker.
Ramirez pointed at his name which was listed in the No. 2 spot in Don Mattingly's lineup Wednesday.
Just hours removed from leaving the Dodgers' 4-2 win over the Rockies with a right ring finger contusion, Ramirez appeared to be ready to go.
However upon opening up about the injury, he indicated that it wasn't that cut and dry.
Ramirez is optimistic he'll be able to play Wednesday night but says he will have to go through batting practice and throwing prior to the game to make sure. The possibility of him being scratched is very much an option.
"Unfortunately yeah because it's sore but I don't want to put negative stuff in my mind," Ramirez said. "Right now I'm playing and trying to do my routine like a regular day."
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Dodgers manager Don Mattingly offered Ramirez the day off but the Dodgers shortstop would hear none of it.
Mattingly, however, isn't sure his original plan won't be the result once first pitch is thrown.
Even if Ramirez is unable to play Wednesday night, Mattingly is encouraged by his progress in such a short period of time.
"I think just the fact that he comes in feeling good enough that he thinks he can play is good news for us but Iâm not real sure if he's going to make it today," Mattingly said. "We'll see if he can throw and hit and all of that kind of stuff. I'd rather do it this way than take him out and have to put him back in so weâll see."
