This Doesn't Look Good

The Red Sox have officially shut down David Ortiz for 5-7 days, due to pain he is experiencing in both heels.

He tore his right Achilles tendon last July and that ended his season. An MRI he just had confirmed he had inflammation in both heels, but the one in his right heel was related to his intense offseason workout, and not the Achilles injury.

His status for Opening Day, just three weeks away, is right now uncertain. He could very well open the 2013 season on the Disabled List. The Red Sox placed righty reliever Craig Breslow on the DL to open the season with shoulder problems last week.

If Papi opens the year on the DL, the Sox will have to make a decision who will be the DH. Mike Napoli would seem the logical choice, or perhaps Mauro Gomez. I guess we'll have a better idea where we stand after Ortiz rests for a week.

Fortunately, the news on Stephen Drew is better, as he suffered a concussion after getting hit in the head with a pitch last Thursday and rested the last three days. He hasn't been cleared by team doctors yet, but he could be seeing action by the end of the week. The Red Sox aren't going to rush him back.

And congratulations to the USA on their win over Canada in the WBC tournament yesterday, as they scored three in the 8th inning and four more in the ninth for a 9-4 win. They now advance to the double-elimination round, and will face Puerto Rico in the first game in Miami on Tuesday night.