From the day he was signed in December, the Red Sox said they intended to use Mitch Moreland primarily as their first baseman against righthanded starters.
Hanley Ramirez would be the designated hitter against righthanders and play first base against lefties.
There was sound reasoning behind it. Moreland’s career OPS is 100 points higher against righthanders (.780) than lefthanders (.680). The Sox also wanted to use the DH slot to get at-bats for Chris Young, who had a .999 OPS against lefthanders in 2016.
Those well-considered plans have yet to come to fruition for different reasons.
Through 10 games, the Sox have faced only one lefthanded starter, Detroit’s Daniel Norris on April 9. Ramirez missed that game with the flu.
Moreland has started all 10 games at first base and Ramirez has been the DH in the six games he has played. Young has been getting regular at-bats in the outfield, starting eight games filling in for players either sick or injured.
Ramirez did not play first base in spring training because of a stiff right shoulder that hampered his throwing. He does not seem particularly eager to change that. Ramirez is comfortable as the DH and feels that is where he can be the most productive.
On Thursday, Ramirez was asked how his throwing was coming. “Um, why?’’ he said. “I mean I just got to hit, man. Right now, I think Mitch is doing a pretty good job . . . It’s coming along good. My main thing right now is just drive people in.’’
Before Friday’s 10-5 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager John Farrell said he was confident Ramirez still wanted to play first base.
“I think he does. I know for a fact he thrives in the DH slot, that’s probably his preference overall. But in conversations throughout the winter, once we acquired Mitch, to the conversations throughout spring training, he understands how our roster is built.’’
“He’s not boycotting it, but I know where his preference lies. But what’s best for our team, too, has him going to first base on occasion.’’
Ramirez started 133 games at first base last season and handled the position adequately. Once the Sox face more lefties, Ramirez will be needed there. The team also has 10 interleague road games this season and the DH will not be available.
Bradley progresses
For the first time since he strained his right knee last Saturday, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. did some running and took batting practice.
“Feels great,’’ said Bradley, who was wearing a brace on his knee,
Bradley is eligible to come off the disabled list on Thursday in Toronto and Farrell suggested that was possible.
“Wouldn’t rule it out at this point,’’ the manager said. “Particularly with his comments on how he feels coming out of the strength tests that he’s going through and the work they’re putting him though.’’
The tentative plan is for Bradley to take batting practice against David Price early next week.
Wright gets some advice
Tim Wakefield was at Fenway Park to appear on NESN’s pregame show. But he was out by the bullpen at 4 p.m. to watch Steven Wright throw.
Wright allowed eight runs on eight hits in 1⅓ innings against Baltimore on Wednesday. Friday was his first time back on the mound and Wakefield, a fellow knuckleball pitcher, was there to offer advice.
“He’ll help me out,’’ Wright said. “It wasn’t a mechanical issue the other night I don’t believe. The ball was spinning too much out of my hand.’’
When a knuckleball spins, it creates rotation and loses the darting action of the pitch. “That’s the knuckleball’s kryptonite, the spin,’’ Farrell said.
Farrell and pitching coach Carl Willis have checkpoints they remind Wright about. But Wakefield speaks from experience. “It’s invaluable,’’ Farrell said. “The fact you have [a knuckleballer] in house, it’s a great resource. You can empathize with that player more.’’
Doubled off
Moreland was 0 for 4, ending a streak of seven consecutive games with a double. He was hit by a pitch in his last plate appearance . . . Mookie Betts has not struck in 110 consecutive regular-season plate appearances, the longest streak in the majors since Juan Pierre went 147 plate appearances in 2004 . . . Rookie lefthander Robby Scott worked a scoreless ninth inning. He has not allowed a run in 12 career appearances covering 8⅔innings . . . At the request of the coaching staff, the Red Sox asked for Major League Baseball to review a scoring decision on Thursday that took a hit away from Andrew Benintendi in the eighth inning and charged an error to the Pirates. A decision is pending . . . The Trinity men’s squash team, which won its 16th national championship in February, was recognized on the field before the game. Coach Paul Assaiante threw out the first pitch . . . It was New Kids On The Block Night at Fenway, a nod to the boy band that came out of Boston in the mid 80s. Donnie Wahlberg was on hand and presented the game ball.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.
