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Mazz: Red Sox Are Better Off Without Hanley Ramirez

BOSTON (CBS) -- When Hanley Ramirez took a line drive off the left wrist while running the bases last week, it seemed to be yet another stroke of misfortune for a disappointing, underachieving Red Sox team.

Ramirez, who leads the Red Sox in homers and RBIs, has not played since that game last Wednesday. In his absence, the Red Sox have gone 3-2, winning a series in Tampa over the weekend and starting out their series in Toronto with a win on Monday night.

Are the Red Sox actually playing better baseball without their big-money, superstar left fielder? Tony Massarotti made the case.

"I like the look of the team on the field," Mazz said. "Dare I say that they're playing baseball, and they're not playing softball anymore?"

During Ramirez's absence, De Aza has hit .429 with a double, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBIs. He's also played solid defense in left field, something Ramirez has simply not been able to do. Though it's just one position, the impact has been clear.

"I like De Aza in left, in terms of the energy he gives them," Mazz said. "At least when a ball is hit into the corner in the second inning of a game, he runs after it. He doesn't walk or jog. Watch the replays -- he runs! He chases the ball and actually tries to prevent a runner from scoring."

Specifically on Monday night, De Aza's presence was noticeable.

"There were three plays that Hanley Ramirez would not have made, because he wouldn't have tried," Mazz said, noting that Gordon Edes wrote about the very topic. "[They were] routine for a major league left fielder, but not routine for Hanley, because we know he's a dog. ... All of those, those are plays where all they require is for you to run. That's all they require. They don't require any unique or elite defensive skill. All they require is for you to hustle and go get it."

So, what should the Red Sox do with their $22 million per year player?

"Leave him on the bench," Mazz said. "I don't want Hanley and Mike Napoli in the lineup at the same time. I've come to that conclusion. One of them's gotta sit. ... To me, they are better with Hanley on the bench. They play real baseball."

Mazz added that with Ramirez's MRI coming back clean but the left fielder still easing back in to baseball activity, the Red Sox have an opportunity.

"Put him on the DL. Come up with some phantom injury," Mazz said.

As for the recovery plan: "Slow it down. Give him more time. In fact, you know what? I would be prudent about it. Put him on the DL. 'We want to make sure he's healthy.' Put him on the DL! Don't bring him back! You're better off without him!

"I mean that. ... Keep him out of there. He's a bum. Good God, he doesn't try. Keep him out. Try to win 4-3, 3-2, 5-4. Because you're not hitting even when he's in the lineup."

In case it wasn't clear: "He infects the team. He infects the team. Hanley does. He infects. The team. He's like a fungus, for crying out loud. He spreads throughout the locker room, and there's just this malaise that comes with a guy like that."

Felger chimed in: "I think he's affected the team more in three months than I ever felt Manny Ramirez did in eight years."

And for good measure, Mazz added: "He's lazy. And it just brings the energy level of everybody down. You watch them when he's not on the field, and they actually look like they're trying. It is so refreshing to watch them play when he's not in the lineup."

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