it's now 6 games :=) Sorry Red Sox fans if i jinxed it.... I didn't know it was coming shirish dai seems to be busy last couple days... so I do the honor ;) Strain sidelines Manny: Ramirez says he may miss about 10 games By Michael Silverman / Red Sox Notebook Boston Herald Sports Reporter Thursday, August 30, 2007 - Updated: 04:34 AM EST NEW YORK - A left oblique strain is a worrisome injury for any hitter, but when Manny Ramirez [stats] has one, it qualifies as a significant injury as well. “I don’t think it’s going to be a couple of days, it’s more likely to be multiple days” that Ramirez will miss, manager Terry Francona said after last night’s 4-3 loss at Yankee Stadium. Ramirez told NESN before last night’s game that he thought he would miss approximately 10 games with the injury, and he also told The Associated Press that he guessed it would be around a week. The injury forced him out of Tuesday night’s series opener after he swung for a single in the sixth inning. The Red Sox [team stats] cannot say yet when Ramirez will return to action, but with rosters expanding on Sept. 1, the team will not need to disable Ramirez. “He’s one of our big players in this lineup. It’s definitely a concern, but we can’t worry about it,” said first baseman Kevin Youkilis [stats]. “We have to go out there and play our games.” Ex-Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon, a left-handed hitter, missed 22 games two seasons ago with a left oblique injury. Dr. Larry Ronan, the team doctor on call, oversaw the examination of Ramirez yesterday afternoon. The team labeled the injury a “strain in the area of Ramirez’ left oblique, which he has been playing with for awhile and that he exacerbated on a swing. He is day to day, and continues to receive treatment.” The oblique is located on the side, roughly above the belly button and below the pectoral muscles. On Tuesday night the Red Sox said that Ramirez was removed due to back spasms. An oblique injury hadn’t been mentioned until yesterday afternoon. Ramirez was in a jovial mood before last night’s game, and moved with no discernible stiffness. As he was walking through the clubhouse with a mouthful of food, Ramirez was asked how his back was. (This was before news about the oblique injury was delivered.) He gave a smile and a thumbs up. He was then asked if he thought it was an injury that would keep him out for a couple of days. Still moving and smiling, Ramirez hummed, “Hmmm-mmm,” in the affirmative. Before the oblique injury was mentioned, Francona said, “(Ramirez) showed up early today. He was pretty sore but he was not worse than he was yesterday.” Third baseman Mike Lowell [stats], batting .500 over his previous 10 games, hit fourth last night, with Eric Hinske subbing for Ramirez in left field. Hinske batted ninth.