Red Sox slugger Ortiz gets cast removed

Jun 17, 2008 - 12:39 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz had his cast removed from his left wrist on Monday.

The fact that it was replaced with a removal splint was an encouraging sign to manager Terry Francona.

"It's a very good (sign), because they weren't going to (remove the cast) until he was pain free. I think that's a real good sign," Francona said before the Red Sox faced the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday in the first contest of a three-game series.

"Once he gets that removable splint, he can take that thing off, he can do his work. He can do range of motion. That's great. I don't think they would really take him out of the cast and keep him out of the cast unless he is pain free."

Ortiz, 32, injured his wrist while swinging at a pitch during the ninth inning of a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on May 31.

The four-time All-Star was batting .252 with team highs of 13 home runs and 43 RBI this season prior to being injured.

Francona, however, balked at naming a timetable for Ortiz's return.

"Just like everything else, it goes on how he feels," Francona said. "Not just our estimated time of arrival."