Finally, A Bat On The Left Side Of The Infield

Welcome back, Hanley Ramirez:

LOS ANGELES -- Hanley Ramirez worked out on the field at Dodger Stadium on Monday afternoon and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly did not rule out the possibility of activating the shortstop from the disabled list.

After two Minor League rehab games with Class A Rancho Cucamonga over the weekend, Ramirez said Monday he was ready to join the Dodgers.

"I just want to be in there," said Ramirez, who had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb March 22. "I don't want to wait any longer. I'm a gamer. I think that I can play."

Ramirez went 3-for-6 with a double and three RBIs in two rehab games and played 12 innings at shortstop. He took batting practice, played catch and fielded ground balls before Monday's game against the Rockies.

"He's going to work out, we'll see how he does," Mattingly said. "We'll make sure he came out those two games [OK] and then just make a decision. He could stay here and play. If we make a decision to activate him, then I might play him [Monday]."

Clayton Kershaw was not with the team Monday. The left-hander is dealing with a personal issue. The club still expects Kershaw to start on Friday against the Giants.

The Dodgers could place Kershaw on the bereavement list, which would open a roster spot for Ramirez. If Kershaw was placed on the bereavement list, he would be eligible to return in time to start Friday in San Francisco.

And as SoSG Orel linked earlier this evening, that's exactly what happened today, so here comes Hanley.

The alternatives have been so, so bad. Juan Uribe, batting .214; Justin Sellers, .213; Jerry Hairston, .167; Luis Cruz, .098--none of these greater than two XBH, and Cruz has exactly zero XBH and only five hits all season. Nick Punto hasn't been too bad as a spot fill-in, I admit. But Ramirez' return can't come soon enough, to the lineup at least (apparently, Ramirez' swing is not in question; it's his fielding, and specifically his throwing, which has been impacted by the sore thumb).

We'll see if we get a PH appearance tonight, and possibly a start tomorrow (on his bobblehead night!); according to Mark Saxon of ESPN.com, Ramirez is in the clubhouse but not expected to join the team on the field tonight. "I see you," indeed.

photo: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images