Kevin Youkilis Questionable to Return During Regular Season, Adrian Gonzalez Forced to Play Through Calf Pain

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Sep 20, 2011

Kevin Youkilis Questionable to Return During Regular Season, Adrian Gonzalez Forced to Play Through Calf Pain So much of the Red Sox' success this season was made possible by Kevin Youkilis' ability to seamlessly move from first base to third base, opening the door for the acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez.

Both of those guys are limping to the finish line, with Youkilis still uncertain to return during the regular season.

"He's pretty sore," manager Terry Francona said of Youkilis. "Again, we weren't going to do baseball activities for awhile anyway. And we'll continue to do some of the core work and things like that and maybe check him later on this week, but pretty sore."

So, skipper, will we see him before the playoffs begin (if they ever do for this team)?

"We don't know. I guess anything's possible," Francona said. "Like I just said, try to let that play itself out and see how he does maybe in a few days. It's bothering him. The idea is if he could go on the field and be productive, he'd do it, but that was becoming more difficult."

Youkilis has been dealing with bursitis in his left hip and a sports hernia that will require surgery in the offseason. He has missed the last six games.

As for Gonzalez, there were first rumblings that his surgically repaired right shoulder had been bothering him, and now it's clear to the naked eye that his left calf is bothering him. As Francona points out, Gonzalez is not meant to be racing around the bases, but that is an inevitable act.

The All-Star first baseman is going to have to play through the pain, Francona said.

"I guess the hope is that he can manage it while still being productive," the manager said. "I hope it gets better. It already did improve a little today, so maybe he's a quick healer."

Gonzalez has slumped along with most of the team in September, but he was 5-for-7 in Monday's doubleheader against Baltimore.

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