Ramirez ready to return, but it's not so simple

SAN FRANCISCO -- Brewers cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez is physically ready to return from the disabled list to serve as the team's designated hitter on Friday night in Seattle, but the team's other injury issues appear to have pushed back that plan.

The Brewers on Thursday afternoon recalled second baseman Scooter Gennett from Triple-A Nashville to replace Rickie Weeks, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. For the moment, it was the team's only roster move.

"We'll see," manager Ron Roenicke said when asked about Ramirez. "I'm not saying he's going to miss [the entire Seattle series], but right now we're not activating him tomorrow."

The good news on Ramirez, Roenicke said earlier in the day, was that "he's doing good. He ran the bases early yesterday, his [batting practice] was good. He feels like he's ready to go. Whether that's [Friday], whether that's Tuesday [in Texas], whether that's Saturday or Sunday, I don't know. But he's ready to go."

The Brewers have missed Ramirez's production all season because of a sprained left knee originally suffered in Spring Training. He returned to action after two weeks, but hurt the knee again in the Brewers' fifth regular-season game and was placed on the disabled list for the first time.

After batting .271 and slugging .414 (his lowest since 2002) in 54 games, Ramirez returned to the DL before the All-Star break.

The original plan was to have Ramirez serve as the DH for Friday's Interleague series opener before starting at first base on Saturday.

"I'm good to go," Ramirez said. "We don't have much time left, and I want to play before I go home. Hopefully we finish strong. [It is important] to every player. You don't want to go home hurt or think that you're hurt. You want to leave with some positives, at least playing, then rehab in the offseason and prepare for Spring Training."

He said he plans to spend the offseason "working my lower half better than I used to. I have to get my knee really healthy for next year."