David Ortiz Hits 15-Day DL: How Loss Affects Red Sox

David Ortiz was placed on the DL (via ESPN) Wednesday after reports came out Tuesday saying that Big Papi would at least miss a couple of games with an Achilles injury.

Mauro Gomez was called up in Ortiz's place, but you have to wonder: How will this affect Boston?

Big Papi has been the heart and soul of the Red Sox for several years, but this year he has been that and so much more with his great hitting. Ortiz leads the team with a .316 average, 23 home runs and 58 RBI.

It had seemed that the Sox were about to get into a groove entering the second half with the return of players Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Carl Crawford.

Losing Ortiz is definitely a setback, and Boston is going to have to power through the next 15 days without their star.

Red Sox Nation should be happy that Crawford and Ellsbury came back when they did because, if Ortiz had gotten hurt with them still out, Boston would be in a world of trouble.

Crawford and Ellsbury are going to have to make a big impact in Papi's absence, and Adrian Gonzalez is going to have to capitalize on what seems to be an imminent power surge.

Gomez, Ortiz's replacement, has 20 home runs with a .317 average this season in Triple-A Pawtucket. If he can keep that kind of play going, the Red Sox should be able to survive without Big Papi.

Gomez will be able to play some DH, but he can also play third base and let Will Middlebrooks play DH in order to rest his troubling hamstring. Cody Ross or Daniel Nava could also play the DH position in Ortiz's stead.

Make no doubt, all of Red Sox Nation is going to miss Ortiz for the next couple of weeks, but this team should be able to hold it all together if Boston's offense can keep hitting the ball like they have been the past few days.