CHICAGO -- Better late than never, the Red Sox are going to find out if Hanley Ramirez can play first base.
Ramirez, who has been the worst defender in the majors this season as attempts to transition to left field from his natural shortstop, borrowed a first baseman's mitt from interim manager Torey Lovullo and went through a 15-minute tutorial -- "a chalk talk," infield coach Brian Butterfield called it -- about 90 minutes before batting practice here Tuesday. The lessons are expected to continue over the next few weeks, and according to Ramirez and Lovullo, there's a possibility the Red Sox' position-less slugger will play first base in a game before the end of the season.