Editor's Note: Each week, ESPN analyst Tom Candiotti will write a scouting report on a hitter or hitters in an important weekend series. The following is the former knuckleballer's book on Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez as he gets set to face the New York Yankees in a four-game weekend series at Fenway Park.

	Manny Ramirez is off to a slow start, hitting .174 after seven games.

Strengths
Ramirez hits great to all fields just like all the great hitters in baseball. He is a very intelligent hitter who is not afraid to hit deep in the count. He recognizes the opposing pitcher's best pitch and will look for it.

He has uncanny pitch recognition. Off right-handed pitchers, he will try to hit the hard stuff to right-center field and pull the off-speed stuff. He keeps the bat in the zone on a level plane, which is why he hits so many line drives.

I use to watch Manny hit nothing but curveballs in the batting cage -- hundreds of them. He works on that religiously. Due to his hard work, he has become a great breaking-ball hitter.

Weaknesses
His weaknesses are hard to find. However, I have seen Manny have problems with hard stuff down and in. I saw Brad Radke handle him one game last year by attacking Manny there with his sinker and his changeup.

The best breaking balls to throw him (if you have to) is a slower curve with a lot of downward break to it. Throwing a slider to Manny is flirting with danger.

Best approach
Originally, Roger Clemens was scheduled to face the Red Sox on Friday, but he had to start Thursday on three days' rest when Orlando Hernandez was a late scratch with a stiff neck. That means Manny will likely face El Duque on Friday (if he's unable to pitch expect either lefty Ted Lilly or righty Adrian Hernandez to make the start), David Wells on Saturday, Mike Mussina on Sunday and Andy Pettitte on Monday.

The Yankee pitchers will need to establish their fastballs both inside and away with Manny early in the game and then attack him with offspeed stuff if they don't have their "A" fastballs. If Manny bats with runners on base, the best bet will be to stay away from him with fastballs off the plate and throw a lot of breaking pitches.

Overall
Manny will be patient against the Yankees. He will look inside early in the count. If he gets behind in the count, he will look for offspeed pitches he can drive. Manny is not afraid to take walks, so it is a good bet he will see a lot of pitches in each at-bat.

ESPN baseball analyst Tom Candiotti won 151 games in 16 major-league seasons.