Physics2D.Raycast producing bizarre results.

This problem is driving me bananas!

I have a 2d scroller. The player has a script that has the following code in Update():

 RaycastHit2D hit = Physics2D.Raycast (new Vector2(-23f, 5.9f), Vector.down, 10f, layer);
 
 if (hit != null) {
      Debug.Log(hit.distance);
 } else Debug.Log("no luck");

The "layer" is set to ground, which is rotated around z-axis. Turns out that hit is null unless the player walks over position.x = -23. I have no idea why the player actually has to walk through the Ray for it to work. Why doesn't it just produce the ray at the origin I specified regardless of where the player is??

I read through the manual a thousand times but I can't figure it out. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!