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Rockies to get taste of Manny Mania

Ramirez unites dysfunctional family: Dodger Nation

By Gerry Fraley, Special to the Rocky

Published August 18, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.

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After a falling-out in Boston, Manny Ramirez has become the all-conquering hero who can do no wrong in L.A.

Photo by Ric Francis/Associated Press

After a falling-out in Boston, Manny Ramirez has become the all-conquering hero who can do no wrong in L.A.

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The Rockies face a never-before-seen opponent tonight at Dodger Stadium.

Manny Ramirez as a Los Angeles Dodger.

The slugging left fielder rates top billing over the team. Manny-mania runs wild in Hollywood.

"Having him with us is electrifying," outfielder Matt Kemp said.

On July 31, the Dodgers shook up the National League West by acquiring the slugging Ramirez from Boston. With that, a remarkable transformation took place.

With the Red Sox, Ramirez was the villain who quit on his team in a snit over his contract and forced the club to trade him. In a news conference after the deal, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said: "We had a meeting with 25 players who felt like a team. We haven't felt like that for a week."

Said Ramirez: "I don't care what they say. I wish everybody the best. That's it."

With the Dodgers, Ramirez is the all-conquering hero who can do no wrong.

Teammates embrace him as playoff chances increase. Fans clamor for fake Ramirez-style dreadlocks and chant his name when he reaches the on-deck circle. Attendance and television ratings climb.

Ramirez is the Dodgers' rallying point, the biggest thing to hit this club since left-hander Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

"I feel like I'm on vacation," Ramirez said. "This has never happened to me in my whole career. I'm like, 'Wow.' "

A look at how life with "Manny being Manny" has affected all concerned:

The team

The Dodgers played 108 games before Ramirez arrived. In that span, their left fielders produced two homers. Ramirez doubled that total in his first six games with the club and is batting .429 with six home runs and 21 RBI since his move to L.A.

Pre-Manny, the Dodgers averaged 4.17 runs a game and were a .500 team. In 16 games with Ramirez, the Dodgers have averaged 4.81 runs a game and are 10-6 to tie Arizona for the National League West lead.

"Maybe people aren't expecting a lot from me because I'm with a new team and in a new league," a grinning Ramirez said.

In truth, the Dodgers need Ramirez to carry the offense.

The Dodgers have lacked both power and savvy on offense. They are headed to a bottom-three finish in the National League for home runs for the third consecutive season. Their inexperienced hitters don't crank out the grinding at-bats that marked the New York Yankees during 12 seasons with Joe Torre as manager.

Torre, now the Dodgers manager, suggested the pressure to produce might have overwhelmed some of the young players. Ramirez lifted that weight. He moved into the cleanup spot, allowing the others to bat in spots where they can relax and be more comfortable.

"Everybody, personalitywise, seems to be in a better place because he is such a threat," Torre said. "When you have young players, you want them to be able to look around and have people they can lean on. Manny is one of those guys."

According to Torre, the key to the lineup is getting runners on base ahead of Ramirez. If the Dodgers do that, Torre said, opponents will be forced to pitch to Ramirez no matter who bats behind him.

All-Star catcher Russell Martin was the first No. 3 hitter but could not handle the job. After Martin went 5-for-22 in his first five games with Ramirez, Torre put veteran Jeff Kent in that spot. Kent is batting .465 with nine RBI in 11 games as the No. 3 hitter.

The manager

This is Torre's 27th season as a major league manager. In that time, he has never faced a question like this:

How to keep Ramirez motivated?

"Do any of us know what motivates him?" Torre asked. "Whatever his motivation was, he scared the heck out of me when he played against me because of his ability. That's what I hope happens here."

The other managers - Mike Hargrove and Charlie Manuel with Cleveland; and Jimy Williams, Joe Kerrigan, Grady Little and Terry Francona with Boston - were similarly hopeful.

"Manny being Manny," whether it was absent-minded baserunning or coming out of the lineup, drove them to the point of distraction.

Torre said he will follow what has worked. He trusts Ramirez and expects that faith to be reciprocated.

"I trust a lot of people," Torre said. "If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. It's not going to keep me from going forward. It's the only way I can do my job. I can't be honest and open with somebody unless I trust them."

So far, it has been an extended honeymoon.

Ramirez has been on his best behavior but not without his usual quirks. When Ramirez joined the Dodgers, Torre said it would be nice to get rid of the dreadlocks. Ramirez said he would comply but, so far, has trimmed only enough to reveal the name on the back of his jersey.

The franchise

The Dodgers have won only one playoff game since 1988 and have lost prominence within a market they once dominated. The NBA's Lakers and Southern Cal football are the big-ticket items in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers are no longer even the top baseball franchise in the area. The Los Angeles Angels, who play in what Angelenos consider Mayberry - Anaheim - have become a model franchise. They won the World Series in 2002, have regularly been to the playoffs since then and have the best record in the majors this season.

The Dodgers desperately needed a star-quality player with an larger- than-life image. They got that in Ramirez.

Before Ramirez, the Dodgers had an average home attendance of 45,069. In 10 home games with Ramirez, the Dodgers have had an average attendance of 50,538. The ratings for local telecasts and radio broadcasts have hit all-time highs, the club said. "The intensity of the crowd has been heightened," Martin said. "It's more exciting at the stadium. Manny changes the complexion of our team. He has fun playing the game. People enjoy that. We enjoy having that feeling."

The era of good feelings could put the Dodgers in a sticky situation.

Ramirez will become a free agent after the season. His agent, Scott Boras, has proven it takes only one interested team for a free agent to have his demands met.

What if Ramirez helps the Dodgers win the West? What if the Dodgers have a long playoff run, maybe even reach the World Series?

Manny-mania will sweep the city, putting pressure on the Dodgers to re-sign Ramirez.

The player

Ramirez's offensive showing in a new league surprises no one. Scouts consider him an elite hitter.

The emergence of a jovial and engaged Ramirez was unexpected.

Ramirez has been on his best behavior, smiling and joking with teammates and doing everything asked of him. He immediately took slumping outfielder Andruw Jones under his wing in an attempt to rouse him.

Ramirez insisted, "I want to be a good example." He never misses a chance to express his love for all things Dodger.

"I want to stay here," Ramirez said. "I like the atmosphere. The guys are great. But, to be honest, I don't know where I'm going to be."

To waive his no-trade clause, Ramirez had two option years, at $20 million annually, voided. Ramirez and Boras believe they can do better on the open market.

It behooves Ramirez to be a model player. The market for 36-year-old power hitters with baggage is limited.

"I don't think about that," Ramirez said. "How much longer am I going to play? I'm almost at the end of my career. I've already made my money."

There's time for one more big score. That brought Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers together.

Elite company

Manny Ramirez ranks among the elite power hitters of this century. A look at the leaders in the major power categories since Opening Day 2000 going into Monday:

* Home runs Alex Rodriguez 398

Jim Thome 336

Manny Ramirez 318

Barry Bonds 317

Carlos Delgado 307

Albert Pujols 307

RBI Alex Rodriguez 1,117

Manny Ramirez 1,011

Carlos Delgado 985

Vladimir Guerrero 969

Miguel Tejada 947

* Slugging percentage Barry Bonds .724

Albert Pujols .620

Manny Ramirez .601

Alex Rodriguez .594

Todd Helton .579

Note: Minimum of 2,500 at-bats. Postseason power

If the Dodgers reach the postseason, they can expect long balls from Manny Ramirez. A look at the all-time leaders in postseason homers:

Player AB HR

Manny Ramirez 353 24

Bernie Williams 465 22

Reggie Jackson 281 18

Mickey Mantle 230 18

Derek Jeter 495 17

Jim Thome 188 17

Babe Ruth 129 15

Cleaning up

A look at the output from Manny Ramirez in the No. 4 spot and that of all other cleanup hitters used by the Dodgers this season:

Player Avg. AB HR RBI SLG

Manny Ramirez .429 59 6 21 .780

The others .267 393 14 63 .417

Comments

  • August 18, 2008

    2:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dgocoman writes:

    Just wait. Manny will wear out his welcome in LA. It cracks me up how we as a society criticize a player and then when he is on our team, we love him. There is a pattern of behavior with Manny and it WILL appear at some point before the season is over.

  • August 18, 2008

    4:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SDcat writes:

    "The Rockies face a never-before-seen opponent tonight at Dodger Stadium." UM....I'm confused, didn't we face Manny during the World Series? We're familiar with Manny and his annoying ways. Nothing to be concerned with, we have our own superstar in Matt Holliday....

  • August 18, 2008

    4:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    MAN-RAM MAN-RAM MAN-RAM. Okay now go buy your tickets.

    This brainwashing was brought to you by The Brothers Monfort.

  • August 18, 2008

    5:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SDcat writes:

    Squatch...what does that even mean?

  • August 18, 2008

    7:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    And to top it off, they just got Maddux. Just the kind of move that will NEVER be brought to you by The Brothers Monfort.

  • August 18, 2008

    9:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SDcat writes:

    Maddux has always said he only wants to stay on the West Coast and hates pitching in Denver...so yeah I guess we should have pursued him...

  • August 18, 2008

    10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    Easy SDcat, I know, last place is a tough spot for your club to be. We know that well here. Don't read too much into what I wrote. We already got our own version of an overpriced, aging veteran on his last leg; but only not as good...ever. All I'm saying is we have never really gone the extra step. What if it was the Rox who just pulled into a tie for 1st? Do we stand pat, or do we go get somebody else? Monty...? That's right, we stand pat. It's a pattern of basically, non-events that have been happening (or not happening) here for some time now.

  • August 18, 2008

    10:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SDcat writes:

    hey Arvada_Mark, I'm a Rockies fan :) through and through. I just happen to live in San Diego, but I don't really root for the Padres. Only as a default to advance the Rockies, (ie against the Dbacks..) My point was that going after Maddux would have been useless. I for one think it was best we didn't. I also think its possible that the Rox would be required to give up too much toward the future for a veteran. And lets face it, Colorado is peculiar place to pitch. I'm glad to see that we're giving De La Rosa another shot. Kid's got some mad skills, if he can get his emotions in check. I think one of our biggest Hurdles has been Hurdle not yanking the pitcher before he's given up 6 runs. Although of late he's been better about that.... Its tricky to be close to first but not quite. Who would you give up to get a veteran?

  • August 19, 2008

    6:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hambone writes:

    I just watched Maddux pitch a freakin' gem last week here at Coors. He has a career record of something like 8-2 in Colorado. I agree that he only wanted to pitch in LA, but I wish The Rocks would have placed a waiver claim and tried to convince him to pitch here. Much better than the offensive lineman they got from the twins.

  • August 19, 2008

    5:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    1somelikeithot writes:

    Aahh, who cares about Manny, he's such a clown. Come to think of it, alot of the Dodger fans will look like clowns wearing those stupid dredlock caps, LOL!!!