When the Dodgers play at San Diego tonight, Manny Ramirez will return to the lineup and the circus will start in their clubhouse.
Ramirez will be in the lineup for the first time since being hit with a 50-game suspension for violating MLB’s Drug Policy. He reportedly took hCG, a woman’s fertility drug taken by steroid users to restart testosterone production; but the Dodgers just want his production at the plate.
“We’re looking forward to having Manny back. It will help everybody else. It’s not until you lose somebody that you realize there’s no safety net,” Joe Torre said Wednesday. “This ballclub, they feel pretty good about themselves. They’re in a frustrated state right now, though.”
Frustrated and futile. Yes, the NL West-leading Dodgers went 21-8 while averaging 5.55 runs with their star and a solid 29-21 and 4.40 runs without him. But they scored just five runs in their last three-game set with Colorado, and have mustered a measly eight runs in their last five games.
Granted, that’s not as bad as the Mets, who get a first-hand look at the Ramirez-led Dodgers in a three-game set that starts Tuesday. But adding arguably the NL’s best hitter not named Pujols — Ramirez was hitting .348 and slugging .641 — will be a huge boost to a talented Dodgers team that has started to hit a funk.
“We just have to put him out there and see what we have to do to help him,” said Torre, who has said he expects Ramirez to take until the All-Star break to shake off the rust of inactivity. “I think it’ll be a week until he’ll be able to get his feet on the ground.”
In the midst of his suspension, Ramirez was permitted to work out at Dodgers facilities and with Dodgers coach Manny Mota. He also was allowed to play five rehab games, going 3-for-10 with a homer. Every game was a standing-room-only sellout.
For his part, Ramirez — making $25 million this year — has said precious little during his suspension. He declined interview requests at his final rehab game by saying “No thank you. Go to YouTube.” Ah, just Manny being Manny.