On Top Without Manny, Dodgers Are Ready to Welcome Him Back

When the Dodgers lost Manny Ramirez, questions surfaced from coast to coast about how the team would be able to get by without its most valuable player.

Turns out everyone underestimated the other 24 guys.

"Most times in your life you are challenged with different things and how you react sets you on a path one way or the other," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told FanHouse.

"There were teams that were saying 'Now this guy is gone for 50 games, we're going to go right past L.A. We've been able to maintain almost the same lead."

The Dodgers were 6 1/2 games up in the NL West after Ramirez played his last game, and they'll be 7/12 up when Ramirez returns to the lineup Friday night in San Diego.

They had the best record in baseball, 21-8, when Ramirez was suspended. They still have the best record record in baseball, now 50-29.

In the immediate aftermath of Ramirez's suspension, Colletti said there were some uneasy moments, but the Dodgers quickly righted the ship.

"We went through a stretch and lost four of five (after the suspension) and the guys realized he wasn't coming in the room any time soon," Colletti said. "Lately we've struggled a little, but for the greatest portion of the games, it's been remarkable how they played and how they stayed with it. They learned they are good enough to win and good enough to compete. It's a team and not one guy."

That's not to say the Dodgers' offense didn't weaken without Ramirez. They were scoring 5.5 runs per game with an .802 OPS in the first 29 games. In the 50 games he was suspended, they scored 4.4 runs and had a .718 OPS.

The real difference isn't as glaring as that, though. The season-opening hot streak was probably not sustainable, so they'd have likely seen a drop in production, even with Ramirez.

The guys who were supposed to be the (relatively) big sticks in the middle of the order -- Andre Ethier, James Loney and Matt Kemp -- have all performed at just about the levels you'd expect for them.

Perhaps the key to the Dodgers continued production, without Ramirez, is that the players at either end of the order Juan Pierre (.332), Orlando Hudson (.294) and Casey Blake (.286, 11 homers, 48 RBI) have all performed well above expectations.

Now, they are going to get their MVP-caliber cleanup hitter back. How long it takes him be that hitter remains to be seen.

In the past eight weeks he's taken batting practice and played five rehab games (going 3-for-10, with a homer). That's it.

"I don't expect him to come back as if he's been active for the last 50 games," Colletti said. "I don't think that's fair. I think there will be some period of time getting his legs back and timing back."

Will Ramirez be a different person off the field? Ramirez hasn't made any extended remarks to the media since he's been suspended, but the company line is that he's expressed remorse to the organization for what he did.

"I think he was embarassed by the whole episode," Colletti said. "He loves to play. When you take away the chance to play for 50 games and eveyrbody knows you tested positive, that's one of those things in life that you don't want to have to deal with you, but you have to deal with."

Latest Manny Ramirez Images

FILE - In this April 19, 2009, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez connects for a single in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles. Ramirez returns to the Dodgers' lineup Friday, July 3, after a 50-game drug suspension, (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, File)

Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez connects on a leadoff single in the fifth inning during a rehabilitation stint with the Class-A California League Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, as they visit the Lake Elsinore Storm in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

LAKE ELSINORE, CA - JUNE 27: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Inland Empire 66ers waits on deck against the Lake Elsinore Storm on June 27, 2009 at the Lake Elsinore Diamond in Lake Elsinore, California. Ramirez is preparing for hsi return to the Los Angeles Dodgers after a 50 game suspension. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Ramirez

Getty Images

LAKE ELSINORE, CA - JUNE 27: Manny Ramirez #99 of the Inland Empire 66ers hits a single to lead off the fifth inning against the Lake Elsinore Storm on June 27, 2009 at the Lake Elsinore Diamond in Lake Elsinore, California. Ramirez is preparing for hsi return to the Los Angeles Dodgers after a 50 game suspension. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Ramirez

Getty Images

After being forced out at first to end the fifth inning, Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez takes off his helmet, leaves the field and the stadium during a rehabilitation stint with the Class-A California League Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, as they visit the Lake Elsinore Storm in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Starting from first and passing second, Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez runs back to first but is forced out on a fifth inning long fly to center field during a rehabilitation stint with the Class-A California League Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, as they visit the Lake Elsinore Storm in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

The other interesting thing to watch will be how the fans respond to Ramirez. If the adulation he got during minor-league stops in Albuquerque and San Bernardino are any indication, fans are ready to welcome him back. Of course, those were primarily Dodger fans.

On Friday night Ramirez will be in San Diego, a place second only to San Francisco in terms of Dodger hatred. Between the fans and an increased media contingent, it could be a bit of a circus.

Manager Joe Torre told reporters Wednesday: "We're ready for it."