Ramirez enjoying Dodgers’ success

Published Thursday, October 9, 2008

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Sporting freshly trimmed, thick braids instead of his usual dreadlocks, Manny Ramirez has a slightly new look for the National League Championship Series to go with his reformed West Coast attitude.

On the field, it’s the same old Manny. He just keeps hitting.

Ramirez changed the culture of the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading them to the playoffs with a dynamic performance after leaving Boston.

Riding their slugger’s torrid hitting and a couple of masterful pitching performances, the Dodgers swept the heavily favored Chicago Cubs out of the first round. Getting past the Philadelphia Phillies and their strong pitching in the NLCS won’t be that easy.

"They’re the best team out there," Ramirez said yesterday. "These guys are great. We don’t think we are better than them, but the key in the playoffs is to get in and anything can happen."

Game 1 is tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, with Derek Lowe (14-11) on the mound for the Dodgers against Cole Hamels (14-10).

Both teams have several outstanding players and a mix of interesting personalities, but all the focus was squarely on Ramirez the day before the opener.

Cameras clicked and microphones followed the enigmatic left fielder everywhere he went before the Dodgers’ workout.

Ramirez took it in stride.

"It’s not my first rodeo," he said.

He was charming, witty and humble, sitting down for nearly 20 minutes and answering questions on a wide range of topics.

Just don’t ask Ramirez about his final days in Boston that ended with plenty of acrimony.

"I don’t want to talk about the past," he said. "I don’t look back. I move forward. I don’t have anything bad to say about Boston."

That goes for all his critics, too.

"My teammates know what kind of guy I am. That’s where I’ll leave it," Ramirez said.

The 2004 World Series MVP, Ramirez already has two championship rings from his 7½ seasons with the Red Sox. He wants another one with the Dodgers, who wouldn’t be here without him.

Ramirez batted .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 53 regular-season games with Los Angeles.

He made a tremendous impact off the field, too, loosening up the clubhouse with his loud music and showing teammates how to relax and have more fun.

"I think he fit us perfectly because of our youth," said Lowe, who also played with Ramirez in Boston. "It was great for our young hitters to see how a superstar goes about his daily business, how hard he prepares, how he doesn’t let one pitch or one at-bat affect him."

Overall, Ramirez hit .332 with 37 homers and 121 RBI this season. He continued to torment pitchers in the playoffs, going 5 for 10 with two homers, three RBI and four walks against Chicago.

Ramirez has hit safely in 38 of his last 43 postseason games, with a .350 average during that span. His 26 postseason homers are the most in major league history.

"I just go out there and relax and try and do my best," he said.

Confident and modest, Ramirez leaves it to others to praise him.

"Manny has been their catalyst and he’s helped everyone around him," said 45-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer, scheduled to start Game 3 for the Phillies. "He exudes confidence. He’s a guy who can adjust. Hitting in this ballpark has to be like hitting in his backyard."

Actually, not quite.

Ramirez is batting just .191 (9 for 47) with three homers in Philadelphia’s hitter-friendly ballpark. He hit .212 against the Phillies this year. He joked about his lack of success here and told reporters he needed extra batting practice.

"There’s a certain way to pitch Manny," Philadelphia backup catcher Chris Coste said. "It’s just a matter of pitchers executing those pitches. There’s a book on Manny Ramirez, but he’s more likely to hit a mistake. If we execute the game plan, I don’t see a reason to walk him."