Ramirez is a big hit with his generosity

THINGS WE have noticed about Ramirez on this trip. He not only has run out every ground ball, he considered stretching a single into a double.

"You noticed that, huh?" said Ramirez with a grin.

He's worked his way around the Dodgers' clubhouse, pulling up a chair to spend time with different players -- one team employee saying "I don't think he's missed anyone."

The other day he hugged James Loney and suggested they get something to eat together. He began the clubhouse rounds the day he arrived with Jeff Kent, talking to him about the National League and the media.

First base coach Mariano Duncan said he got to the gym early in the morning only to find Ramirez already working out.

"He works hard but doesn't want anyone to know it," Duncan said.

He spends time in the batting cage, and more time in front of a computer studying opposing pitchers. And like an entertainer keying himself up for a performance, he's all energy before a game, a drip when it's over.

Some media members were speculating the other day in St. Louis that he was boring on purpose -- Manny finally being Manny.

Maybe so, or maybe the media is looking for something to go wrong when the guy's just spent after giving it his all.

I can hear the Boston rebuttal: The guy's just spent after giving it his all, all right, because he's not used to doing it.

Around here we've got no problem with that -- knowing now Ramirez was just saving himself for the Dodgers.

AS FOR Blake, the focus has been on Ramirez, "and that's fine with me," Blake said.

He said Ramirez's arrival has allowed him to settle in, and that hasn't been easy.

"It's tough, it's a whole new group to impress," Blake said, a .333 batting average in 13 games doing wonders for introductions. "There are certain anxieties to getting traded, and I just want to kind of blend in."

Blake has lived his whole life in Indianola, Iowa, and sympathy cards should be sent in care of the Dodgers.

"I haven't found a place better to live," said Blake, a two-month rental like Ramirez who will be searching for a new baseball home next season. "I had so much fun with Cleveland last year in the postseason and I would like to do that again."

No reason to rush back to Iowa.

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T.J. Simers can be reached at

t.j.simers@latimes.com.