Manny Ramirez is Dodgers' man in middle of everything
BASEBALL
Dodgers' new left fielder has brought life to the lineup from the cleanup spot, and he's proven to be the life of the clubhouse as well.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Russell Martin said he was unsure what Manny Ramirez would be like or how he would influence the Dodgers' clubhouse. Never had Martin played with someone of Ramirez's stature.
"I didn't know what to expect," Martin said.
Manny is being Manny, all right, but the Manny Ramirez whom Martin knows isn't the Manny Ramirez he heard about on SportsCenter.
Ramirez hasn't made any cellphone calls from inside a left-field wall or lost a $15,000 diamond earring diving into a base, but he has been, well, different.
In a way his teammates say they like.
"He's one of the easiest guys I've ever known to get along with," said Derek Lowe, who was also Ramirez's teammate in Boston. "He's a superstar player who acts like he's 12."
Andruw Jones has known that side of Ramirez for some time. They met in 1998 when they visited Japan together as part of an all-star team and often got together for drinks whenever their paths crossed over the next decade. Jones, who has a $36-million contract and a .161 average, has taken refuge in Ramirez's shadow, spending plenty time with him in the clubhouse and batting cages.
"We're just hanging out and talking trash," said Jones, who at 31 is five years younger than Ramirez. "That's all we do."
He isn't playful only with Jones. He hugs his teammates upon entering the clubhouse, even if they're getting dressed. He told Times columnist T.J. Simers to sit on his lap and frequently puts his arms around reporters when walking by them.
His signs of affection aren't always conventional.
When Mark Sweeney collected a pinch-hit single Saturday night and was immediately replaced by a pinch-runner, he was met in the dugout with extended hands for him to slap. Instead of offering him a high-five, Ramirez walked up to him, put his hands on Sweeney's head, removed his helmet and put it away for him.
Sunday morning, Ramirez was in the batting cages, standing next to a seated Jones, his right hand palming and caressing Jones' shaven head. Jones sat smiling.
"He likes to interact with the entire world, he has the door open to everyone," shortstop Angel Berroa said. "Everybody around him is always laughing. Time goes by quickly when you're around him."
The addition of Ramirez has been particularly welcomed by Berroa and Pablo Ozuna, a couple of Dominican middle infielders who previously kept a low profile in the clubhouse. They are now part of a Spanish-speaking foursome that includes Ramirez and Jones.
