Manny did the time, but what about the crime?

From San Diego — Manny Ramirez was released from the substance slammer Friday, ending a 50-game drug suspension whose effects were immediate and overwhelming.

Best thing to ever happen to him.

It made him more famous, Petco Park rocking with his every step, roaring Dodgers cheers clashing with angry San Diego Padres boos, a swirling blizzard of noise.

"I still have it in me, bring it on," Ramirez said.

It made him more beloved, his teammates verbally embracing him before the game, hitting around him during the game, rolling to a 6-3 victory.

"They support me all the way, we're ready to take this to another level," he said.

It made him even more self-assured -- if that's possible -- as he successfully dodged every steroid question during a pregame interview while reminding everyone why he can.

"I'm one of the best players to ever put on the uniform," he said.

If Friday was any indication, he will certainly spend the rest of the season as baseball's most celebrated player, filling stadiums, creating buzz, everyone profiting from his crime.

"We love the commotion, are you kidding me?" said Dodger Orlando Hudson. "All these people are just putting more money in our pockets."

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's famous Yankee Stadium speech, it was indeed Manny Ramirez who seemed like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.

It was July 3, yet he's still strong.

"I have plenty of energy, I haven't played for 50 games," he said.

It was the middle of a tough season, yet he's freshly motivated.

"I've got to go out there and show people I could still do it. . . . That's going to give me more fire to play the game," he said.

There are three long months remaining, yet he's understandably acting as if he's starting anew.

"It's showtime," he announced with a grin from behind mirrored sunglasses during the indoor media session.

Talk about $7.7 million well spent.

"He comes back to this team, he changes everything," Hudson said.

The only kink in this triumphant return, of course, is the question of whether either the missed games or the missed steroids have hurt Ramirez's swing or strength.

Here's guessing he won't be so beloved next month if he's batting .220 or battling hamstring injuries.

It was hard to tell much from Friday's four plate appearances and five innings in the field.