Text messages from press row...

If not tonight, when fans in Albuquerque will be all agog, Manny Ramirez soon will have to face the music. . . .

Fans don't like drug cheats who play for opposing teams. . . .

Says Joe Torre, "I think it's going to be a little time before he feels comfortable, but I don't think in the long run it's going to be an issue for him. He's pretty good at blocking out." . . .

The blocking-out starts July 3 at San Diego. . . .

Thanks to Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, etc., fans outside St. Louis must wonder, 'Do we celebrate Albert Pujols or suspect him?' . . .

Pujols has batted four times with the bases loaded this season and three times has hit grand slams. . . .

In his only other at-bat with the bases loaded, the St. Louis Cardinals slugger delivered only a two-run single. . . .

Sadly, it makes you wonder. . . .

Phil Mickelson, who was a bridesmaid once again, couldn't quite give the people what they wanted but still gave them a show. . . .

The U.S. Open is the only one of golf's four majors that Tiger Woods has not won in consecutive years. . . .

Judging by the numerous stories written about Kevin O'Neill over the last few days, USC's new basketball coach has managed to rub quite a few people the wrong way. . . .

Jered Weaver, unbeaten at Angel Stadium before Saturday, apparently is not the same pitcher when big brother is looking over his shoulder and breathing down his neck. . . .

Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, by the way, was 4-5 in nine starts against younger brother Joe. . . .

You probably could have made a fortune betting that Russell Martin wouldn't hit his first home run until June 20. . . .

Watching 34-year-old Vladimir Guerrero run these days, it's hard to believe he stole 40 bases in a season. . . .

It's mystifying why Chase Utley and the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies are so dreadful at home. . . .

Thursday's NBA draft probably won't produce three most valuable players, as the 1984 draft did with Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley, or the 1996 draft did with Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. . . .

Reader Barry Levy of Hawthorne e-mails to note that admission to the gala 25th anniversary celebration of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, July 18 at the Coliseum, is not free. . . .

Tickets are $184 each. . . .