SPORTS BETTING

• The Los Angeles Dodgers . . . and the return of Manny

  Posted on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT by GetChalk

  
  

  For the first time since May 6, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre will pencil Manny Ramirez into his lineup for Friday's game against the San Diego Padres.

  And with the return of Manny will come the countless news stories and columns bashing Ramirez's legacy, the jaded view of his stats before and after and, of course, legions of Padres fans that have been waiting two months to sink their claws into one of baseball's most polarizing players.

  Baseball bettors have also anticipated Ramirez's return, but it's not with the same excitement that Dodgers fans feel. Most MLB bettors are wondering what Manny's return will do to the most profitable bet in the majors.

  Los Angeles has earned over 16 betting units this season – the majority of those without Ramirez in the lineup. The Dodgers have evolved without his power in the middle of the order into a swift-footed defensive club that thrives on run production rather than smashing the ball into the cheap seats at Chavez Ravine.

  In place of Ramirez, the Dodgers turned to speedy outfielder Juan Pierre. The nine-year veteran jumped at the opportunity, immediately making an impact. He currently leads the club with a .324 batting average and has an on-base percentage of .385 with 24 RBIs.

  The elephant in the clubhouse is what Los Angeles will do with Pierre after Ramirez is back in left field. The Dodgers would be nuts to platoon a player that they're spending $23 million on this season with a guy that is finally earning his $10 million a year. That leaves the door open for a mid-season deal attracting big-market teams like the Cubs (Pierre's former club), Braves, and Mets, which can only bolster L.A.'s roster before the playoffs.

  Manny's return to the order will definitely give L.A. some pop at the plate. Before testing positive for a banned substance, Ramirez was hitting .348 and had six home runs in his first 27 games of the season. The Dodgers currently rank 13th in the National League with just 59 home runs, but are third in total runs in the NL.

  The biggest liability with having Ramirez back in the clubhouse, besides the distraction of every media source in the country, is his questionable play in left field. Manny being Manny has produced some classic blooper moments, but for a team trying to win a World Series and hold off the surging Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants a misplayed ball could spell disaster, especially come the fall.

  Ramirez's outfield mate, Andre Ethier, should at least benefit from having Ramirez back in the batting order. The rightfielder stepped up his production in Manny's absence, hitting .260 with 15 home runs and a team-high 52 RBI. Ethier has been walked 36 times this year, but with Ramirez on deck pitchers will be forced to throw to the four-year vet.

  Following the weekend series with the Padres, Los Angeles will fly cross-country to the Big Apple for a huge matchup with the New York Mets. The Dodgers, with Ramirez back in action, will try to take advantage of a Mets squad that is stumbling without its stars.

  Los Angeles finishes this nine-game road swing before the All-Star Break versus the Milwaukee Brewers, who are battling for the top spot in the National League Central.