Manny-ing up

"He's certainly changed the personality of our lineup," noted Joe Torre of the team-wide production and confidence with #99 on their side. "They're not going to want to pitch to him, especially with men on, so it figures that guys at the top will get better pitches to hit."  Or maybe not.  Joked Russell Martin, "I felt like they've been pitching around me to get to him."  Torre may have also revealed the true reason behind the push for his new superstar to clean up the locks.  Remarking how difficult his days managing the Yankees were with Manny playing for their biggest rival, Torre said he "lost a lot of hair playing against him."  Revenge tactic, anyone?

The breakdown is below.

The Good

• Manny Ramirez: Another outing that demonstrates exactly why the front office made him a So Cal resident.  "His game is exciting, man," gushed Kemp. "Having him on our team is crazy."  That electricity and enthusiasm felt by his teammates, manager and new fans was matched by Ramirez's production, highlighted by including his second appearance with a bash, this one into the left field seats.   #512 on a career, which puts him in a 20th place tie with Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews.      
  
• Matt Kemp: Not content to let the dude manning his opposite outfield corner hog all the home run/three hit glory, Kemp blasted an 8th inning Jay Rauch fastball into the All-You-Can-Eat section.  That jack matched Ramirez for both stats... until two at bats later, when Manny was given a somewhat generous fourth base hit.  As Torre has been pointing out constantly over the last three or so weeks, Kemp's growth continues in steady fashion.   
• The bats:  On a day where Ramirez reached #20 all-time HR charts, the hits just kept on coming for the Blue.  16 in all, with every starter nabbing at least one.  Arizona starter Doug Davis was absolutely shelled and every Arizona pitcher except Leo Rosales gave up at least a run.
• James Loney: Stephen Drew opened the game with a routine grounder to Angel Berroa that became anything but when the shortstop's throw to first went very low and right.  Loney not only made the snare, but managed to take his foot off the bag during the stretch, then shifted a toe back on the base just in time to beat Drew.  Very difficult stuff.
• Relief pitching:  Between Brian Falkenborg, Cory Wade (the eventual winner), Hong-Chih Kuo and Ramon Troncoso picked up where Johnson left off and held the opposition at zilch over 4.2 innings.  Good work that also allowed key closers Joe Beimel and Jonathon Broxton some extra rest for the next series.

The Bad

• Jason Johnson: His debut frame yielded no runs, but also required seventeen pitches to reach that conclusion, a potential omen that nothing would come easy.  His follow up frame proved the signs correct.  Counts worked full before nabbing a strikeout (or a walk).  A two out RBI-single surrender to- of all people- Davis, a serious mistake compounded when Drew laced a ball into right for another score.  The ensuing pair of innings went three up/three down, but any turned corner took another 180 after Drew took Johnson into the right field stands during frame five.  Cue Brian Falkenborg to clean up what wasn't the sharpest 4.1 innings for the spot starter.  Thankfully, the combo of bad D-Back tosses and deadly blue bats helped offset the difficulties.

The FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

• Pablo Ozuna's triple: In for Jeff Kent and taking just his seventh at-bat of the year, Ozuna launched one into deep center that appeared in danger of getting run down by Chris Young.  But once it landed just outside the center fielder's reach, Ozuna responded with a clap and an emphatic fist pump while rounding first, which set up the sprint's coup de grace: A skying leap into third base launched about 10-15 feet before reaching the bag.  Necessary?  Absolutely not.  The most hilariously entertaining thing I've seen in many moons?  Definitely.  "I thought he was gonna puncture his lungs," chuckled Torre.  "He was airborne there for a while." No slouch himself when it comes to running the bases, Kemp was impressed by the slide (of sorts).  "It was tight.  I liked that.  I need to learn how to do that."  The only person indifferent to the whole thing was Ozuna, who said he could go bigger if needed and couldn't even tell how high he was.   "It's normal," smiled the infielder of the plunge.   
  
  Another writer thought the showiness could lead to Ozuna getting beaned on his next at bat.  My response?  "What, seven weeks from now?"

AUDIO

• Joe Torre: Download joe_torre_az.mp3
• Manny Ramirez: Download manny_az4.mp3
• Russell Martin: Download russel_martin_az_4.mp3
• Matt Kemp: Download matt_kemp_az4.mp3
  
• Jason Johnson: Download jason_johnson_az4.mp3
• Pablo Ozuna: Download pablo_ozuna_az4.mp3
• Derek Lowe (on Manny Ramirez): Download derek_lowe.mp3

AK