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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Get Ready for Manny Invasion
By Randy Harrison
Journal Staff Writer
He is a rock star.
He has stained baseball.
He is one of the top right-handed hitters of his generation, perhaps of all time.
He is the slugger who effectively quit on his Boston Red Sox last year, possibly killing their chances to repeat as World Series champions.
He is the guy who then went to the Los Angeles Dodgers and carried them on his back into the postseason, firing up the team's often blasé baseball fan base and turning Chavez Ravine into Mannywood.
Manny Ramirez, who can be a polarizing, fascinating, confounding, entertaining, infuriating personality, is in Albuquerque today on his path back to the big leagues after a 50-game drug suspension.
Wherever you stand on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, it's clear that many fans feel about him as does J.J. Gutierrez, 15, who was standing in line for tickets at the Isotopes Park box office.
"He's a cheater," said Gutierrez. "But I still want to see him play."
The Isotopes Park gates are opening at 5:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than usual for a 7:05 start. Club officials are suggesting that fans get tickets early, get to the ballpark early, and get their concessions early so they won't miss seeing Manny.
"We're not sure yet how long he'll play," said media relations director Steve Hurlbert. "It could be two at-bats over four innings."
At noon on Monday, the Isotopes began selling berm seats for tonight. The only time they sell those before game day is if there are practically no other seats left to sell. A Tuesday game in June otherwise would be sparsely attended, but thanks to the Manny Mania, the Isotopes believe the single-game attendance record of 15,189, set last July 4, is in jeopardy.
Tickets aren't selling as furiously yet for the other three games of the series, but they also are expected to draw huge crowds.
The eyes of the baseball world turn to Albuquerque in the 37-year-old Ramirez's first game as part of a minor league assignment. The terms of his suspension allow him to play "tuneup" games in the 10 days prior to the date he can be activated. That would be the Dodgers' game July 3 in San Diego, barring rainouts. There are conflicting reports on whether he will play the first three games of the Nashville series or all four before he returns to California for more games at Class A Inland Empire.
Numerous journalists who cover the Dodgers along with crews from ESPN and MLB.com are on hand to report on Ramirez's appearance, his first in a competitive game since the suspension began on May 8. He is the biggest star to have been suspended under a drug program that began in 2003, though several baseball icons — Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens among them — have either admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs or have been linked to them.
Fans who can't make it to the ballpark can follow (for a fee) streaming video of the game action live on minorleaguebaseball.com.
Of course, cameras attract signs the way discarded picnic food attracts ants. Isotopes security personnel say they will confiscate signs that either block somebody's view or are "offensive," Hurlbert said.
Chris Lawson of Rio Rancho bought four tickets to tonight's game and plans to take his son.
"It's exciting," he said. "Manny's a phenomenal player despite the allegations or issues surrounding him. I wouldn't say he's a great role model. Hopefully, he'll learn from it. I mean, he's got great talent. He doesn't need the drugs."
Ramirez is a .315 hitter with 533 home runs in a career that began in 1993 with the Cleveland Indians. He will be the most accomplished major leaguer to perform in Albuquerque in 40 years. In 1969, the Albuquerque Sports Stadium was christened by an exhibition game between the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians. The first batter in that game was Willie Mays.
Isotopes outfielder Jason Repko expects a circus, but he's looking forward to it.
"Last year, I had a chance to be around him (in Los Angeles) and also this spring," said Repko. "I was really surprised that no matter who you are, he treats you the same way. He approaches you, he talks to you, he gives you insight if you've got questions about the game. I've been very impressed with the way he interacts with teammates. He's a positive person to be around."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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