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<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008 Revival in Los Angeles for both Torre, Ramirez By Dom Amore The Hartford Courant PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Torre didn't prepare a speech, an ultimatum or a list of dos and don'ts. He trusted that Manny Ramirez's motivation was built-in, so Torre stayed out of the way and let the talent unleash itself. "When they asked me if I was interested, I didn't hesitate," Torre said. "I didn't even let them finish the question. ... I knew if he was going to leave (Boston), he was going to have to go somewhere and play. "The one thing that always struck me is the way his teammates embraced him. No matter what was happening, you could see how his teammates felt about him. I guess it just got uncomfortable for everybody at the end." So Manny Ramirez, voted out of Fenway, and Joe Torre, no longer welcome at Yankee Stadium, joined forces, 3,000 miles away from the ancient rivalry. Now, they find each other with the Dodgers in the NLCS, obvious satisfaction in hand, the ultimate satisfaction just eight wins away. "I don't look back, I look ahead," said Ramirez, who hit .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 53 games after the Dodgers acquired him in a three-way deal involving the Red Sox and Pirates at the July 31 trade deadline. "I've already moved on with my life." Ramirez, 36, won't even acknowledge the delicious possibility of playing the Red Sox in the World Series. The Dodgers, who edged into the playoffs with a hot September and shocked the Cubs in the first round, must first beat the Phillies in the NLCS, which begins Thursday night at Citizen Bank Park. In the postseason, they're playing loose -- Manny loose. "It's been a refreshing time for us to get him," said Derek Lowe, another ex-Red Sox, who will start Game 1 for the Dodgers. "It was great for our young hitters to see how a superstar goes about his daily business, how he prepares, how he doesn't let one at-bat affect the next one." Torre, 68, won't permit himself to gloat about his success after leaving the Yankees, who offered a one-year, performance-based contract after he led them into the playoffs for the 12th time in 12 years. He turned that down, and signed a three-year contract with the Dodgers. "You keep reading that, well, he should have gone to the playoffs because of the payroll in New York," said third base coach Larry Bowa, who moved from the Yankees to the Dodgers with Torre. "They had the same payroll this year and they didn't make it." The Dodgers, a young team, foundered much of the summer, but stayed close to the Diamondbacks in the NL West. During their eight-game losing streak in late August, Torre called a meeting to tell his players they were still in it, and would win if they fared well in two upcoming series with Arizona. They won five of six, and have been on a roll ever since. After clashing with everyone, including, finally, his teammates at the end in Boston, Ramirez, in the last year of his contract, clearly had to repair his image. "I don't know if it came from all those Yankees-Boston series," Bowa said, "but there was that respect Manny gave Joe right out of the gate. I mean, Joe gave (respect) to Manny, and Manny gave it right back to Joe." Manny cut his hair just enough to satisfy his boss. "Now it dots the I in his name instead of covers it up," Torre said of Manny's dreadlocks. Ramirez has been on time every day, and has spent hours in the batting cage keeping his swing fine-tuned. Young players, Bowa said, "just gravitate to him." In turn, Torre has relaxed his rules about using headphones in the clubhouse; Ramrez's favorite music blares as loud as his hits. "Joe Torre just has two rules: be on time and play hard," Ramirez said. "When you play hard, you get the respect, and that's what I do. ... I played hard in Boston. I joked around a lot, but I played hard." If there is anyone who has always understood Ramirez, it's Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel, who was a minor league manager and hitting coach as Ramirez was coming up through the Indians farm system. "I was managing in Triple A," Manuel said, "and they sent him up to us and when he walked into my office, he didn't have his equipment bag or his luggage. I said, 'Where's your luggage?' He didn't know. He left it at the airport. We sent someone back for his luggage, then he got in the game that night and hit a home run. ... If you get to know Manny, you're going to like him. You can't help but like him." When the end came with the Yankees, Torre wouldn't go back to the Stadium, even to clear out his office. On that score, they're the perfect playoff match. They both know the value of leaving their baggage behind. "After you manage the Yankees for 12 years," Torre said, "it's really tough to envision going somewhere else. But then the Dodgers called. I was just curious to see if this could be fun again." READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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