That would be his old stomping grounds: Dodger Stadium.
On Thursday night, as the Dodgers returned from the All-Star break, Ramirez played on his home field for the first time since incurring a 50-game steroid suspension. As expected, fans welcomed him back with hearty applause.
“I’m excited, man,” Ramirez told the Associated Press before L.A.
kicked off a 10-game home stand, beginning with a matchup against
Houston. “This is the best fans in the world, and they’re behind me, so
I’m looking forward for this game.”
The Dodgers don’t seem like they’ve missed him much since he’s been
gone — they have mounted a seven-game lead in the NL Central to go
along with a 56-32 record, the best in baseball — but having a hitter
like Ramirez back on the lineup card is certainly a relief for manager Joe Torre.
Ramirez, however, is the first to admit that the Dodgers — who went 29-21 during his absence — were just fine without him.
“Man, I don’t think [the team] depends on me,” he said. “Juan Pierre, he was doing a great job. And Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, they’re great players, so I think they deserve all the credit. I’m just out there doing my thing.”
In Thursday’s game,
a 3-0 loss to the Astros, Ramirez was 1-for-4 with a single and two
strikeouts. But he contends that the loving fans in L.A. have yet to
see the best from him in 2009.
“I’m back, Part 2,” he told reporters. “Remember, you always leave
the last part for the best. So that’s what we’re going to do.”
In that case, the rest of the NL better be prepared.
