Dodgers and Ramirez ready for Fourth of July sizzle
Reuters | 07/03/2009 10:23 PM
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers can expect Fourth of July style fireworks, a media frenzy and heckling by Padres fans when disgraced slugger Manny Ramirez returns to the team lineup on Friday in San Diego.
A 12-time All-Star player, the dreadlocked Ramirez has just completed a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a banned drug.
San Diego's Petco Park has been sold out for the much anticipated West Coast encounter where the U.S. Independence Day weekend is certain to be launched with a bang.
"We are aware of the crowd that Manny draws," Dodgers manager Joe Torre told reporters after his team beat the Colorado Rockies 1-0 on Wednesday.
"We are prepared for it. It is a distraction but we cannot ignore the fact that it is going to be there. We are ready for him to come back."
Dodgers first base coach Mariano Duncan predicted Ramirez would take the fan reaction in San Diego in his stride.
"He says fans boo him on the road anyway," Duncan told the team's website.
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