Major League Baseball

Dodgers' Manny Ramirez activated from DL

Published May. 9, 2010 2:11 a.m. ET

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The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Manny Ramirez from the 15-day disabled list Saturday after he missed 14 games because of a right calf strain.

The Dodgers were 6-8 while Ramirez was on the DL, and also lost the two other games in which he did not play. Last year they went 29-21 during the 12-time All-Star's 50 game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.

``Manny's back there. It's a little bit of a security blanket for us, hopefully,'' manager Joe Torre said. ``He seems to be ready to go and he said he feels good. We'll just have to hope he gets past those first few days and go for there, but we feel pretty secure that he feels good and he's tested it enough.

But Manny can't pitch, so our ability to go on a surge will be based on how well we pitch and how well we control the game,'' Torre added.

Ramirez, who turns 38 on May 30, was injured while running out a single during a game at Cincinnati on April 22. He entered Saturday night's contest against Colorado hitting .415 with two home runs and 12 RBIs.

Ramirez was acquired from Boston at the trade deadline two seasons ago, hitting .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs in 53 games and leading the Dodgers to the first of back-to-back NL West titles. And his teammates are hoping they can ride his back for a while after trying to compensate for his absence.

While Ramirez was on the DL, Andre Ethier was 19 for 52 with five homers and 16 RBIs. Matt Kemp was 13 for 56 with no homers and just one RBI.

``I've sensed for a time that we had some guys who were trying to do a little bit too much. So the fact that you have an experienced guy in the middle of the lineup hopefully will help that mindset,'' Torre said. ``I think the guys in the middle of the lineup, Matt and Ethier are probably the two guys who would benefit the most.''

Ramirez's next homer will break a tie with Mike Schmidt for 14th place on the career list. His 548th came on April 18 as a pinch-hitter. Ramirez got his 2,500th hit on April 10 and his 1,800th RBI two days before he went on the DL.

This was the fourth time the 19-year veteran and 2004 World Series MVP has been on the disabled list and the first time since 2002 with the Red Sox.

The Dodgers made room for Ramirez on the active roster by optioning outfielder Xavier Paul to Triple-A Albuquerque after Friday night's 6-5 victory. Paul played in nine games, going 8 for 29 with one RBI and seven strikeouts.

``We gave `X' a chance to play against the right-handers and he did a good job,'' Torre said. ``He gave us a spark in a couple of games. The kid doesn't have any fear.''

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