LOS ANGELES — The line snakes in front of the dugout and around the corner behind home plate. The crowd waits for Manny Ramirez, who has taken this city on a ride that would make Disneyland’s Space Mountain blush.
Seeking their first World Series title since 1988, the Dodgers thought they were acquiring a slugger at the July 31 trading deadline. They got a phenomenon instead. Ramirez is the biggest thing in a Dodger uniform since Mike Piazza, nothing short of a bilingual Fernando Valenzuela.
“I told him he would be a superstar here,” agent Scott Boras said Wednesday, smiling at the memory of the final hectic minutes before the deal went down.
Ramirez has arrived with aplomb at the intersection of commerce and contention, that rare trade acquisition who changes everything. Since the slugger landed in Los Angeles, he’s made the Dodgers interesting, more competitive and richer (even some Rockies players bought the $25 Ramirez skullcap and dreadlock wig).
“It didn’t totally surprise me. He’s come from two World Series champions, and you know that he’s a lightning rod one way or the other,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “Attention follows him. There’s a curiosity factor. We are waiting to see what the results ultimately are going to be, hoping he can do this through October.”
Ultimately that’s how blockbusters will be judged: Did the team win?
Yet, a month after the first deals were consummated, the success stories outnumber the failures. Milwaukee has received a turbo boost from CC Sabathia, who is threatening to become the greatest in-season acquisition of the modern era, trumping Randy Johnson in 1998 and Doyle Alexander in 1987.
The Cubs’ response to Sabathia — Rich Harden — has also delivered, with Chicago going 5-2 in his starts. Slugger Mark Teixeira, shipped at the deadline for the second consecutive season, has provided the Angels their long-sought bodyguard for Vladimir Guerrero in their lineup.
“Historically, if you look at it, the success rate is probably around a third or one-fourth,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s good for baseball when teams make bold moves and they work out.”
Even before he took up residence in Milwaukee, Sabathia was already a big deal. He stands 6-foot-7 and weighs more than any Broncos lineman with a Super Bowl ring. By the time the Indians arrived in Coors Field in mid-June, Sabathia knew he was likely gone.
“But I can’t worry about it. My job is to pitch,” he said.
After the Rockies swept the Indians, they inadvertently accelerated the talks. A month later, Sabathia arrived in Milwaukee, spawning 10,000 walk-up ticket sales. The team stores were re-ordering No. 52 jerseys after his debut against the Rockies on July 8.
“He is a beast. You combine him with Ben Sheets and we have one of the best one-two punches in baseball,” Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron said.
The Brewers gave up four minor-leaguers, including prized slugger Matt LaPorta. Deft drafts left them in position to provide the young players Cleveland wanted. There was no hesitation, with general manager Doug Melvin knowing fans are running out of patience with a team that hasn’t gone to the playoffs since 1982.
“We are going for it,” Melvin said.
For years, the Cubs have been spending money like Charles Barkley at a blackjack table. To get Harden, they didn’t need coins, but a willingness to part with a good young pitcher, Sean Gallagher. Harden is an ace when healthy, with Matt Holliday among those who believes he might have baseball’s best stuff.
This was a move for the now, with A’s GM Billy Beane admitting, “Do you know how much weight it would carry for the Cubs if they win the World Series?” The answer: They become the Red Sox and Yankees, a billion-dollar franchise.
Teixeira is a cautionary tale on why teams, including ones like the Rockies, are reluctant to part with young players. The Braves gave up catcher Jarrod Saltamacchia, among others, for two months of Teixeira. Atlanta missed the playoffs last season, were a .500 team with Teixeira and shipped him out a year later.
Similarly, the White Sox and Yankees got more name than bang for their buck with Ken Griffey Jr. and Ivan Rodriguez. Griffey has one extra-base hit with the White Sox and the Yankees are 3-7 when Rodriguez starts.
But for all those that don’t work out, the allure remains that a club will catch a lightning bolt. The Dodgers have Ramirez because the Red Sox ultimately agreed to ship reliever Craig Hansen to the Pirates in the three-way deal.
Hansen might eventually develop into a big-league closer. But, well, he’s not Manny Ramirez.
“When he comes out of the dugout, the crowd goes crazy,” said Dodgers broadcaster Charley Steiner. “It’s a completely different team.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Trading places
Several blockbuster trades made in July have directly influenced playoff races. Three weeks after the nonwaiver trading deadline, national baseball writer Troy E. Renck examines how the biggest names have fared:
CC Sabathia, Brewers
Has gone 8-0 with five complete games — best trade since Randy Johnson went 10-1 for Astros in 1998. (Pictured below.)
Rich Harden, Cubs
Owns 1.50 ERA in seven NL starts, allowing one or zero runs in six of those games; Cubs 5-2 in his games.
Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
Launched Manny Mania in Los Angeles; hitting .413 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 17 games.
Mark Teixeira, Angels
Vladimir Guerrero’s hot streak began with his arrival; .344 with four homers, 16 RBIs in 19 games.
Ken Griffey Jr., White Sox
Finally hit first homer in Chicago, his first extra-base hit with Sox. Hitless in six of 14 games.
