If nothing else, it is a bit ironic.
When the Dodgers finally signed Manny Ramirez during spring training, no rivals were ready to concede the Los Angeles Dodgers had won the division. Now that Ramirez has been lost for 50 games, suspended for testing positive for a banned substance, no one is willing to concede the Dodgers won’t win without him.
“They have lost an impact player, but it doesn’t affect their pitching. They are still very, very good,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “When you have a player like Juan Pierre who comes in and takes his place, he’s good. They are talented.”
The Dodgers are baseball’s best team in the early going, in which they became the first team in the modern era to win its first 13 home games. Ramirez was at the epicenter of the charge, leading the team in batting average (.348) and on-base percentage (.492), to go with six home runs.
That home streak ended Thursday, their first game without Ramirez, with an 11-9 loss to the Nationals.
“He’s the best player in the division, so it’s definitely going to impact them,” Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “It opens up the division a little bit, but they have built up such a big lead there’s a lot of catching up to do.”
Colorado (11-16) trails Los Angeles (21-9) by 8 1/2 games heading into play tonight. Ramirez began serving his suspension Thursday and will be eligible to return July 3 against the Padres, providing L.A. does not have any rainouts.
The outfielder’s absence creates not only a different perception of him — he’s forever labeled a cheater — but of the Dodgers’ lineup. Los Angeles is loaded with talented young sluggers such as Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, James Loney and Russell Martin. But Martin and Ethier have said they don’t get the same pitches as they do when Ramirez is hitting third and getting on base so often ahead of them.
“It’s different with him in there,” Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa said. “It’s good for us. I am sad for him, because I like him. But it does help us.”
The Dodgers are the primary reason the Rockies reside in the NL West basement. Colorado is 1-5 against the Dodgers, compared to 10-11 against everyone else. Then again, the Dodgers have steamrolled everyone in the division, winning 19 of 25 division games.
“It will certainly hurt them, taking that bat out of the middle of their lineup, but they still have quite a bit of talent,” Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. “And they have a nice cushion built up.”
Life without Ramirez was not kind to the Dodgers a year ago. They were uninteresting, uninspiring and strapped with a pedestrian 54-54 record before L.A. traded for him. Since Ramirez’s arrival Aug. 1, they have gone 51-32 in the regular season.
“Obviously, he’s a main cog, and he’s not going to be in play for a while,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’ll see how that ballclub handles that adversity. Can they win without him? I’m sure they feel confident they can. But I know they are a different team without him in the lineup.”
Post reporter Patrick Saunders contributed to this report.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
MLB’s drug suspensions
Players who have been suspended for violating the Major League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program since it was established in 2005:
80 games
Neifi Perez, INF, Detroit
50 games
x-Eliezer Alfonzo, C, San Fran.
x-Sergio Mitre, P, N.Y. Yankees
x-Humberto Cota, C, Colorado
y-Jason Grimsley, P, Arizona
x-Yusaku Iriki, P, N.Y. Mets
Ryan Jorgensen, C, Cincinnati
Guillermo Mota, P, free agent
x-Henry Owens, P, Florida
x-Kelvin Pichardo, P, San Fran.
Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers
J.C. Romero, P, Philadelphia
Juan Salas, P, Tampa Bay
Dan Serafini, P, free agent
25 games
Mike Cameron, OF, free agent
Neifi Perez, INF, Detroit
15 days
Jose Guillen, OF, Kansas City
Jay Gibbons, OF, Baltimore
10 days
Carlos Almanzar, P, Texas
Rafael Betancourt, P, Cleveland
Ryan Franklin, P, Seattle
Felix Heredia, P, N.Y. Mets
Matt Lawton, OF, free agent
Agustin Montero, P, Texas
Mike Morse, INF-OF, Seattle
Rafael Palmeiro, INF, Baltimore
Jorge Piedra, OF, Colorado
Juan Rincon, P, Minnesota
Alex Sanchez, OF, Tampa Bay
Jamal Strong, OF, Seattle
x — Tested positive while on the 40-man roster
y — Was released by Arizona on June 7; suspension would begin upon his placement to a 40-man roster
