Manny Ramirez expectations can’t extend to the mound

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Manny Ramirez is coming! Manny Ramirez is coming!

Can he pitch?

He is, of course, a position player. A very important position player, granted, but I don’t think he’s going to shut down the Rockies’ lineup.

Which is what the Dodgers really need right now. They need guys they can count on to throw heat, change speeds, buckle knees, throw strikes and get outs.

What they are sending out Saturday to meet the Rockies is knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, he of the 0-3 record and 6.56 ERA.

While Manny was on the disabled list for two weeks with his strained calf, the Dodgers went 6-8. The Dodgers averaged 6.1 runs in their last seven games, so it’s not offense that has been the big problem.

The Dodgers lack consistent, quality starting pitching. Friday they sent out their most reliable starter, Hiroki Kuroda, and he suffered something of an off night.

‘Kuroda wasn’t at his best tonight, but he battled,’’ Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Friday.

Kuroda went 5 1/3 innings, allowing the five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a career-high five walks (two intentional).

And that is the Dodgers’ best and most consistent starter.

Ramirez was activated after Friday’s victory and will be back in left field Saturday night. He has an unquestioned positive ripple effect on the lineup. After all my questioning of batting Matt Kemp second, he clearly gets better pitches hitting in front of Andre Ethier and Ramirez.

Kemp’s little bloop triple that drove in the winning run Friday was his first RBI in 15 games.

‘I forgot what it felt like to get an RBI,’ Kemp said.

The Dodgers are a better offensive team with Manny, particularly the Manny who was batting .415 before injuring his leg.

Now if he could only pitch …

-- Steve Dilbeck