Manny Ramirez 2.0 is a less animated presence with Dodgers

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Manny Ramirez … the quiet teammate?

Not exactly, but Manny’s unexplained, self-imposed cone of silence with the media appears to have spilled over in the way he conducts himself in the clubhouse.

He’s hardly reserved, but he’s also far from the almost larger-than-life figure who first burst upon the Dodgers’ clubhouse in 2008.

That Manny quickly became the team’s dominant figure, not only with his play on the field, but also with his personality in the clubhouse.

He laughed and played and joked with teammates and media alike. He would have seemed almost unnaturally happy, if everything hadn’t been going so right for him.

A clubhouse with a history of division between younger and older teammates became unified, following Manny the fun-loving Piped Piper.

Now it’s more Mannylite. Manny who more quietly goes about his business. His locker has been moved from its fairly central position when he first joined the team to down at an end. Sometimes it seems almost the Dominican Corner, Manny talking before games with Ronnie Belliard and Rafael Furcal.

‘He’s the same guy, as far as lighthearted and stuff,’ said Manager Joe Torre. ‘Maybe not as animated as he was a couple of years ago.

‘But I don’t think it’s affected anything in the clubhouse. He has the same relationship with the players, from what I’m getting.’

Probably, but it all seems toned down. A clubhouse that once was clearly his now seems to have drifted more to Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. He remains a definite presence, just not of the same magnitude.

Part of it could be that Manny is in the final year of his contract and is trying to be serious about his production. At age 38, it’s unlikely his next contract will be for more than one year.

But Nick Johnson, lacking Manny’s power and drawing power, signed a one-year deal for $5.75 million last off-season with the Yankees. There is still some serious money to be had.

Torre said he’s had plenty of players in the last year of a contract and seems comfortable with where Manny is at.

‘I’ve had that numerous times,’ Torre said. ‘The only thing is if I sense they may be concentrating on something else. It’s all about what we can accomplish together, while we’re together.

‘Being in the playoffs two straight years here, especially with someone that’s been around the block a time or two, you don’t get that opportunity that often that you’re going to the postseason that often.’

Torre believes Manny’s oversized personality started to retreat after he served his 50-game suspension last year and then struggled upon his return.

Of course, the Manny the Dodgers acquired in 2008 also hit 17 home runs in just 53 games. This Manny has hit four in 34 games.

Like in the clubhouse, the same guy, just dialed back.

-- Steve Dilbeck