Manny Ramirez: ‘Can’t wait’ for Dodger Stadium welcome

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The Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez said he looked forward to a warm reception at Dodger Stadium tonight, the slugger’s first game at Chavez Ravine since his 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy.

“I’m excited,’ Ramirez said this afternoon as he sat next to Manager Joe Torre in the Dodgers’ dugout and took questions from two dozen reporters. ‘These are the best fans in the world and they’re behind me, so I’m looking forward for this game. I’m ready. I can’t wait.”

Torre, in fact, was holding his normal pregame meeting with reporters ahead of the Dodgers’ game against the Houston Astros when Ramirez came out of the clubhouse and sat next to him.

‘There goes all the attention I get,’ Torre joked.

Ramirez returned from his suspension July 3 in San Diego when the Dodgers began a nine-game road trip. The team went 6-3 on the trip and remained atop the National League West, while Ramirez batted .379 and hit three home runs over that span.

Asked what type of reception he expected from the Dodger Stadium crowd tonight, Ramirez said, ‘Maybe the same thing [as] when I came from Boston. Maybe something better.’

After reiterating that he wouldn’t discuss his suspension -- ‘That’s in the past,’ he said again -- Ramirez praised his teammates for supporting him during his absence.

“They’re the best teammates that I’ve ever had,’ he said. ‘They backed me up the whole year round, they received me with open arms. That’s why I’m here, and that’s why I love these guys.’

Ramirez also was asked whether he wanted the spotlight from his suspension to fade away. ‘No, actually I like it,’ he said. ‘It makes me want to do better.’

-- Jim Peltz