Ramirez Apologizes to Fans, Teammates

Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez grabs his bat during batting practice before a baseball game between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres Friday, July 3, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

(AP)

Manager Bud Black said the Padres will pitch to Ramirez as the game dictates. They certainly won't rely on how he did during a minor league rehab assignment.

"We did not log a call to Nick Schmidt to see what he hit," Black said, referring to the Padres farmhand who gave up a home run to Ramirez in his first at-bat on Sunday in a Class A game at Lake Elsinore.

"He hasn't seen major league pitching in a long time. But he's a Hall of Fame player, very talented player, one of the best right-handed hitters of all time. We don't know if we'll see something definitive in five or six pitches" in his first at-bat. "But he's still Manny, he's still a talented player."

Said Ethier: "You can't expect too much out of any player after that long, but someone of his caliber, he can surprise you with the way he's ready."

Dodgers manager Joe Torre and general manager Ned Colletti listened to Ramirez's news conference. Agent Scott Boras sat at the slugger's side.

"I think he's very uncomfortable at this," Torre said. "When you weed all through the whole thing, he didn't deny doing something wrong and he apologized for it and he doesn't really want to talk about it.

"I think it's going to be uncomfortable for him for a while," the manager added. "Baseball is a great place to go and try to bury yourself, basically, as far as concentration and trying not to be distracted. But I think it's going to be a little time before he gets his legs under him."

Torre said he's not sure if Ramirez will play in all three games of this series.

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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.

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