There’s no question that Manny Ramirez saved the Dodgers’ season, not just with his bat but with his goofy manner.

Arguably the most mentioned plot line of Manny’s Ramirez’s time in L.A. has been his ability to loosen up what formally felt like a Merchant Ivory version of a baseball clubhouse:  Very buttoned down.  Very quiet.  Cast members performing while rarely cracking a smile.  Manny arrives and the joint starts jumping with pregame music, wall to wall looseness, Angel Berroa’s various remote control vehicles, M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” blaring after every win (it played on a non-stop loop after the game 3 win), etc.  Plus, that whole “laughter” thing that’s rumored to surface every now and then in your everyday average clubhouse. 

But for the most part, Many’s been subdued around us media types.  Camera in his grill, he’s mostly limited talk to standard baseball cliches and constant reminders that he’s happy to be here.  And before today’s practice, Ramirez seemed to be in that mode.  Save an admission that he “partied like a rock star” over the Dodgers’ NLDS clinching weekend (his description of the night didn’t even sound all crazy, truth be told) and cracking a joke about fans not figuring out where he lives to crash the shindig, nothing we haven’t already heard in some way, shape or form was offered.  But then a reporter asked if Manny thought he could pull off such a productive comeback as Rafael Furcal’s after spending four months rehabbing a balky back.

“I don’t think so.  Maybe I could come and contribute in another way.  Maybe like a defensive replacement.  Maybe something like that.  Furcal is 28 (Editor’s note to Manny: Raffy is actually 31).  I’m 35 (Editor’s note to Manny: You’re actually 36).  He’s a great player.  He can bunt.  He can hit.  He can do it all.  He’s like me, a five tool player.”

Tongue practically dead-bolted inside his cheek, an impish grin crossed Manny’s face and he began to enjoy the roll. 

“Now that I can do all those things, I think I could ask for a raise,” mused Manny.  “I don’t DH anymore.  I play the outfield.  Run, hit.  I could do it all, so why not.  When I was in Boston, everyone expected me to be a DH. I’m just an all-around player.”

To clarify, I’m 100% positive Manny was talking purely tongue in cheek when waxing poetically about his versatility.  The pay bump talk?  Not so convinced he was kidding.  If nothing else, I guarantee Scott Boras thinks he wasn’t kidding.   

I asked which team he figured was on the lookout for a rare five tool player.  “I don’t know.  I think, everybody,” responded Manny, a giggle fit immediately following.  Assuming he’s correct (and why wouldn’t he be, since those types of athletes are so very rare), there could very well be a rush to, as Teddy KGB so famously put it, “Pay that man his money.”  Should that team end up L.A., as a member of my media brethren reminded him, he’s playing for the Dodgers free of charge. “That’s right,” nodded Ramirez.  “The Red Sox are paying my salary.  I’m on vacation right now.”