Just how valuable is he?

Considering the case for Ramirez as MVP

It's a small sample size, but Manny Ramirez's impact on the Dodgers has been off the charts. Which is why we raise the question: Is Ramírez the MVP of the National League?

Who has had more individual impact in putting a franchise into position to win a division? CC Sabathia has had a similar affect with Milwaukee, but even before the Brew Crew acquired Sabathia, they were in position to be the wild-card team. Ramírez has transformed the Dodgers from a weak NL West team, lagging behind the Diamondbacks, to a team in position to win the division handily.

"I have the locker next to him," said Holliston's Mark Sweeney, "and he brings great energy to this team. That's what sticks out for me. This was a very quiet clubhouse here until Manny arrived.

"I know he's having a blast, but I think this is a clubhouse that needed that little quirkiness he brings. I think that was much-needed. He's definitely livened up the clubhouse and created a looseness that I think we really needed here."

Ramírez can play as many as 54 games with the Dodgers; is that too few to warrant consideration for such a prestigious award?

"I wouldn't want to take away from Albert Pujols or Chase Utley or guys like that who have been with their National League team all year," said Sweeney, "but what Manny and Casey Blake have brought here, along with Greg Maddux, is amazing. They've instilled a lot of positive things on this team."

Going into the weekend, the Dodgers had gotten a 5 1/2-game boost in the standings since Ramírez arrived Aug. 1. He hit .396 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs in 39 games. That projects to 58 homers and 170 RBIs over a 162-game season.

"He's excited this city," said Dodgers Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda. "He's brought enthusiasm, excitement. He's hustling. He's doing everything being asked of him and more. So what can you say? I think everyone's heard the stories, but he hasn't done anything wrong here.

"Not only that, but you got him for nothing. We're not even paying him."

Sweeney spent the two previous seasons with Barry Bonds in San Francisco. He witnessed first-hand the circus surrounding Bonds, whom he calls "the greatest all-around lefthanded hitter I was ever around." Now he is calling Ramírez "the best righthanded hitter I've ever seen."

"He's consistently able to hit a ball pitched 98 miles per hour or 89 miles per hour," Sweeney said. "His bat speed is amazing. He's a great breaking-ball hitter but he can hit the hardest fastball you'll ever see. He changes a game and for us, he changed our lineup. We had so much trouble scoring runs before he got here."

Asked about similarities between Bonds and Ramírez, Sweeney said, "They're obviously different personalities, but they're the same in that they're elite hitters. Guys like Bonds and Manny don't come along every day, so when you see them up close like I've been able to do, you just marvel and realize how special it is to have a talent like that on your team.

"Both guys made the hitters around them that much better. We've seen it here with Andre Ethier."

Hitters have always benefited from Ramírez's presence in the lineup, but in the end, Ramírez became a major distraction in Boston, begging out of a big game against the Yankees, then asking the team if he could go on the disabled list so he could rest his legs even though MRIs were clean.

Ramírez has had no problem playing every day in Los Angeles and roaming a larger left field at Dodgers Stadium.

Of course, the Dodgers are also getting excellent pitching from Derek Lowe, who has picked his game up a notch, particularly since Maddux arrived. Lowe said that of all the pitchers he was teammates with (and we're talking Curt Schilling and Pedro Martínez), nobody has had an impact on him quite like Maddux.

"Those Boston guys have been great," said Lasorda. "I'm the one who recommended Lowe to our GM at the time, Paul DePodesta, and now he's in his walk year and he's pitching great again. We'll see how things go, but our younger guys have benefited from Manny a great deal."

The Dodgers spent a lot of money on free agent busts Andruw Jones and Jason Schmidt, but they got the bargain of a lifetime in Ramírez. In the offseason, they must decide whether to pony up $20 million or more per year to re-sign him.

"He's relaxed a lot of people here," said Lowe. "He hits everyone, all kinds of pitching. There's no way to pitch him effectively when he's swinging the bat like he is now."

Manny Ramírez, MVP? Not far-fetched at all.

Catcher a rising star
Kelly Shoppach got his opportunity in Cleveland with Victor Martinez missing 3 1/2 months after elbow surgery, and boy did he make the most of it.

Shoppach, the former Red Sox farmhand who went to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal, has struck for 19 homers (six against the Tigers) and a .270 average. The Indians will likely continue to use Shoppach a lot next season with Martinez playing more first base.

Does he think his emergence has surprised the Sox?

"I really don't know what they think or what they were thinking at the time," said Shoppach. "That's for people to debate, not for me to really comment on.

"I think at the time they had a catcher in Jason Varitek and they needed a center fielder, and they made the deal they felt they had to make. This has been a great opportunity for me here and I think I've shown what I can do."

Shoppach, 28, has no idea what the future holds, but he's shown he's a very good everyday catcher with power - likely a guy the Sox would love to have back.

"I think the power was always part of my game," he said. "I showed that in the minors. But when you're not playing every day or once a week, that doesn't come out as much. Getting regular at-bats has allowed me to be a little bit looser at the plate."

The Sox are intrigued by Texas backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the 23-year-old switch-hitter who has been shut down with a sprained elbow but will play in the Dominican this winter. The Sox would have to trade a top pitching prospect to land him.

Reviews of his catching prowess are mixed, but one scout thinks Saltalamacchia looks very much like Varitek did at a similar age. Varitek wasn't always the accomplished defensive catcher he is now. "If [Saltalamacchia] catches every day, he's going to be fine," said an American League scout. "He's got a good arm. He's had his moments when he gets crossed up, but experience will help rectify that."

Stealing a few moments with Roberts
A few questions for 2004 Red Sox postseason hero Dave Roberts:

Being in San Francisco, have you been able to keep up with Manny Ramírez in LA?
DR: "Hey, he's playing like a guy with a chip on his shoulder. He's trying to prove something. It seemed like the Boston thing just headed for a big divorce and it was time to split up, so I think that was a move that was good for both teams given the situation. Manny hasn't changed. Manny is just being Manny and his impact has been great."

Has this been a wasted year for you?
DR: "Yeah, I went through the knee surgery and the rehab, so I missed a lot. Now, it's obvious the direction the Giants are going in for the future, so my situation is really up in the air. I feel so healthy right now and I have a year left on my contract, so I'm going to have to sit with my agent and have them talk to the Giants about my role. I really don't want to be a fourth outfielder, if that's what they're thinking."

Surprised you didn't get moved?
DR: "I really am. I have a track record of being able to help a contending team. I feel I could have made an impact on a team given the fact I am healthy and can run. I kept hearing of things possibly happening, but nothing ever did."

In that weak NL West, could the Giants turn things around quickly?
DR: "I think so. We've got two outstanding young starters in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. And Barry Zito has been pitching very well for us in the second half and looks like he might be coming back. We have some excellent young players. I love our young shortstop, Emmanuel Burriss, who is like Jose Reyes without the power, and Pablo Sandoval, who is a catcher, corner infielder, a very impressive player. I'd love to stay here because I think the potential for this team is sky high and I've enjoyed helping the guys, but it would be tough for me in a reduced role off the bench."

Keeping up with the Sox?
DR: "Of course. Another year and another playoff. They're amazing. They have a fun team with a lot of homegrown guys. I love Jason Bay as a player and they've got a lot of professional hitters in that lineup. I'm sure it's tough on Papi losing Manny, but it seems like they have enough offense and they have great pitching."

Etc.
Touching the bases
Apropos of nothing: 1. Sarasota has put a full-court press on landing the Red Sox for spring training; 2. The Red Sox are off the hook for the $3 million buyout on Edgar Renteria's contract if the Tigers decline the option; 3. Interesting that rivals Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman are at the end of their contracts; 4. Remember how impressed we were that Arizona picked up Jon Rauch in the July 22 deal with Washington? Strike that. Rauch is 0-5 with a 6.41 ERA; 5. Will Mike Timlin be on the postseason roster?

Brave new world ahead
Bobby Cox will honor his 2009 option year and return to manage the Braves, but he wants some changes. After 15 divisional titles, this has been Cox's worst year. There have been injuries to John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, but Cox still sees both of them returning. What Cox wants is a dependable big bat in the lineup, a starting pitcher, and bullpen help. The Braves don't usually delve heavily into the free agent market, but with $30 million-$40 million coming off the books, Cox has been assured that general manager Frank Wren is going to pursue free agents and seek trades. Among the hitters who might be on the Braves' radar: Jason Bay (signed through 2009) and Matt Holliday.

Astronomical improvement
An imposter had taken over his body before the All-Star break, when he was 7-8 with a 4.56 ERA, but Roy Oswalt has become Roy Oswalt again and has been a huge part of the Astros' surge. Consider: His 32 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings are now the team record; he's 8-1 with a 1.94 ERA in the second half; he's won nine of his last 10 decisions; and the four combined hits he allowed in his consecutive shutouts were the fewest allowed by an Astro since Ken Forsch on Sept. 21, 1978, and April 7, 1979. An organizational official said, "I wouldn't be surprised if after the season it comes out he had trouble with his groin or forearm or something. He wasn't the same guy early on."

Hurry back, Kapler
Gabe Kapler, one of Doug Melvin's great offseason pickups in Milwaukee, is determined to make it back before the end of the year despite tearing his right triceps. The day after the injury, he said in an e-mail, "I can start hitting off a tee in five days." The Brewers were quite upset about the Kapler injury, feeling he's been a spark the entire season, with clutch hits and great catches.

He'll catch someone's eye
An AL talent evaluator offered this analysis of Ivan Rodriguez, who will be an intriguing free agent: "He's got something left. Is he the Pudge of old? No. But he's better than a lot of the guys out there. He isn't the hitter or the defender he used to be. The thing about Pudge is, he's always very good at the beginning of the contract, so the trick would be to get him for a year or two, tops. Anything beyond that wouldn't make much sense. I know in New York, Pudge has really tried to get to know the pitchers. He works hard at that part of the game, but it comes slower to him now than it used to. He still has an excellent arm. Overall, with the state of catching, he'll garner interest. But any team thinking about more than two years is probably asking for trouble."

Fast relief
Is Angels rookie righthanded reliever Kevin Jepsen the new Frankie Rodriguez? The hard-throwing US Olympian, who was gunned at 157 kilometers per hour at the Games (which translates to 97 miles per hour), retired the first six major league hitters he faced: Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, and Alex Rodriguez twice apiece. His first big league strikeout? A-Rod. Born in Anaheim, Jepsen, 24, is drawing parallels to K-Rod's story. K-Rod came up Sept. 18, 2002, and struck out 13 batters in his first 5 2/3 innings, then was a postseason phenom. If Jepsen is added to the postseason roster, the Angels will go with a hard-throwing bullpen that includes K-Rod, Jepsen, Scot Shields, and rookie sensation Jose Arredondo. Veteran Justin Speier, who has allowed 15 home runs and is 1-8 with a 5.40 ERA, could be the odd man out.

Late shift
The Twins need to fix their bullpen pronto. Traditionally a strength of the team, lately it's been killing them. Entering the weekend, they had lost five games in which they led by three or more runs in the seventh inning or later. The usually impeccable Joe Nathan has been mortal. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Twins had lost only five such games from 2003-07. Despite that, they are still in play for the AL Central title, which should go down to the wire with the White Sox.

Naturally proud
Mike Sweeney's quote to the Contra Costa Times after his release by the A's: "I'm proud I never took a shortcut, never cheated during the steroid and greenie era. I told the guys, numbers don't define who I am. If this is it, I walk away a proud man." Sweeney, 35, a career .299 hitter, will have surgery on both knees.

Short hops
From the Bill Chuck files: "Washington Nationals righty Jason Bergmann is 2-11 on the mound, and that looks good compared to his 0 for 39 with no walks and 20 strikeouts at the plate. Bob Buhl went 0 for 70 with Milwaukee and the Cubs in 1962. Here is a tale of two seasons: Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 57th save against the Seattle Mariners, who had 57 wins." . . . Happy 72d birthday, Stan Williams.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com