Manny Ramirez undoubtedly will be welcomed with open arms by the Dodgers on Friday when he rejoins the team at San Diego following his 50-game suspension. But his return doesn't figure to be all wine and roses.

For starters, Ramirez can expect a chilly—perhaps even hostile—reaction from fans at Petco Park, where the Dodgers are universally despised and where Padres fans—unlike San Francisco fans who still largely support Barry Bonds—can jeer Ramirez without the slightest hint of hypocrisy.

More important, perhaps, is the fact Ramirez doesn't figure to be in anything close to midseason form when he returns. As general manager Ned Colletti told the Los Angeles Times earlier this week, 50 games is a long time. ...More