So far Dodger slugger Manny Ramirez doesn't look like $25 million at the plate — but hey, that's what spring training's for. Better he get those strikeouts out of his system now than during the season. Today he went 0-3 in a 10-4 loss to the “Los Angeles” Angels. The L.A. Daily News' Tony Jackson raises an eyebrow over Manny's  assertion that he'll ask manager Joe Torre to put him in tomorrow's game as the designated hitter — even though the Dodgers are the home team, playing the AL's Seattle Mariners. If Manny can get the rules changed, he will have shown a bit of superhuman clout after all.

In the meantime, the baseball players union has filed a grievance over the Dodgers compelling players like Manny to commit to donating part of their salaries to charity. An Associated Press report quotes owner Frank McCourt's justification for the requirement:

“They're making a lot of money, these players. We won't tell them how much to contribute, that wouldn't be right.”

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