The Zulewski report By Tom Zulewski August 27, 2010     The talk is all but confirmed now that the Chicago White Sox have claimed Manny Ramirez from the Los Angeles Dodgers on the waiver wire. Just two details are being worked out first will Manny accept going to the White Sox he has a no trade clause in his Dodgers contract and second will the Dodgers who by the way are expected to wait until the moment of the trade deadline on August 31st at 1:30PM EDT go through with a trade and see what they can get for Manny. Ramirez has been on the disabled list three times this season and like most critics the Dodgers expect no one to pick up Ramirez on the waiver wire because he might be looked at as damaged goods and might be hurt or might not help someone trying to make a bid for post season all except one team the Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers however are five games out of first in their bid for a wild card spot in the National League and might hold out to see what they need in exchange for Manny. Most likely they might have to deal with the Sox in this case who have made no secret about obtaining Ramirez. Ramirez has been hampered by a strained calf twice of the three times he's been out on the D.L. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is insistent on that he's the prize and he can do wonders fitting Ramirez into the ball club and that Ozzie is the right manager to get Ramirez motivated and help the Sox in their drive to a post season opportunity, Remember former Giant and current Sox catcher A.J.Pierzynski who converted just fine after having controversial circumstances regarding his clubhouse relationships and with opposing players over the years. Guillen also feels like he knows what makes Ramirez tick and maybe like he's done with so many other players before he might be able to get into Ramirez' head and get him away from so many disability claims and get him swinging the bat. The DH role will more than likely be the bait to try and attract Ramirez to Chicago and the Sox are only 3.5 games out of the hunt in the A.L. Central. Guillen likes that kind of stage presence that Ramirez brings to the game and insists that if there are any personal issues like Ramirez might have had in Boston or even in Los Angeles going to the Windy City Guillen can get them worked out and for Ramirez a new change of scenery with the White Sox will be the right fit for Ramirez. The way the Sox have approached the Ramirez wire deal is without hesitation and they want to obtain more than just a drawing card and at U.S.Celluar Field there has been no problem like that but also show Chicago's other team on the South Side that the White Sox can get things done and head to the playoffs with a flourish. Whose going to be part of the deal that sends Ramirez to Chicago and what will the Dodgers get? Talk has it it's pitching, and it's always been pitching, the Dodgers have a push to try and get into the wild card and they want some pitching for Ramirez. Will the Sox give up some good pitchers in the wild card drive for Ramirez if you talk to Ozzie it sounds like everything's on the table and Guillen is totally open to getting Ramirez comfortable and being a big piece of the team and clubhouse puzzle at U.S. Cellular. Another point of fact whatever Ramirez' injuries are real or not when he's in there for L.A. this season he was hitting .313, 8 homers, 40 RBIs, and 32 runs scored. Ramirez had himself a ball game for the Dodgers on Thursday night hitting a pair of doubles and picking up an RBI. It helped L.A. win the ball game too by a run 5-4 over the Brewers, "any time Manny's in the line up, you know the other team's thinking about that's one of the guys they don't want to beat them. He's definitely a force in the line up." said James Loney. Showcasing or not Ramirez had been on a slide before Thursday night's game and gave teammates a slight grin while leaving the clubhouse on Thursday night after the win knowing that he might wave the no trade clause and head on out to Guillen's clubhouse on the South Side and return back to the American League with the White Sox in their bid for post season. Tom Zulewski files the report each week for Sportstalk radio

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