ANAHEIM -- In the short term, Manny Ramirez delivered the Red Sox an
instant postseason victory with one swing by hitting a ball so far
that his teammates were literally awed.

But not to be lost in the instant gratification of the moment is the
long-term ramifications.

Ramirez had been sidelined by a strained left oblique for 24 games
down the stretch. He returned to the lineup for the final six
regular-season games. However, not until the Game 2 walk-off blast
that sunk the Angels had Ramirez driven the ball with much authority.

With Ramirez back in full swing, the Red Sox suddenly become a far
more dangerous team. And there probably won't be many more nights that
David Ortiz gets walked four times, as he did Friday night.

"I think when Manny is going good and has full confidence and is
swinging the bat good, I think they're going to have to pitch to
David," said Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "Manny Ramirez is
Manny Ramirez. Manny has a longer track record than David Ortiz. He's
MVP material almost every year and a guy that is going to be a Hall of
Famer."

Boston manager Terry Francona had said repeatedly in recent days that
Ramirez having just a few days to refine his swing before the
postseason "wasn't perfect."

Nobody could predict exactly when things would click in for the star
slugger, but Friday's swing might have provided the answer.

"We saw the way he was swinging the bat," said Red Sox third baseman
Mike Lowell. "I can't say we knew for sure he was going to do what he
did, but we knew his at-bats were good. With his God-given ability, we
feel pretty confident with him in that spot. I don't think there's
anyone else on our team we'd rather have hitting behind David than him."

After topping 30 homers and 100 RBIs for nine consecutive seasons,
Ramirez finished 2007 with 20 homers and 88 RBIs.

In his rare postgame address following Game 2, Ramirez indicated that
this has not been the easiest season for him.

"Just my timing all year round hasn't been right," said Ramirez. "But
man, like I said, even when I'm not right, I get hits. So you know, I
just go to battle and keep preparing the way I'm preparing. ... I'm
always working hard and that's it. That's me, man. Even when you don't
feel good and you get hits, like I said, you're a bad man."

Source: Ian Browne / MLB.com