Dodgers’ web musings: Manny Ramirez, and Frank and Jamie McCourts’ trial are all the rage

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Manny Ramirez did speak to the Chicago media when he joined the White Sox Tuesday … in Spanish.

Manny was born in the Dominican Republic, but grew up in the Bronx, has been in the major leagues for 17 years, makes his home in Florida and speaks great English.

He always spoke English to the Los Angeles media, you know, back when he was speaking to us.

Manny, however, stopped talking to the press on the third day of spring training without explanation.

In Cleveland, he used coach Joey Cora to translate in his introductory news conference.

‘Feels more comfortable with his language,’’ Cora said. ‘Obviously he understands [the questions], but he wants to make sure.’’

As you might imagine, Manny is dominating the Web for the Dodgers, though there was that little matter of the trial:

-- Yahoo.com’s Tim Brown wrote an absolutely terrific piece on the McCourts’ trial and the beautiful people of L.A.

-- Foxsports.com’s Mark Kriegel says that Frank and Jamie McCourt are way too ready for their close-up, but neither are fit to own the team.

-- The Times’ T.J. Simers has a hilarious opening to his look at the trial, when the judge swears the McCourts in and then asks them to say, ‘I do.’’

-- CBSsports.com’s Scott Miller said the Dodgers always knew Manny came with an expiration date, but at least he didn’t leave behind the same mess he did in Boston.

-- Riverside Press-Enterprise’ Gregg Patton writes that Manny knows how to make an entrance, but needs to work on his exit.

-- Fanhouse.com’s Tom Krasovic doesn’t think Manny quit on the Dodgers and wonders why they stopped playing him.

-- ESPN.com’s Jayson Starkwrites that with Manny, it never seems to end well.

-- Newhanonbaseball.com’s Ross Newhan, the former Times Hall of Fame baseball writer, said it’s ridiculous to think Scott Podsednik could help a late playoff run more than Manny and thinks the Dodgers should have kept and played him.

-- MikeSciosiastragicillness.com has a lengthy Manny overview, saying it was never boring while he was around, but if he was no longer at his peak, he was still an effective hitter when healthy.

-- Steve Dilbeck