Manny Returns

By HOWARD ULMAN

AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) – Homers or hijinks, Red Sox fans never knew what

they would get from Manny Ramirez. Now it's their turn to surprise

the enigmatic slugger.

Will they think of his leisurely trots down the first-base line

and boo? Or will they recall his drives over the Green Monster and

cheer?

Ramirez's former Boston teammates don't know how the crowd will

react when he brings his act back to Fenway Park for the first time

since being traded in 2008. He's scheduled to be the designated

hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Friday night's opener of a

three-game series.

In 7½ seasons with the Red Sox, Ramirez batted .312 with 274

homers and 868 RBIs. He was the MVP of the 2004 World Series when

Boston won the title for the first time since 1918. But he also

struggled at times in the field and failed to hustle on the bases.