Manny to be evaluated Friday

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LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers will wait at least until Friday before deciding whether to place Manny Ramirez on the disabled list with an injured right hamstring.

The 38-year-old outfielder suffered the injury sliding back into second base after overrunning the bag in the first inning of Tuesday's game at San Francisco. After coming out of that game and then resting Wednesday, Ramirez had an MRI in Phoenix on Thursday, an off day for the Dodgers before their weekend series against Arizona.

"Manny Ramirez felt better today," Dodgers vice president of communications Josh Rawitch said. "[The MRI] showed inflammation in the hamstring, as was expected by the medical staff upon examination yesterday, and we will see how he progresses tomorrow before determining the next step."

Ramirez was sidelined from April 23 through May 7 with an strained right calf, then struggled with a .288 on-base percentage, .304 slugging percentage and two home runs in his first 23 games back in action. But Ramirez essentially doubled that production in the next 23 games, with a .476 on-base percentage, .658 slugging percentage and four homers before the latest ailment.

Reed Johnson and Garret Anderson are the Dodgers backup' outfielders, but if Ramirez goes on the disabled list, the team will likely call up Xavier Paul from Triple-A Albuquerque for the third time this season. The 25-year-old has a .328 on-base percentage and .404 slugging percentage in 20 games for the Dodgers this year, subbing in for Ramirez and for Andre Ethier during their DL stints. Paul, who has been outstanding at Albuquerque with 12 home runs, a .402 on-base percentage and .633 slugging percentage, was not in the Isotopes' starting lineup Thursday.

Meanwhile, while Ramirez couldn't help the Dodgers, he did help others, donating his 1994 Porsche 911 to be auctioned off for charity.

Proceeds from the online auction will be divided between the Dodgers' official charity ThinkCure! and Maryvale, a residential placement home for girls in suburban Rosemead. The team says Ramirez asked that the proceeds be shared with a center that specifically helps displaced children.

The auction begins Friday and runs through July 12.

The Dodgers say the red 911 Turbo coupe with gray leather interior has 34,569 miles on it and was appraised at more than $58,000.

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Jon Weisman

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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Jon Weisman is the author of Dodger Thoughts and a TV editor and writer for Variety.