Be sure of this much: When Manny Ramirez walks to the plate for the first time tonight for the Dodgers, Fox analyst and former Phillie Tim McCarver won't pull his punches. Never has, never will.

"It's extraordinary -- the dichotomy between what he was in Boston and what he is in Los Angeles," McCarver said. "I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable, despicable -- like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it's washed, it's gone."

Not gone in Boston, McCarver said, but he gives Ramirez his complete due for what he has done in L.A.

"A rejuvenated Manny, I think it would be fair to say," McCarver said. "More than old Manny. Manny's doing things that even Manny doesn't do, [like] scoring on a double to right field from first base."

McCarver laughed and asked which knee was it that was hurting? "It's a wonderful story in many, many ways, and from Boston's standpoint, it's a horrible story, I would imagine, because he could be doing that for Boston," he said.

McCarver said baserunning could be a key factor. The Phillies and Dodgers were among the top four teams in the National League in stolen bases.

"To the viewing public, it would be a bonanza if both teams continue to play like they've been playing," McCarver said. "Then you really have the clash of titans, two hot teams, two good teams."

Should have cut him

Curt Schilling could have been ready to pitch in the AL championship series, according to his surgeon. Dr. Craig Morgan said that if Boston had followed his advice to operate on Schilling's shoulder last winter, the right-hander likely would have been ready for the postseason.

Wait 'til next year

Rich Harden's $7 million option for next year was exercised by Chicago, one day after a test showed the hard-throwing right-hander had no structural damage in his pitching shoulder. The Cubs acquired Harden from Oakland.

Will pay for play

New Giants managing partner Bill Neukom wants San Francisco to be aggressive about bringing top players to town, saying he's not against the club going after a high-priced free agent this winter.

Elsewhere

Former Pirates pitcher Bruce DalCanton, 66, died in St. Clair Hospital Tuesday after a brief illness. DalCanton, a California, Pa., native, pitched for the Pirates from 1967-1970, then continued his 11-year major league career with Kansas City, Atlanta and the Chicago White Sox. He was 20-8 with the Pirates and finished his career at 51-49.