While it’s hard to measure the mental impact and distraction factor of having Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games the day after breaking the modern baseball record for consecutive home wins to start the season, we can look at the results so far to guess at the impact this has had on the Dodgers season.

LA so far without Manny hasn’t fared as well compared to with Manny. The first instinct of many fans may be to be to blame the offensive hole left by Manny. The numbers don’t really paint that picture though.

With Manny – Games 1-29
Wins / Losses: 21-8
Runs Scored / Allowed: 161-106
AVG Hits Per Game / Allowed: 9.59-6.97
AVG Runs Scored Per Game / Allowed: 5.55-3.66
Dodgers with RISP: 82 for 288 (.285 AVG)
Opponents with RISP: 43 for 220 (.195 AVG)

Without Manny – Games 30-36
Wins / Losses: 3-4
Runs Scored / Allowed: 40-31
AVG Hits Per Game / Allowed: 11.86-8.86
AVG Runs Scored Per Game / Allowed: 5.71-4.43
Dodgers with RISP: 24 for 78 (.308 AVG)
Opponents with RISP: 16 for 75 (.213 AVG)

Though the small number of games since the suspension skews the results a bit, you can clearly tell that the Dodgers have hit as good if not better than before. Juan Pierre for instance has been hot, Martin’s breaking out of his slump, James Loney is starting to hit home runs, etc. This clearly makes up for the Dodgers missing their slugger in the three hole.

So why are the Dodgers spinning their wheels a bit? It’s the pitching. Here are the results of the four games the Dodgers have lost since Manny was suspended:

• 9-11 against the Nationals
• 1-3 against the Giants
• 5-7 against the Giants
• 3-5 against the Phillies.

While averaging a bit more runs scored per game the Dodgers pitching has been allowing between 1 and 2 more runs per game and their opponents are hitting .213 with RISP as opposed to .195 before Manny left. All four losses have been a 2 run difference.

So did Manny’s suspension somehow throw the Dodgers pitching into a tailspin? That’s doubtful. It’s no news to anyone that the pitching has been in question since before the season even started. I would argue the pitching has performed above expectations in the first month of the season and faltering a bit lately is no surprise at all.

Having Manny back will help the Dodgers but hitting is not their problem. Over the next 43 games without Ramirez the Dodgers will need to stay focused on continuing to get quality starts from their front men and seeing that the bullpen gives up fewer runs.