Dodgersclub.com | Los Angeles Dodgers News, dodgers Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> Everyone loves to watch Manny Ramirez at the plate. Even other major league players stop to watch him take batting practice some are even distracted during the game. That s because they can t do what Manny does, which is hit a Baseball better than just about anyone else on the planet. In Welcome to Mannywood, in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine on sale now, writer Jeff Bradley talks to teammates, coaches and swing experts to get their take on the swing savant. </div>Quotes: Sean Casey, former teammate: If slumps are between a player s ears, which I think they are, then Manny is slump-proof, because mentally he is always the same. Russell Branyan, Mariners: Players were asking for video of him when he was a kid in Cleveland. And it hasn t changed. You watch him, and you try to grasp even a little of what he does, hope it sinks in. You wonder what he s seeing that you don t see, what he s doing that you re not doing. Don Mattingly, Dodgers hitting coach: When he hits a home run, I swear, on the bench, it s like he never hit one before in his life. But when he strikes out, he s still smiling, coming back to the bench saying, He throws me there again, and asking the ump for a new ball. Man, the game is hard, but to him, it s still a game. I wish everybody could be like that. MLB PREVIEW: In addition to the Ramirez feature, ESPN The Magazine's Baseball gurus Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian break down all 30 teams to find out who s the team to beat this year their pick: The Tampa Bay Rays. Plus, a new wave of fielding analysis changes the way free agent sluggers are valued, and the experts from Baseball Prospectus on how a few subtle changes in the field can dramatically change a team s defense for better or worse. MASTERS: They say the Masters is won and lost on the back nine on Sunday. So what about the other 63 holes? In Every Day is Sunday, writer Jeff Bradley picks four essential spots one per round where the Green Jacket is really decided. Quotes: Stuart Appleby: No. 1 is probably the hardest starting hole we play. It s like climbing into the ring and getting knocked down with the first punch. Jack Nicklaus: The 10th hole can be dangerous off the tee. The left side is the best angle, but you have to watch the trees. If you hang it out to the right, you re looking at a 2- or 3- iron to the green. Anybody who plays 10 even par for the tournament should absolutely be jumping up and down. COLUMNISTS: If you see something, type something. Will that be the new mantra for fans at sporting events? Thanks to tattletexting, it just might be. Rick Reilly explains in Life of Reilly. And The Sports Guy recently visited a stat-geek convention at MIT -- and he fit right in. Bill Simmons shares his thoughts and experiences on the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. ADDITIONAL FEATURES: THE COVENANT OF THE CLIPBOARD. Head coaches make the headlines in college hoops, but it s their assistants who make everything click. Elena Bergeron, Jerry Bembry & Anna K. Clemmons report. WHAT S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DANNY GRANGER AND KOBE BRYANT? Their stats suggest not much. Then again, some will tell you stats lie, particularly when your team isn t all that. Chris Broussard reports. NUMBERS GAME. Zdeno Chara has the Boston Bruins seriously thinking Stanley Cup for the first time in 37 years. Lindsay Berra reports. THE GRAVITY OF SPEED. NHRA Funny Car legend John Force knows the dangers of his sport. But even after witnessing the June 2008 fatal crash of his friend Scott Kalitta, and experiencing his own near-death accident so why does he let his daughter Ashley do it too? ESPN THE MAGAZINE COVERS AVAILABLE AT ESPNMEDIAZONE.COM Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more. Photos/Multimedia ?Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5927632 & lang=en Keywords: Golf, Entertainment, Other Sports, Other Entertainment, Communications, Advertising, Marketing, Publishin, Baseball, Sports, ESPN The Magazine. This article was prepared by Entertainment & Travel editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Entertainment & Travel via VerticalNews.com.

Everyone loves to watch Manny Ramirez at the plate. Even other major league players stop to watch him take batting practice some are even distracted during the game. That s because they can t do what Manny does, which is hit a Baseball better than just about anyone else on the planet. In Welcome to Mannywood, in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine on sale now, writer Jeff Bradley talks to teammates, coaches and swing experts to get their take on the swing savant.

Quotes: Sean Casey, former teammate: If slumps are between a player s ears, which I think they are, then Manny is slump-proof, because mentally he is always the same. Russell Branyan, Mariners: Players were asking for video of him when he was a kid in Cleveland. And it hasn t changed. You watch him, and you try to grasp even a little of what he does, hope it sinks in. You wonder what he s seeing that you don t see, what he s doing that you re not doing. Don Mattingly, Dodgers hitting coach: When he hits a home run, I swear, on the bench, it s like he never hit one before in his life. But when he strikes out, he s still smiling, coming back to the bench saying, He throws me there again, and asking the ump for a new ball. Man, the game is hard, but to him, it s still a game. I wish everybody could be like that. MLB PREVIEW: In addition to the Ramirez feature, ESPN The Magazine's Baseball gurus Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian break down all 30 teams to find out who s the team to beat this year their pick: The Tampa Bay Rays. Plus, a new wave of fielding analysis changes the way free agent sluggers are valued, and the experts from Baseball Prospectus on how a few subtle changes in the field can dramatically change a team s defense for better or worse. MASTERS: They say the Masters is won and lost on the back nine on Sunday. So what about the other 63 holes? In Every Day is Sunday, writer Jeff Bradley picks four essential spots one per round where the Green Jacket is really decided. Quotes: Stuart Appleby: No. 1 is probably the hardest starting hole we play. It s like climbing into the ring and getting knocked down with the first punch. Jack Nicklaus: The 10th hole can be dangerous off the tee. The left side is the best angle, but you have to watch the trees. If you hang it out to the right, you re looking at a 2- or 3- iron to the green. Anybody who plays 10 even par for the tournament should absolutely be jumping up and down. COLUMNISTS: If you see something, type something. Will that be the new mantra for fans at sporting events? Thanks to tattletexting, it just might be. Rick Reilly explains in Life of Reilly. And The Sports Guy recently visited a stat-geek convention at MIT -- and he fit right in. Bill Simmons shares his thoughts and experiences on the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. ADDITIONAL FEATURES: THE COVENANT OF THE CLIPBOARD. Head coaches make the headlines in college hoops, but it s their assistants who make everything click. Elena Bergeron, Jerry Bembry & Anna K. Clemmons report. WHAT S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DANNY GRANGER AND KOBE BRYANT? Their stats suggest not much. Then again, some will tell you stats lie, particularly when your team isn t all that. Chris Broussard reports. NUMBERS GAME. Zdeno Chara has the Boston Bruins seriously thinking Stanley Cup for the first time in 37 years. Lindsay Berra reports. THE GRAVITY OF SPEED. NHRA Funny Car legend John Force knows the dangers of his sport. But even after witnessing the June 2008 fatal crash of his friend Scott Kalitta, and experiencing his own near-death accident so why does he let his daughter Ashley do it too? ESPN THE MAGAZINE COVERS AVAILABLE AT ESPNMEDIAZONE.COM Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

Photos/Multimedia ?Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5927632 & lang=en

Keywords: Golf, Entertainment, Other Sports, Other Entertainment, Communications, Advertising, Marketing, Publishin, Baseball, Sports, ESPN The Magazine.