Tony DeMarco

If you think Manny Ramirez's 50-game absence is going to change the balance of power in the National League West, think again.

If ever a team was in position to lose its best player and still be a solid division favorite, it is the Los Angeles Dodgers in this year's NL West.

Just ask San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

"I think with the club they have, they're still the team to beat,'' Bochy said. "I don't think this changes the dynamics in the division all that much.''

Or Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

"Any time you lose the best player on your team, and the best player in the division, it's going to hurt you,'' Tulowitzki said. "But at the same time, when teams lose a player like that, usually they're replacing him with a young guy, or somebody they call up (from the minors).

"But Juan Pierre is a proven guy. He makes their defense better, brings more speed to their lineup. He's not going to do what Manny does, but he's still a good player. They still have a good lineup; they still have good pitching.''

And, the suddenly Manny-less Dodgers still have the majors' best record at 21-8 entering the start of the suspension Thursday night. And they still possess a substantial six-game lead in a division where there may not be another team capable of finishing above .500.

There are plenty of reasons besides Ramirez's .348 batting average, six homers, 20 RBI and 26 walks why the Dodgers have built such an early advantage:

• One through eight, the every-day lineup has been productive enough to lead the league in runs, batting average, hits, total bases, walks and on-base percentage through the 21-8 start. They also are only one off the NL stolen-base lead, and figure to grab that with Pierre replacing Ramirez.

"Any time you lose a player, the team, the manager, the organization ... everybody is affected,'' Bochy said. "You have to deal with it. This is going to affect the lineup. Are they as good without Manny? No. But Juan Pierre is a tough out. They lost an impact player, but they're still a very good team.''

• Chad Billingsley is pitching like the staff ace the Dodgers need him to be. At the back end of games, Jonathan Broxton has been equally dominant.

And the Dodgers have the league's lowest staff ERA despite only one (Opening Day) start from Hiroki Kuroda, who has been on the disabled list since early April with a left oblique strain. With his expected return later this month, the rotation only will get deeper.

"This doesn't affect their pitching, which has been doing a good job,'' Bochy said. " It will be up to us, or another club (in the division) to get back into this thing. But we'll still be playing against a very strong ballclub.''

• And there are plenty of reasons why nobody else seems capable of mounting a serious challenge, even if the Dodgers slip back close to .500.

It's entirely possible that as many as three of the other four managers in the division — Bochy being the exception — won't survive into 2010. The D-backs' Bob Melvin and the Rockies' Clint Hurdle already have answered speculation about their respective job securities. And there is legitimate doubt about Bud Black getting an extension with an ownership change in San Diego.

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The D-backs failed to capitalize on an advantageous April schedule that included 18 home games by going 8-10 at Chase Field and 9-13 overall. Now they are in the midst of a stretch of 40 games in 41 days — and likely will be without ace Brandon Webb for most of that period, leaving no margin for error for an already-thin rotation.

Stephen Drew — the only established star-caliber player among the D-backs young core that clearly has been overrated — also is on the disabled list. Mark Reynolds still is striking out once every three at-bats, and what's happened to Chris Young? It appeared as if he may follow Drew's lead and step up, but instead has gone backwards. A recent 0-for-21 slide dropped his average to .174.

The Rockies' early schedule was much the opposite of the D-backs' — 16 road games, nine home in the first 25. That has contributed a very pedestrian offense in which through Wednesday, only one hitter — Chris Iannetta — has more than three home runs.

Meanwhile, Tulowitzki — struggling near the .200 mark — still is searching for his 2007 form and not finding it. Hurdle also has played musical closers, and the staff ERA is 13th in the NL.

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There is little burden of expectation in San Diego, and after a quick start, the reality of another 90-loss season is setting in. And there is a feeling that it's only a matter of time until Jake Peavy is traded, and a stripped-down payroll gets even less competitive.

Bochy's Giants do have the division's best starting pitching, but there is little hope for an offensive breakthrough. Bengie Molina hit two homers on Thursday to bring his season total to seven, but the rest of the Giants have hit only nine more.

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