Much has already been written about the return of Hanley Ramirez to the Dodger line-up on Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium so there is no need for me to beat that into the ground. But what hasn’t been mentioned is something intangible; something that if you were among the lucky 47,602 in attendance at Dodger Stadium for Hanley’s return as the Dodgers shortstop (on his bobble head night no less) you felt rather than saw. There was an electricity in the air that has been missing not only for the first 25 games of the new season, but for the past several seasons.

You could feel the electricity in the air at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday evening when Hanley Ramirez took the field. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

When Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-out solo home run in the top of the first inning, it was as though it was nothing more than a little annoyance. Why? Because Dodger starting pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu had struck out the first two batters he faced and then struck out Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer after the CarGo home run to end the inning. It was very obvious very early that Ryu was on his game.

Hyun-jin Ryu struck out 12 Rockies batters on Tuesday night, including leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Jerry Hairston Jr. led off the bottom half of the first inning with a looping single to left bringing up second baseman Nick Punto. And though there probably wasn’t anyone at Dodger Stadium who didn’t expect Punto to bunt, nobody expected the switch-hitting Punto (batting right-handed against lefty Jorge De La Rosa) to push a bunt down the first base line. Punto’s bunt made it past De La Rosa causing Rockies first baseman Jordan Pacheco to have to field the ball. When he did, he made an awkward throw to second baseman Josh Rutledge, who had not yet arrived at the first base bag; however, the speedy Punto had, making one of his trademark head first slides. Hairston was subsequently driven in on a Matt Kemp single (during which Punto went from first to third), and Punto was driven in on an Adrian Gonzalez sacrifice fly to left field; thus giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead – a lead which they would not relinquish.

And though Hanley Ramirez would ground out in his first at bat for the second out of the inning with Ethier popping out to second for the third out, the tone was set for what would end up being a 6-2 rout of the Rockies and a 2 for 4 night for Ramirez that included a towering home run to left field and a sharp double down the right field line.

Ramirez made it known before the game that he wanted to hit a home run on his bobble head night – and he did. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

What Dodger fans had witnessed was an aggressiveness that has been absent through the first 25 games of the season. On this night, the night that Hanley Ramirez made his 2013 season debut, the Dodgers made things happen; they manufactured runs and had timely hitting – something that they have been unable to do thus far in the young season – and it was great!

But what doesn’t show up in the box score or in any game recaps is that intangible thing I mentioned; that key element that has been missing from this Dodger team thus far this season – swagger; a word that is used to describe teams that are playing with a lot of confidence and heart. It’s been a very long time since you’ve heard the words Dodgers and swagger mentioned in the same sentence, but it was there on Tuesday night – and once swagger starts it is like a snowball rolling down hill, and I believe that it is about to happen to the Dodgers – and not a moment too soon.

But where did it come from? Was it Hyun-jin Ryu’s pitching masterpiece which included a season-high 12 strikeouts? Was it Hairston going 3 for 5 on the night? Was it Punto’s perfect bunt and his 2 for 5 night? Was it Kemp’s 2 for 5 night? Was it AGon’s 1 for 3 night with an RBI? Was it Hanley’s 2 for 4 night with a home run and a double? Was it Ethier’s and Uribe’s 1 for 4 nights?

The answer is Yes.

But make no mistake about it – it was Hanley Ramirez who brought the spark that ignited this Dodger team, and if it continues as it did on Tuesday night, the standings on the final day of May are going to look a lot different than they did on the final day of April – and you can take that to the bank.