Radiant Ramirez

PHILADELPHIA – Sporting freshly trimmed, thick braids instead of his usual dreadlocks, Manny Ramirez has a slightly new look for the N.L. Championship Series to go with his reformed West Coast attitude.

On the field, it’s the same old Ramirez. He just keeps hitting.

Ramirez changed the culture of the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading them to the playoffs with a dynamic performance after forcing his way out of Boston.

Riding their slugger’s torrid hitting and a couple of masterful pitching performances, the Dodgers swept the heavily favored Chicago Cubs out of the first round. Getting past the Philadelphia Phillies and their strong pitching in the NLCS won’t be that easy.

“They’re the best team out there,” Ramirez said Wednesday. “These guys are great. We don’t think we are better than them, but the key in the playoffs is to get in and anything can happen.”

Game 1 is tonight at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, with Derek Lowe (14-11) on the mound for the Dodgers against Cole Hamels (14-10).

Both teams have several outstanding players and a mix of interesting personalities, but all the focus was squarely on Ramirez the day before the opener. Cameras clicked and microphones followed the enigmatic left fielder everywhere he went before the Dodgers’ workout.

Ramirez took it in stride.

“It’s not my first rodeo,” he said.

He was charming, witty and humble, sitting down for nearly 20 minutes and answering questions on a wide range of topics.

The 2004 World Series MVP, Ramirez already has two championship rings from his 7 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox.

Ramirez batted .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 53 regular-season games with Los Angeles. He made a tremendous impact off the field, too, loosening up the clubhouse and showing teammates how to relax.

“I think he fit us perfectly because of our youth,” said Lowe, who also played with Ramirez in Boston. “It was great for our young hitters to see how a superstar goes about his daily business, how hard he prepares, how he doesn’t let one pitch or one at-bat affect him.”

Ramirez hit .332 with 37 homers and 121 RBIs this season. He continued to torment pitchers in the playoffs, going 5 for 10 with two homers, three RBIs and four walks against Chicago.

Ramirez has hit safely in 38 of his last 43 postseason games, with a .350 average during that span. His 26 postseason homers are the most in MLB history.

Does that make him the real Mr. October?

“I just go out there and relax and try and do my best,” he said.

While the Dodgers rely on Ramirez to carry their offense, the Phillies need more production from their big hitters. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were a combined 4 for 26 with nine strikeouts against Milwaukee in the division series. They’re batting .184 (9 for 49) with 21 Ks, four extra-base hits and four RBIs in two postseason series.