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If the Los Angeles Dodgers win the welfare state known as the National League West, their fans will toast Manny Ramirez. While they're at it, they shouldn't forget Mike Stanton. At least have their people call his people with a brief expression of gratitude before the best tables at Spago fill up.

The Grasshoppers' 18-year-out outfielder is apparently a part of this big-league pennant chase even though his team has fallen apart in the second half. When the Florida Marlins refused to include Stanton in a three-way transaction involving Pittsburgh late last month, the Boston Red Sox had to look elsewhere to unload their petulant slugger, who has more baggage than a Vail-bound Texan in January.

So Manny's act got shipped to Southern California - about 15 miles from Stanton used to hit long balls in one season and catch passes in another. And the way Stanton's going, this brush with Hollywood fame won't be his last. Pretty soon, it will be more direct.

On Sunday, he hit his 30th home run of the season. On Monday, he authored 31 and 32 to set the modern record for a Greensboro player. That's rather mundane by Major League standards, but it's remarkable in its context. According to a database at www.baseball-reference.com, Stanton, who doesn't turn 19 until November, is the youngest professional to hit 30 long balls in a season in at least two decades.

That's in the Majors or any American-based Minor League club.

An Atlanta Braves prospect named Andruw Jones hit 34 dingers in 1996, but he turned 19 less than three weeks into the season. (Sure, Jones the Dodger is a bigger bust than half the Sunset Strip these days, but he did have a few good years in Turner Field.)

Ken Griffey Jr., born nearly 20 years to the day before Stanton, was justifiably praised for his rapid ascent through the Seattle Mariners system. His Minor League totals: 27 homers in 462 at-bats. Counting a brief stint at two other Florida Marlins affiliates last season, Stanton has gone deep 33 times in 460 at-bats.

At age 18, Griffey played 75 games, splitting his time between the San Bernardino Spirit and the Vermont Mariners. If prorated to a full, 140-game season, his production would translate to 24 home runs, 97 RBI and a .575 slugging percentage. Stanton's on track for 39 homers, 97 RBI and a .578 slugging mark. Griffey celebrated his 19th birthday on Nov. 21, 1988. Stanton hits that number on Nov. 8, 2008.

This is not to say we're looking at the next Griffey here. There are no promises in baseball, and Griffey was a far better contact hitter - better batting average, considerably fewer strikeouts - at 18 than the Hoppers' bopper is.

But we're still looking at history and fascinating promise. At Hickory on Monday night, Stanton surpassed the Greensboro record of 30, established by Jason Kinchen, then 25 years old, for the 2001 Bats. If he keeps going, he'll challenge the South Atlantic League's standard of 40 long balls, set by 20-year-old Russell Branyan of the 1996 Columbus Red Stixx.

Unfortunately, the business of record-keeping in Minor League Baseball is less than efficient, which means it's hard to know exactly how remarkable Stanton's season will be. What's more certain is the Hoppers' schedule, which includes only nine more home games.

Stanton's final appearance in the Gate City, in other words, is set for the season finale on Sept. 1 against the Lexington Legends. He's moving on from here, and the chance to catch him one last time is worth the relatively minimal expense for anybody with an appreciation of baseball history.
If they stick to a normal developmental timetable, the Marlins won't begin to appreciate Stanton for a couple of more years. You have nine chances left.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com