Dodgers stuck with Mannywood promo and fans are confused

May 7, 1:53 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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                                                Mannywood t-shirt.

Callers on sports talk radio here in Los Angeles are asking a question that could be problematic for the Dodgers organization. Can I get a refund or swap tickets for money spent on Mannywood tee shirts and left field seats?

Initial reaction from the Dodgers has been silence. They have plastered LA with bill boards and print ads for a promotion that has been a success.

Mannywood is a special section in the left field bleachers and for the price of $99 fans get two seats and two limited edition tee-shirts. The seats would normally cost $120 without tee-shirts.

Additional revenue is key this season in MLB and filling empty seats on nights when the dregs of the league, like the Nationals or the Padres come to town has led the team to use Manny as their biggest marketing tool.

Some radio hosts suggested there shouldn't be a refund since it is the same situation when a player goes on the D/L or gets a day of rest.

I disagree. If a fan buys a seat outside of Mannywood they take the risk that their favorite player isn't in attendance. Mannywood is different. But unfortunately there would be a long and tedious process to try and figure out which fans wouldn't have come to the game but for getting the tee-shirts and sitting near Manny.

Because the Dodgers will be able to get out from under a third of Manny's salary this season I think they can afford to accommodate some fans who are angry. A swap for tickets when Manny returns is a good compromise. I'm sure everyone has already circled the date in early July when Man-Ram returns.