Manny Ramirez Suspended 50 Games

In case you have been living in a bubble and have not heard yet, Manny Ramirez has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Per Section 8.G.2 of the Program.

Here are the facts as of today (10:36 am, May 7 2009): Manny suspended 50 games. Tested positive. He will not fight the suspension. He will be eligible to be back July 3rd. Manny will be losing 1/3 of his salary (around 7.7 million dollars) from his 45 million dollar contract. Xavier Paul will be called up from triple A to take Manny’s roster spot.

Here is what is not known: What Manny tested positive for. According to Manny, in a statement he released earlier , that he was given a prescription drug from a physician for a personal illness. The doctor thought this medication was not on the banned list. And they are also saying it was not a steroid.

Being a Dodger fan I hope that what Manny is saying is true. I really really want to believe it. But it’s almost like “here we go again”. Another great baseball player showing us he’s not so great. What Manny needs to do now is come out with everything. Have the doctor come out and speak, tell us what ailment he has, show us the prescription, and let us know what drug he took. If he can’t or doesn’t do that, why should we believe him?