I thought Manny Ramirez was suspended?
I must have missed the memo that stated Manny Ramirez’s suspension was lifted from 50 games to 40.
In case you haven’t heard, Ramirez is getting a fair share of work these days for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliates. He was suspended 50 games by MLB for testing positive for performance-chancing drugs, yet apparently it’s fine if he plays in some minor league games in order to get his swing back for when he’s ready to join the big league club again.
Since when is it okay for someone to work during a suspension? Granted, sports will never be confused for everyday jobs, but isn’t this a little ridiculous that Manny (who broke a rule) is allowed to play? If he’s suspended 50 games, he shouldn’t be allowed to play in any league (major, minor or little) until that suspension is completed.
This is a benefit to Ramirez; why is the league helping him out? Oh, you broke a rule, Manny? No problem – we’ll still make sure that you get enough hacks in so that when you come back to the show, you’ll be ready to rake again in no time. Let us know if you need anything else because we’re here to serve you.
Maybe this isn’t that big of a deal and I’m making too much of the situation. But come on, this isn’t like a player coming off the DL who needs a quick rehab (unless they’re counting this as a drug rehab, err, women’s fertility drug rehab) assignment before he sees major league pitching again. This coconut got busted for a positive PED test and as suspended 50 games. So make him serve 50 games.
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The 50 game suspension contemplated the ten game tune up. It is part of the players contracts, collectively bargained for and agreed to by the players, the ownwers, and Major League Baseball.
Get your facts straight. The truth is that besides the many millions he got penalized for, he was in fact and did in fact sit out for 50 MAJOR league games. You media sensation people who are very negative about anything so long as it enhances “rubber necking” miss that fact. Note too, you who call him a “cheater” miss the fact too, that he has never been proven to have taken one steroid drug. He, Manny, decided to fold them because he had a prescription for a drug that was on the banned drug list. Manny will prove to the world, drug free, (as in the past) that he is the best in the game and has been since just about the day he started. His average might even improve and his home runs will not go down in number. Our media goes unpunished for reckless reporting and saying anything so long as it gets attention – readership – hence advertising dollars.
Dave,
You have to learn how to read and interpret, my man. I realize that the “tune up” is agreed upon by the union, owners, league, etc. I’m not arguing that it isn’t in the rules – I’m arguing that it doesn’t make a ton of sense to allow a player to work when he’s suspended.
Get your facts straight. The truth is that besides the many millions he got penalized for, he was in fact and did in fact sit out for 50 MAJOR league games
How ironic…HOW IRONIC! You tell me to get my facts straight, yet you completely screw the pooch with your own fact checking.
The first game Ramirez missed was May 7. The first minor league game he played in was June 24. During that span, his suspension only covered 43 games. So he DIDN’T “in fact” sit out for 50 MAJOR League games. IN FACT, he still hasn’t completed his 50 game suspension as of this writing, so get YOUR facts straight, hoss.
The rest of your comments are geared towards the media in general and have little to do with what I wrote above so I’m not even going to bother commenting on them. You’re just using this post to vent and you obviously only skimmed what I wrote. Don’t lump me up with the rest of the media, because I didn’t call him a cheater.
Our fans go unpunished for reckless commenting and saying anything so as long as it defends their favorite team, player or mascot.
Are you seriously arguing that he didn’t sit at home for 50 major league games but rather played baseball in some minor league games during which his team participated in 7 Major League games. I am pretty sure when a kid gets suspended from school, there’s some homework sent to keep him busy.
So if they changed the suspension for 60 games and allowed a 10 game tuneup, would that be any different? There is going to be a time in the Minors; it was envisioned when the 50 game suspension was handed down (and, yes, the facts are 50 MAJOR LEAGUE GAMES). He sits out 50 Major League Games before playing another Major League Game. That is the suspension, pure and simple.
Holy crap.. I’M NOT ARGUING WHAT THE RULE IS. I’M NOT ARGUING WHAT THE RULE IS. I’M NOT ARGUING WHAT THE RULE IS.
I’m arguing that no player should be able to set foot on a baseball diamond (major or minor) before his 50 game suspension is up.
If he wants to do his tune up in the minors after the 50 games are up, cool. But he shouldn’t be allowed to do anything until after he serves his suspenion. You guys think I’m hammering Manny, but I’m really taking aim at MLB. Why is this rule in place?
Brian – Dave was saying that Manny had already served his 50 games, which obviously isn’t the case. So you saying, “the facts are 50 MAJOR LEAGUE GAMES” has no bearing on anything that I said in my comments to him.
So do you think a player suspended should not be allowed to keep himself sharp in baseball shape. You don’t think he should be on a MLB or minor league field. What if he wanted to go play in an independent league or go to his local high school to shag balls and hit BP? The rule just states that he can’t play in 50 offical MLB games. He has taken batting practice at Dodger Stadium to stay sharp. Would you rather Manny be on house arrest and not even think about baseball or watch MLB Network. Well the 14th Amendment abolished slavery already.
FYI another point you can pick on is that when he played in Lake Elsinore, he actually wore his Dodger pants rather that the Inland 66ers road pants because they didn’t have his baggy style of preference.
Paul,
He shouldn’t be associated with the Dodgers or MLB for 50 games. I think we can both agree that there’s a massive difference between him going down to the local high school to run wind sprints, and actually seeing live pitching from minor leaguers.
He’s benefiting by playing in the minor leagues right now, yet he’s the one that violated a rule. I know him being able to play in the minors is MLB’s rule, but apparently I’m the only one who thinks this seems a tad odd.
FYI another point you can pick on is that when he played in Lake Elsinore, he actually wore his Dodger pants rather that the Inland 66ers road pants because they didn’t have his baggy style of preference.
That was pretty funny. You think I’m going over the top and nitpicking, which is fine – you’re entitled to your opinion.
The bit about slavery was ridiculous though. You’re taking what I wrote out of context, but you’re trying to make a point by going completely over the top, so have at it.
Holy crap…you guys should take off your dreadlock wigs because they’re effecting your vision. Why should a player who is suspended for breaking the rules and KNOWINGLY using a steroid masking agent, be allowed to play for a minor league team before the suspension is over? Isn’t the minor league team associated with the major league club? He’s under contract to the major league team so I doubt he’d be allowed to play in an independent league game but that would be just as ridiculous.
Dave…hate to tell you but Manny knowingly took a banned substance that is used to mask steroids. Regardless if he had a prescription from his physician or not, it’s cheating. Any of these guys can find a doctor to write them one. Sure Manny hasn’t failed a steroids test…HE’S BEEN USING A MASKING AGENT!!!!! There…I hope you could read that through the dreads.
Paul…Manny didn’t get suspended from school, he got suspended from work. If you got suspended from your job for 2 months, would your boss say “hey Paul, why don’t you go work in our smaller office down the road so when you’re suspension is over, you can come back and hit the ground running.” Why should professional sports be held to a different standard than the real world? And it’s people like you and Dave who are part of the problem. If you don’t care, why should the players and the league?
Sorry…I expect more from the players and their union and I don’t condone cheating in any form.
What a freakin’ mess Selig made of what was a great game.
One thing I forgot to mention…Anthony, I don’t think I’ve read an article from you that was more dead-nuts on than this one. Always a pleasure reading your stuff.
Thanks, T-Bone – I really apperciate your comments and the compliment. I know you’re a regular reader and commenter and we apperciate your continuing to check out our content.
I’m also glad to see that I’m not alone in my line of thinking on this topic.