Manny Ramirez caught cheating, out 50 games

May 7, 2009

I hope they a get picked off one by one. Seeing pitching greats Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux get their numbers retired last week reminded me how great baseball can be without cheaters. Fortunately, whatever happens with Clemens, Maddux has one more than him and always will.

As for Manny Ramirez  – he tested positive for a banned performance enhancer, which according to “sources” is not a steroid – it’s HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG is what the embryo and placenta produces and is what a pregnancy test is based on. Yes, if he was actually taking it – he would have had a positive urine pregnancy test. Could be why he’s not fighting the suspension.

His suspension is 50 games – would be able to return July 3rd. He will lose about $7.65 million of his $25 million and I’m sure potential endorsement deals.

Ramirez statement:

Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I’m sorry about this whole situation.

He gets credit for being a man and taking his punishment and actually apologizing straight up.

He’s #17 in all time home runs:
Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr,  Sammy Sosa, Frank Robinson, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, Rafael Palmeiro, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Mike Schmidt, Jim Thome, Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Manny Ramirez = cheaters.

Source: SI.com

—————–
DEA probe into Ramirez’s source of HCG
Alex Rodriguez posts/interviews/videos
Sammy Sosa on 2003 list of positive tests – investigation into possible perjury
Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg on Sammy