Manny Ramirez Tests Positive for PED - Suspended 50 games

[Jofis11ep]

I just heard it on ESPN, no specifics right now, was reported by the LA Times and suspension will start tonight.....wow

[raven2479]

I just heard the same thing on XM Home Plate. Here is the link to the LA Times article: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-manny-ramirez8-2009may08,0,6324894.story

[bklynbrewcrew]

How happy must Arod be. This deflects a ton of criticism from him.

[adamb100]

Its official per mlb.com:

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090507&content_id=4603850&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[JumpinMacFlash]

I don't know that I'm shocked. I never expected that Ramirez 'roided, but at this point, I'm not surprised when anyone tests positive.

[crewcrazy]

Wow...absolutely devastating news. He was one of those guys that MLB was likely counting on to be one of their "clean" guys. Sure, he's been eccentric in the past and his behavior might've caused headaches, but I don't ever recall his name being brought up before.

 

If A-Rod is dirty and Manny is busted, who do we go to as the best pure hitter of this generation? Pujols? Is anyone sure he's clean, too?

 

As dumb as Manny acts, you had to figure he's at least smart enough to avoid taking something that would get him suspended. I wonder what his excuse is, and it's likely the only reason we're hearing about the suspension now is because he appealed it and the appeal was denied.

[raven2479]

XM said that Manny was to claim it was from medicine he received from a doctor for an off the field ailment. Hmmm, figures.

[kramnoj]

Per the link, it is believed that Manny will say he was given something by a doctor that caused him to test positive.

[ewizabeff]

Aren't players only supposed to take drugs that are prescribed by team doctors to avoid stuff like this?

[stoops17]

Very interesting, I'm interested to hear more of the story.

[azcheesehead]

Pujols is next. I've been saying it for a couple of years. He's the last "monster" left. Manny doesn't surprise me one bit.

[Thurston Fluff]

If A-Rod is dirty and Manny is busted, who do we go to as the best pure hitter of this generation? Pujols? Is anyone sure he's clean, too?

 

At this point I don't think we can assume any player who is doing super human things is clean. I don't think it's unfair to the player either. Even the clean ones looked the other way and did nothing to force their union to take cheating seriously. If they had made their union demand testing it would have never got to this point. I do feel sorry for some of the outspoken guys who openly criticized their union in the 90's like Frank Thomas but there just weren't enough of them.

[raven2479]

Pujols is next. I've been saying it for a couple of years. He's the last "monster" left. Manny doesn't surprise me one bit.

 

I'm holding out hope that he isn't next. He's always been a bigger guy, just not the masher he is now. I'd like someone to be clean...anyone?

[joepepsi]

I don't understand why any player would still be taking these things. Especially a star.

[azcheesehead]

I don't understand why any player would still be taking these things. Especially a star.

Because their numbers were huge with them and they can't afford for their sake or the teams to let them decline.

 

*edit* Plus, Manny as an example, they make MILLIONS based off those numbers!

[phxMILWfan]

I feel pretty safe in saying that Prince is clean. Pujols? not as safe a bet.

[jwaltz]

Pujols weighed something like 270-280 in high school. He's lost a lot of weight and works hard to keep it off. Although now that Manny was busted I supose nobody would surprise me.

 

I always thought Manny was clean. This is pretty shocking. MLB can now say they will suspend anyone that uses PEDs and not just virtual unknowns. They just gave a guy who was pretty much a lock to go in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot a 50 game suspension. Now I don't see him getting in on the first ballot.

[sgtcluels]

I just hope none of our guys are using. I can see why they do it though (Millions of reason).

 

Good bye Hall of Fame Man Ram. Who's the next super start to fall?

[OglivieHomePerm]

At this point I don't think we can assume any player who is doing super human things is clean

 

With a blanket statement like that, we have to assume that Ryan Braun is dirty, since he has a pretty super start to his young career.

[giffted1]

I don't understand why any player would still be taking these things. Especially a star.

Possibly because he became a star by taking these things?

[crewcrazy]

At this point I don't think we can assume any player who is doing super human things is clean

 

With a blanket statement like that, we have to assume that Ryan Braun is dirty, since he has a pretty super start to his young career.

Can anyone say Braun's clean? Given the start of his career, it wouldn't be out of the question.

 

Not that I'm accusing him of anything...it just really stinks that thoughts like that can creep in when news like this comes out.

[raven2479]

At this point we don't have a clue who is or isn't clean and probably won't. How many players have been suspended since this testing came into place? A dozen or two? This is by far the biggest guy to get suspended but I don't think a lot of players will test positive. With that whole Balco thing they kept stating that how are testers going to test for things they don't know are out there. Every player could be dirty and we wouldn't know because there is not test to figure them out.

 

This is just a huge sore on on MLB, sad really.

[Patrick425]

So, when does this end?

 

What's in store for the future. Genetic enhancements at birth that predetermine who will grow up to be the next generation of sports superstars?

[datrain711]

too bad we don't get to play them when Manny is out of the lineup.

[raven2479]

Manny and the MLBPA have released a statement: http://mlbplayers.mlb.com...7_ramirez_suspension.pdf Manny owns up to it, claims it's his fault and won't appeal. Wow.