Manny Ramirez gets 50 games for positive drug test!

[Bertuzzied]

as per BREAKING NEWS on yahoo sports.

I love baseball and their steroid heroes. what a sport! ummmm game. it's not really a sport.

TSN link now.
http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=277874

Ramirez's agent Scott Boras spoke to ESPN's Peter Gammons and said that the positive test is not due to a steroids, but rather medication that he received from a physician.


Yeah thats what Canseco took too.

[Prototype]

It's just Manny being Manny...

Ramirez will lose over $7 million in salary because of the suspension.

[mykalberta]

50 Games, wow.

[Clever_Iggy]

I'm now convinced that there may not be a clean significant MLB player.

Other than Griffey and Thomas I cant think of anyone significant that hasnt (a) been closely linked with performance enhancing drugs or (b) actually been tested. Shoot even Pujos is suspected.

[troutman]

Suck it Dodgers.

[CMPunk]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOO

:whaa:

[J pold]

Ugh I'm so sick of steroids it's getting to the point where I'm just going to assume everyone did/does it and I'll be surprised when people come out clean.

[Tyler]

Nooo...

I bought Dodgers vs. Mets tickets for next week specifically to see him!

FML

[Bob]

I guess I know what Jim Rome will be talking about today (and likely tomorrow).

[Resolute 14]

ha ha!

People like Manny are why I miss Carlos Delgado in a Jays uniform...

[J pold]

Smackoff is tomorrow, but yeah he will most likely be talking about it all day today.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

In a statement released by the players' association, Ramirez says he won't challenge the suspension, and that he has taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.

Seems to me that if this was all a mistake because of something my doctor gave me, as his agent has said, and if I had $7 million on the line, I would be all over sppealing that thing.

[nik-]

ha ha!

People like Manny are why I miss Carlos Delgado in a Jays uniform...


If you don't think Carlos Delgado was on that list of 100 or so positive tests then you're kidding yourself. I'm a Jays fan but I hold no delusions that he was probably one of them.

[moon]

I'm now convinced that there may not be a clean significant MLB player.

Other than Griffey and Thomas I cant think of anyone significant that hasnt (a) been closely linked with performance enhancing drugs or (b) actually been tested. Shoot even Pujos is suspected.

Pujols was only suspected because of a garbage list posted on the internet of supposed guys listed in the Mitchell Report. The list was proven to be complete garbage.

He may have used them, although I doubt it, but him being "suspected" is not based on any sort of fact or anything resembling evidence.

[Kolbe31]

It's funny how none of these players ever seem to "know" what they're taking. Yeah, I'm just going to take this random medication and deal with the consequences later. These players get caught and they still deny any knowledge of wrong-doing, it's ridiculous.

[burn_this_city]

nm.. It was performance enhancing.. lol

[malcolmk14]

If it was in fact medication, Manny needs to get clearance from the league before he uses it. So it's his own fault for not getting the required league approval.

$7 Million is nothing to this guy. He used to leave un-cashed Million dollar paychecks in his locker when he played in Boston.

[habernac]

If these guys were tested as much as pro cyclists are, there would be a lot more suspensions than there are now. The problem in baseball is that one of the more popular PEDs (HGH) doesn't have a reliable test yet.

And I can't belive how dumb Ramirez is.

[Bertuzzied]

Baseball will not be missed if it goes away. I feel sorry for the sucker fans who pay millions to watch these 'athletes' play.

[OILFAN #81]

I was a huge fan of Manny when he was on the Red Sox. He had some clutch playoff performances. I'm glad baseball is taking atleast a little bit of a bigger stance. I think they should punish players even further. Give them atleast a year for a positive test.

Makes you appreciate guys like Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro even more.

[habernac]

Nothing wrong with the game. The problem was a player's association and a commissioner who turned a blind eye to a problem that was obvious to anyone years ago. Fehr and Selig should be held accountable.

[transplant99]

When asked if he was aware if he took them, Manny replied...

"i thought they were altoids".

[fredr123]

That's just Manny being Barry...

[GirlySports]

I'm pretty bummed out about this, it would really be unfortunate if it simply was presciption mistake.

He's an amazing hitter. He's not known for his power numbers, hitting no more than 45 homers in a year. not like he was Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa hitting broken bat home runs.

He just known for being clutch which no steroid could help. Hope baseball come out with the details and it's just a mistake.

[Papi34]

Oh for Eff sakes. Another black eye for baseball.

When the A-rod thing was released all my buddies were like oh as a huge red sox fan this must be heaven for you. My response, "This is the darkest day of my life when it comes to baseball."

Why you ask? A-rod was the last chance of a clean record holder in baseball he was going to beat bonds on nothing but pure generational talent and in a matter of seconds all that was lost. I want to see great players do great things. Im tired of the steroids im tired of tainted legacys. I cannot be happy when a-rod is exposed simply because im a Sox fan cause I knew that this day would come. I knew that at some point one of the many great red sox I have grown up watching, admiring, and idolizing would be caught up in this mess. I know Manny is no longer a sox but he played a long long time and was one of the best players to ever dawn the "B"

Ill wait to see what the drug was but right now im feeling pretty crushed but not in the least bit surprised. It was just a matter of time... and it will be just a matter of time before other greats like Guerro, Pujos, Jeter, and Griffey get exposed.

Its a sad sad day to be a baseball fan

[Clever_Iggy]

Pujols was only suspected because of a garbage list posted on the internet of supposed guys listed in the Mitchell Report. The list was proven to be complete garbage.

He may have used them, although I doubt it, but him being "suspected" is not based on any sort of fact or anything resembling evidence.

I think that's the point that I was trying to get at. Even guys whose names are indirectly linked to "evidence" like what you're describing are "suspected" of using something.

It's brutal because I was holding out hope that A-Rod was going to be the one true baseball player that could wipe out all of Barry's records and re-legitimize baseball. After A-Rod admitted to using the only two "sluggers" left were Manny and Pujos. With Manny now directly linked I can't help but think it's only a matter of time before Pujos is busted.

The list is now unbelievably long of guys that have been linked with actual evidence and those that have admitted: Bonds, Clemens, Pettite, A-Rod, McGwire, Sosa, Tejada, Palmero, Manny, Ankiel, Canseco, etc...

You know there are more blood hounds out there like Selena Roberts looking to make their name by taking down another superstar.

[fredr123]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4148907

Allegedly the drug in question was hCG (wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin) explanation).

There's this:

In the world of performance enhancing drugs, hCG is increasingly used in combination with various anabolic androgenic steroid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabolic_steroid) (AAS) cycles. It is included in some sports' illegal drug lists.
When AAS are put into a male body, the body's natural negative-feedback loops cause the body to shut down its own production of testosterone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone) via shutdown of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal_axis)). It is a common misconception that estrogen will be elevated post cycle. Generally, estrogen is below a normal level after a cycle.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin#cite_note-PCT-10) High levels of AASs that mimic the body's natural testosterone trigger the hypothalamus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus) to shut down its production of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonadotropin-releasing_hormone) (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. Without GnRH, the pituitary gland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituitary_gland) stops releasing luteinizing hormone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luteinizing_hormone) (LH). LH normally travels from the pituitary via the blood stream to the testes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle), where it triggers the production and release of testosterone. Without LH, the testes shut down their production of testosterone, causing testicular atrophy.
In males, hCG mimics LH and helps restore and maintain testosterone production in the testes. As such, hCG is commonly used during and after steroid cycles to maintain and restore testicular size as well as endogenous testosterone production. However, if hCG is used for too long and in too high a dose, the resulting rise in natural testosterone will eventually inhibit its own production via negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary.
and then there's this:

In the male, hCG injections are used to stimulate the leydig cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leydig_cell) to synthesize testosterone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testosterone). The intratesticular testosterone is necessary for spermatogenesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermatogenesis) from the sertoli cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sertoli_cells). Typical uses for hCG in men include hypogonadism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypogonadism) and fertility treatment.

[Gozer]

Its a sad sad day to be a baseball fan

I'm not sad.

The days of the quarter-billion dollar big bopper are gone, replaced by solid contact hitters and smart baseball - like the Angels (maybe the Jays too) brand.

[GirlySports]

I'm not sad.

The days of the quarter-billion dollar big bopper are gone, replaced by solid contact hitters and smart baseball - like the Angels (maybe the Jays too) brand.

The Jays are boppers :)

But this is what makes me sad. Manny isn't a bopper. Even when people were hitting 70 home runs he never hit more than 45. His career average is over .310. He's going to get 3000 hits if he plays another 4 years.

He's one of the best hitters we've ever seen. Steroids doesn't help that.

[CrusaderPi]

I'm not sad.

The days of the quarter-billion dollar big bopper are gone, replaced by solid contact hitters and smart baseball - like the Angels (maybe the Jays too) brand.
I wouldn't put the Angels in that category. They've spent big money on big hitters.

[Dion]

http://halkuffonline.wikispaces.com/file/view/charlie_brown_steroids.gif

[Bertuzzied]

The Jays are boppers :)

But this is what makes me sad. Manny isn't a bopper. Even when people were hitting 70 home runs he never hit more than 45. His career average is over .310. He's going to get 3000 hits if he plays another 4 years.

He's one of the best hitters we've ever seen. Steroids doesn't help that.
Yes it does. It makes him run faster. so normally a ground out turns into a single.

Also there is no way he can play in the outfield with that body without the help of steroids.

[habernac]

I'm pretty bummed out about this, it would really be unfortunate if it simply was presciption mistake.

He's an amazing hitter. He's not known for his power numbers, hitting no more than 45 homers in a year. not like he was Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa hitting broken bat home runs.

He just known for being clutch which no steroid could help. Hope baseball come out with the details and it's just a mistake.

Sounds like he got something prescribed and he didn't bother to check the ingredients. Pretty dumb on his part. He sort of takes responsibility in his official statement, but in the end, he's the guy who has to make sure what he's taking isn't on the banned list.

[habernac]

Yes it does. It makes him run faster. so normally a ground out turns into a single.

Also there is no way he can play in the outfield with that body without the help of steroids.

For a guy who thinks baseball isn't worth watching, you sure seem to think you know a lot about it. If you paid attention, you'd know that Manny has no idea how to play the outfield.

[Bertuzzied]

For a guy who thinks baseball isn't worth watching, you sure seem to think you know a lot about it. If you paid attention, you'd know that Manny has no idea how to play the outfield.

Well you can't argue that. You win!

I think i might take up cricket.

[GirlySports]

Yes it does. It makes him run faster. so normally a ground out turns into a single.

Also there is no way he can play in the outfield with that body without the help of steroids.

It's Manny! He never runs out a ground ball!
And he's a goofball in the outfield! :)

[Boblobla]

Baseball will not be missed if it goes away. I feel sorry for the sucker fans who pay millions to watch these 'athletes' play.

You are deluded if you think hockey players are any better.

[skins]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgary+Vipers+offer+contract+suspended+Ramirez/1573286/story.html

HA!

[Bertuzzied]

You are deluded if you think hockey players are any better.

Because all hockey players are on roids?

hmm at least they have a bit of pride in themselves. the fattest guy in the NHL is Wellwood or Penner? Well they are prob in better shape than 80% of the guys in baseball.

[Gozer]

Because all hockey players are on roids?

hmm at least they have a bit of pride in themselves. the fattest guy in the NHL is Wellwood or Penner? Well they are prob in better shape than 80% of the guys in baseball.

If you hate baseball so much, why post about it?

[Gozer]

I wouldn't put the Angels in that category. They've spent big money on big hitters.

I'm talking about the brand of baseball they play, hit and run, stretching singles into doubles, first to third on a single, that kind of stuff. Its not station-to-station baseball like the Yankees.

Having high paid players and home runs doesn't negate that.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Because all hockey players are on roids?

hmm at least they have a bit of pride in themselves. the fattest guy in the NHL is Wellwood or Penner? Well they are prob in better shape than 80% of the guys in baseball.

You must be a HUGE golf fan.

[Bertuzzied]

You must be a HUGE golf fan.
haha don't get me going about golf.

Anyways my bimonthly trolling on baseball is over.

Carry on.

[Tyler]

Well, the good news is that at least Gary Bettman isn't the commissioner with the biggest snafu on his hands now

[Jason14h]

Bill Simmons Article (Huge Sox Fan on ESPN)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090507&sportCat=mlb

[bigalspratty]

I dont know if anyone has made mention of it yet, but this might interest some of you....

http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/baseball/2009/05/07/9386116-calsun.html

[JiriHrdina]

I dont know if anyone has made mention of it yet, but this might interest some of you....

http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/baseball/2009/05/07/9386116-calsun.html

Cheap PR stunt and another reason why that organization is a complete joke.

[worth]

Cheap PR stunt and another reason why that organization is a complete joke.

But it's the only baseball in town to watch. I really, really wish there was AAA here still. Man, how lucky we were to have that team, and now there's no more AAA in Canada at all. How sad. All I want to do is watch good baseball on a sunny afternoon in Calgary with a decent sized crowd but us fans are stuck with a team like this.

[habernac]

Sounds like he got something prescribed and he didn't bother to check the ingredients. Pretty dumb on his part. He sort of takes responsibility in his official statement, but in the end, he's the guy who has to make sure what he's taking isn't on the banned list.

well, if it's what they're saying it is (HCG) then he's going to have a tough time convincing anyone he isn't/wasn't a user. Add an asterix to the Red Sox World Series teams. Wonder what Curt Shilling is going to say about this?

[RedHot25]

Cheap PR stunt and another reason why that organization is a complete joke.

A joke, but that's non-affiliated minor league baseball. Many many independent league teams do these type of things. Its not unique to the Vipers.

[JayP]

Cheap PR stunt and another reason why that organization is a complete joke.

It's minor league baseball.

This is pretty much par for the course.

[Bertuzzied]

Cheap PR stunt and another reason why that organization is a complete joke.

Can't fault them. Ramirez is worth at least 20 bats and maybe a broken down team bus.

[malcolmk14]

As messed up as it sounds, Manny is actually the type of guy that would accept an offer like this. Would anyone really be surprised?

[fleury]

I'm not a conspiracy guy, but something really tells me one of the Sox ratted on this guy. He was almost villified when he was gone from Boston. Just seems kinda odd.

As for Boras. What a bum. Classic. I didn't do it, I won't say anything, but I will say that I'm innocent because of this...da da da. Then he goes on to not appeal the suspension? I'd have thought the guy no matter what would try and clear up his name. Just seems strange.

[Tyler]

Can't fault them. Ramirez is worth at least 20 bats and maybe a broken down team bus.

nm.

[Super-Rye]

I'm now convinced that there may not be a clean significant MLB player.

Other than Griffey and Thomas I cant think of anyone significant that hasnt (a) been closely linked with performance enhancing drugs or (b) actually been tested. Shoot even Pujos is suspected.

Carlos Delgado. Fantastic ball player that is clean and no one ever talks about him.

[IceMan xMVPx]

to the OP who said that Baseball is not a sport is obviously mad at the situation. Baseball is a fantastic sport with great history who is just going through a tough era. We don't know who is on Steroids anymore we just assume that everybody was taking them because that's what everybody was doing. Regardless, anybody that says that there done watching baseball and not going to go any games is just lying and being a complete idiot. Baseball is still getting great TV numbers so I guess the Steroid effect isn't hurting the game in that sense.

However it does tarnish the players that have used Steroids and now most likely will never be looked at the same again. The Hall of Fame will not take most of these players and its a shame because they were some of the best players in the history of the game and will now go down as players who took part in the Steroid era and all there great numbers will always have an asterisk next to it.

I will still watch baseball and cheer my team on regardless, but i do agree that its a dark era in baseball when all of your top players have either admitted or been caught using PED's.

[moon]

Carlos Delgado. Fantastic ball player that is clean and no one ever talks about him.

Looking at his numbers if he hadn't played in TO I doubt many here would talk about him either.

[Montana Moe]

well, if it's what they're saying it is (HCG) then he's going to have a tough time convincing anyone he isn't/wasn't a user. Add an asterix to the Red Sox World Series teams. Wonder what Curt Shilling is going to say about this?


I doubt there has been a "clean" World Series winning team in the past 25-30 years.

[Super-Rye]

Looking at his numbers if he hadn't played in TO I doubt many here would talk about him either.

Yeah because 472 career home runs and 9 years of 100+ RBI's is not noteworthy in the slightest. Hell, even at 36 he is on pace for another 100+ RBI seaoson. One of the best run producing first basemen in the league right now.

[burn_baby_burn]

How can we assume anybody is clean? With Barry Bonds people would point to A-Rod and how he is bringing purity to the sport by putting up great numbers cleanly. Whoops, I guess he is out the window. In this thread alone people are throwing out names like Griffy and Delgado. How can we be certain? It wasn't that long ago that 50 home runs was a pipe dream. When Cecil Fielder hit 51 almost 20 years ago it was a huge deal. So if someone like Delgado is on pace for 100+ RBI's at the age of 36. I would say that just maybe he isn't exactly playing clean either. No proof one way or the other. But 20-30 years ago, he would be a shoe in for Cooperstown with those types of numbers.

[CrusaderPi]

Maybe its just me, but I'm neither surprised by this nor concerned. Steroids in sports just doesn't bother me to nearly the same extent as it does other people.

[moon]

Yeah because 472 career home runs and 9 years of 100+ RBI's is not noteworthy in the slightest. Hell, even at 36 he is on pace for another 100+ RBI seaoson. One of the best run producing first basemen in the league right now.

I didn't say that he sucked but he is a career .279 hitter with many seasons below that number and 1-2 seasons that prop it up.

He is a better than average player but likely the 4-5th best 1b of his era, let alone the other guys at other positions.

He really hasn't done much that would have fans of other teams talking about him other than in the one year in which he was very good.

[troutman]

That's just Manny being Barry...

Female fertility drug?

That's just Manny being Tranny . . .

[Gozer]

Touching on an earlier direction of this thread, everyone's favorite guy Curt Schilling weighs in (below) - and I actually like what he has to say.

Relish in the Halladays, Rolens, Sabathias, Lowells, Counsells, Variteks, Garnetts, Jameses, Bruschis, Vrabels, the Jason Bays of the world. Relish in men of supreme character and tireless work ethic who respect the game and their teammates and suit up every day to leave it all on the field. If 100 more names come out I can still give you my word there are a lot more great men and phenomenal people in the game than not…

[troutman]

Touching on an earlier direction of this thread, everyone's favorite guy Curt Schilling weighs in (below) - and I actually like what he has to say.

Relish in the Halladays, Rolens, Sabathias, Lowells, Counsells, Variteks, Garnetts, Jameses, Bruschis, Vrabels, the Jason Bays of the world. Relish in men of supreme character and tireless work ethic who respect the game and their teammates and suit up every day to leave it all on the field. If 100 more names come out I can still give you my word there are a lot more great men and phenomenal people in the game than not…

Does he think Bruschi and Vrabel never took steroids? I'm a Pats fan and I would find that hard to believe.

[HotHotHeat]

The Vipers just offered him a contract.

Yes, the Calgary Vipers.

[JayP]

I didn't say that he sucked but he is a career .279 hitter with many seasons below that number and 1-2 seasons that prop it up.

He is a better than average player but likely the 4-5th best 1b of his era, let alone the other guys at other positions.

He really hasn't done much that would have fans of other teams talking about him other than in the one year in which he was very good.

He also has an career OBP of .383 and a career OPS of .928, both much more important stats than batting avg.

He probably is the 3rd or 4th best 1B of the era, but that's behind Pujols, Helton, Berkman, and maybe Giambi. Guys who were in the top 10 in OPS on an annual basis.

[rubecube]

The Vipers just offered him a contract.

Yes, the Calgary Vipers.

Welcome to page 2 of the thread.