Manny Ramirez retires due to drug 'issue'

After failing a second drug test, Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez has decided to retire rather than appeal or face a 100-game suspension as a repeat offender.

Ramirez would have been the first player suspended 100 games.

Instead of notifying the Rays directly, Ramirez, who wasn't with the team today, notified the league, who issued the following statement (via MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez):

"Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program. Rather than continue with the process under the program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player. If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the drug program will be completed. MLB will not have any further comment on this matter."

To take the roster spot vacated by Ramirez, the Rays have called up first baseman Casey Kotchman.

On the season, Ramirez was off to a rough start (like most of the Rays, who scored a league-worse eight runs in their first six games): one hit in 17 at-bats.

But as ESPN's Stats & Info blog points out via Twitter, Ramirez is one of only five players in Major League history to have hit .300-plus and 550-plus home runs for his career. The other four are Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Alex Rodriguez.

Is Manny a Hall of Famer? Let the debate start now ...

Big Fraud and Manny? Busted...

What do David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez share in common with Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa?

They appear on the list of roughly 100 players that tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times.

Ramirez and Ortiz were two key components of Boston's World Series teams (2004 and 2007). Ramirez was named MVP of the 2004 World Series.

In 2003, Major League Baseball performed survey testing, which was supposed to be confidential and not subject to penalties. However, names have been leaked roughly every month or two.

While it would make more sense to release all the names and put this behind us, I can't see the MLB Players Association going for that.

Back in 2003, David "Big Fraud" Ortiz set career highs in home runs (31) and runs batted in (101) and continued to improve on those numbers for four straight years as noted by Schmidt.

Big Fraud's comments earlier in the year make this report that much funnier -- especially as a Yankees fan that's annoyed by the holier-than-thou attitude of Red Sox fans.

"I think you clean up the game by the testing," Ortiz said in February at Red Sox camp in Fort Myers, Fla. "I test you, you test positive, you're going to be out. Period.

"If I test positive by using any kind of banned substance, I'm going to disrespect my family, the game, the fans and everybody," Ortiz said. "And I don't want to be put in that situation. So what I will do, I won't use it. I'm pretty sure everybody is on the same page."

So then, Big Fraud, as you say, you have disrespected your family, the game, the fans and everybody.

Manny Ramirez, a role model?

Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote yesterday that all things related to suspended Dodger Manny Ramirez seemed to disappear at Dodger Stadium.

In today's column by Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Ramirez is allowed to be around the team and that the Dodgers "hope" that Ramirez "sticks with the team, goes on road trips, and remains supportive."

They consider Ramirez a "role model" when it comes to work ethic for young hitters Matt Kemp and James Loney.

On the season, Kemp is batting .287 with four home runs, 23 runs batted in and eight stolen bases. Loney is hitting .278 and has yet to hit a home run, but he has 21 RBIs.

Just Manny being ... Manuela

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

His 50-game suspension will cost him $7.7 million in lost wages, which is 31 percent (50 of 162 games) of his salary ($25 million).

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue," Ramirez said in a statement released by the MLB Players' Assn. "He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay 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."

What was the "personal health issue" and the "medication"?

Well, if Manny's right and it wasn't intended to kick-start testosterone production after a steroids cycle, then Manny was looking to get pregnant.

ESPN is reporting the drug he used was hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is a fertility drug.

From the Dodgers' perspective, Manny may cost the team some money in marketing deals and negative press and publicity. But they save $7.7 million in salary due to the suspension and are likely to still win the N.L. West without Manuela for 50 games.

Perhaps the Dodgers should give the "Mannywood" ticket-holders a 31-percent refund.

Manny would like to finish career in Cleveland

You could say that Manny Ramirez lived in LaLa Land before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And Dodgers outfielder (and head-case) Manny Ramirez says that he loves L.A.

So, that makes him think about ending his career in Los Angeles Cleveland.

"I love L.A. I really do. But the way the city responded to me, it reminded me a lot of how it was in Cleveland."

"I would like to play for Cleveland one more time, to go back where I started," said Ramirez. "I have so many good memories there, why not? I think to go back where you started is everyone's dream."

Considering the lack of interest in Manny (at least, at his and agent Scott Boras' price demands), it may be unlikely that the feelings are mutual.

Manny says no thanks to 1-year, $25 million

The L.A. Dodgers initially offered Manny Ramirez a 2-year contract worth $45 million this off-season. The offer was later withdrawn.

With no apparent interest in Manny, the Dodgers most recent offer of 1-year, $25 million made on Sunday was rejected by Ramirez again.

It's obvious that Manny, who had a phenominal second-half of a season in L.A., was purely motivated by the prospects of a big contract and must have dogged it while in Boston.

According to the L.A. Times, the Mets, Giants and Nationals are teams that may be interested in Manny, but not at more than $20 million per season.

If you were a Manny-hater already, his rejection of $25 million when the rest of the economy is tanking (a la Manny in Beantown), you hate him even more. What an ass!

Pujols says Cards should purse Manny

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols says the Cards should pursue Manny Ramirez. Less than 2 weeks before pitchers/catchers report to camp, Manny is still unsigned.

The one thing Pujols and Ramirez share in common is they are devastating hitters and, when motivated, Ramirez certainly would help protect Pujols in the Cardinals' lineup.

Pujols, who hit .357 with 37 HRs and 116 RBI in 2008, has shown amazing consistency in his 8-year career. His career lows: .314 BA (2002), 32 HRs (2007) and 103 RBI (2007).

Ramirez hit .332 with 37 HRs and 121 RBI in 2008, but hit nearly 100 points higher after forcing the Sox to trade him.

But Pujols, who is arguably one of baseball's most stand-up guys and my favorite player, is polar opposites with Manny, who obviously dogged it in Boston last year.

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players," said Pujols, according to an Associated Press report.

Ramirez wanted out of Boston, which is a also a "great city that supports its players," to make a money grab. In wouldn't be Manny's style and certainly not that of his agent, über-jerk Scott Boras, to give a "discount."

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak says that OF is "clearly one of our strengths" and the team is not going to pursue Ramirez.