Thursday, May 07, 2009

Okay, This Is Not Good: Ramirez To Be Suspended 50 Games

From the LATimes (specifically, Dylan Hernandez and Bill Shaikin):

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended 50 games starting today, The Times has learned.

The test result and suspension is expected to be announced later today. The Dodgers informed triple-A outfielder Xavier Paul this morning that he was being promoted to Los Angeles.

Ramirez is expected to attribute the test results to medication received from a doctor for a personal medical issue, according to a source familiar with matter but not authorized to speak publicly.

More news to come as it breaks.

UPDATE #1 8:52a: ESPN picks it up here. CBS Sports, here.

UPDATE #2 10.44a: Hey, we are pretty proud of the fact that we had this story up so early, right as it broke. Hat Tip to SoSG reader Gabriel for the headsup. Thanks a ton for the email headsup! --SoSG Sax

24 comments:

Fred's Brim said...

holy hell - i feel like i've been punched in the gut

Unknown said...

Is this really as bad as it seems? I mean yah, it's 50 games, but won't this make it like last year?

koufax said...

im sitting here worried about kobe and fish getting suspended for game three and then this happens. fred im with u

Erin said...

I seriously might puke.

Something tells me the winning streak ends tonight.

Fred's Brim said...

the more I think about it, maybe this was Manny's plan all along, like how he signed late into spring training. Get the Dodgers off to a great start, get suspended and frog around for a couple months, then come back for the stretch refreshed and healthy.

Alex Cora said...

July 3rd against Colorado is the return date. Man is he going to get booed on the road now.

koufax said...

under the new plan i believe if a player is suspended for a failed drug test they forfit 31% of their contract, so i doubt that manny's plan was to do this fred. Well now we have an extra $6 million or so...

Fred's Brim said...

i know koufax, just a joke.
does that mean he donates less to McCourt's charity now?

koufax said...

haha, i bet that money gets donated to the overpriced aging free agent starting pitcher fund.

Fred's Brim said...

seriously - I bet Pedro is sitting on his couch right now, staring at his phone, hoping it will ring

Chappy said...

Fred's got it right. this is a serious gut shot.

thanks Manny!

Chappy said...

Boras is saying this is the fault of his doctor for giving him some sort of prescription drugs that are on the list.

Gibby's Limp said...

Manny doesn't get paid any contract money while he's suspended.

koufax said...

chaps where did u see that report on boras or was that speculation?

QuadSevens said...

I was really looking forward to seeing Manny hit some bombs this weekend! The Dodger youngsters will have to step it up.

Chappy said...

Peter Gammons is saying the Boras stuff on ESPN...

Unknown said...

This is absolutely awful, and it highlights two huge problems.

1) If Boras' claims are true, and I don't have a reason to doubt them based on Manny's history, this combines with the J.C. Romero situation to show that baseball must come up with a policy regarding unintentional violations. Romero took a mis-labeled supplement, had proof and they still suspended them. If Manny took a prescription for, say, an ephedrine containing bronchitis treatment, he should absolutely be excused.

2) An actual study on the direct cause and effect of banned substances, including but not limited to steroids, should be done to show once and for all just what effect there is.

koufax said...

if jc romero is any example, manny is done for the 50 games, its strict liability in the mlb, there are no excuses that can overturn this.

Will Clark said...

Typical Dodgers...having to cheat. Without Man Ram, Dodgers are done. Move out of the way...here come the Giants!!!

LLCoolL said...

They just had to push the streak to 13. Couldn't be happy with jinx-free 12. sigh. At least the Dodgers are finally getting some national media attention.

Unknown said...

Peter- you do realize the Giants still actually have to score runs. Have fun at the .500 mark.

NicJ said...

Giants fans already. That was quick. Maybe we should sign bonds for two months.

Steve Sax said...

nicJ, don't worry. That was the one Giants fan who knows how to connect to the internet.

And he's got dialup.

Will Clark said...

Andrew - enjoy being below .300 for the next 50 games

Steve Sax - is that really the best comment you can come up with? Wow, Dodger fans are worse trash talkers than I thought

I don't have time to deal with lowly Dodger fans...Will Clark out...