It's Just Manny Being Manny...

A day after the Dodgers set MLB history, they were hit with a....BAM! And no, I'm not referring to the sound of the bat after a Manny Ramirez home run, I'm referring to the hammer that Major League Baseball brought down on the Dodgers slugger today. Manny has been suspended for 50 games effective immediately for violating the MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Now let's make one thing clear: Manny DID NOT test positive for steroids, rather he tested positive for a substance that is on the league's banned list. According to Yahoo Sports, the substance Manny tested positive for is called HCG, which is a female fertility drug  (Atta boy Manny!). Manny claims he didn't know the drug was illegal, but the fact is he will now be put in the same category as Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Roger Clemens as far as people that have been implicated in the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The difference is that unlike Bonds or A-Rod, Manny has been suspended by this drug policy. Say all you want about Barry Bonds, the fact is he has never been suspended. Say all you want about A-Rod, the fact is he has never been suspended. The thing I am most disappointed in is that Manny should have known better than to put something in his body if he had ANY doubt that it could have been illegal. Instead of going to some random doctor in Florida, he should have consulted a team physician and gotten a medicine that is approved by Major League Baseball. Because of his choice, Manny will lose about $8 million of his $25 million salary.

This is a devastating blow not only to the Dodgers, but to all the fans that treated Manny like a God. Never would I have thought that any other athlete in Los Angeles would be on an equal popularity level as Kobe Bryant, but Manny is. He is the reason why so many people pay good money to go to games, I mean for crying out loud there are a couple of sections at Dodger Stadium referred to as "Mannywood". I expect Dodger fans to support Manny through all of this, but even I being the loyal Dodger fan I am will have a hard time looking at Manny the same way I did before. Never did I think Manny would ever be caught using a banned-substance. At this time, I really have to wonder if there is anyone in the game that isn't taking some sort of performance-enhancing drug. It's because of instances like these that so many people look at baseball as a joke.

Manny was batting .348 with six home runs and 20 RBI's. The Dodgers still have the best record in baseball at 21-8, and lead the National League West by 6 1/2 games. Manny's absence will have a huge impact on the play of guys like Orlando Hudson, Andre Eithier, and Matt Kemp. Not only is Manny a leader on the field, but he is a leader off the field as well. He is the calming presence in the Dodger clubhouse, and he taught players to have fun while playing the game. There is still a lot of information to be revealed, but for the time being, Manny has ruined his reputation. He will now be treated like an A-Rod or a Barry Bonds in opposing ballparks (Not that he wasn't already). It's sad that six out of the top 12 leaders in home runs could potentially miss the Hall of Fame due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

I'm still in shock, I never thought Manny would ever cheat, but I guess at this point, it's not surprising. It is only a matter of time before the next superstar is caught, which is very sad. The thing is Manny came clean and admitted his use, and for that I can forgive him. I am still happy he is a Dodger, God knows the Dodgers would not be anywhere close to where they are now if it wasn't for him. I know that the LA fans will welcome him back with open arms on July 3rd, when he is eligible to rejoin the team. The fact is the Dodgers can win without Manny, and now is the time where manager Joe Torre makes his veteran leadership felt in the clubhouse. Torre has had experience dealing with the media when he was in New York, and he will have to do the same now in LA. If the Dodgers can go .500 in the time Manny is gone, they will be fine and will probably still win the division. But until July 3rd, the Dodgers will be without their best player, and a city will be without its hero.