Manny's Positive Test Latest Blow to Baseball

Manny Ramirez may, in fact, have produced the most expensive urine in history. His positive test for performance enhancers under the Major-League Basic Agreement has cost the Dodgers slugger 50 games, starting right now, and has cost him almost $7.75 million of his $25 million in '09 salary. In addition, the Dodgers have a club option of $20 million for 2010. There would seem to be a strong chance, depending on how the club finishes up in the standings and the post-season this year, that in the wake of current events they will pass on paying Manny for the extra season.Since there were already no other bidders for his services this past winter, there is no reason for anyone else to step up now.

Manny being Manny? More like Manny being stupid. He claimed in a statement released by major-league baseball that the positive test for Performance-Enhancing Drugs came as a result of an ingredient in a prescription given him by his doctor for a personal medical issue. I'm sure it's an argument he will stick with for the rest of his career and since there is no appeal being planned by Ramirez or the union, then there is no reason for MLB to try and dispute Manny's claim. Or vice-versa. The doubt will appease those in the Cult of Manny and soften the long-term blow, including potential Hall-of-Fame inclusion.

But his argument makes no sense. Ever since first-time offenders were being penalized starting in '05, players have been advised to let their team trainers or their agents or MLB know whatever they were planning to put in their body so they can be cleared or warned. Manny knew.

The sources at ESPN.com as reported by Peter Gammons, have listed HCG a women's fertility drug as the likely cause of Manny's positive test. It is often used to restart natural testosterone production at the end of a steroid cycle. That is why it would be included on the list. The fact that Ramirez was not subject to random off-season testing as a free agent may indicate that when he signed on March 4 with the Dodgers, he may have decided to use the HCG without knowing it was one of 55 banned PEDs. According to ESPN it is similar to Clomin, linked to Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and BALCO.

Make no mistake, there is a lot of private fist-pumping going on from guys like Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Raffy Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, The Rocket and most especially the discombobulated and confused A-Rod, who only wanted to be loved. His timeline for returning to action has coincidentally been moved up by the 13-14 Yanks so he will already have had maybe three games and a lot of hootin-and-a-hollerin' from jeering road fans under his belt by the time he reaches the somewhat polite Rogers Centre -- and oh, yeah, if you're going to yell at A-Rod about sex, or drugs or rock and roll, Jays' fans, judging by the history of the biggest library in North America -- be prepared to be threatened with ejection starting next Tuesday..

But back to Manny. It's another blow for commissioner Bud Selig and MLB. The argument has been that the newer, tougher drug policy has been working and that the game is returning to normal, led by its incredible shrinking superstars. The game has been fun to watch in April. Over the past two seasons the list of those caught, even with the harsh first-time offence, mandatory testing, is short. In '08 there was 1) Elizier Alfonso C (SF) and 2) Humberto Cota (C (Col.). This year there has been 1) J.C. Romero LHP (Phi.) and 2) Sergio Mitre RHP (NYY). Now comes the headline-grabbing Manny, sending Bud back into defensive mode.

It's sad because Manny has been praised throughout his career with the Indians and Red Sox for his unbelievable work ethic and dedication to the craft of hitting. He spends more time watching video and in the cage than any of his teammates. He's always been a pure hitter. Now that purity is tainted forever.

Does this make the Jays the best clean team in baseball? Unfortunately we can't say that for certain about any ML team anymore. Once again, one positive means 750 players are clouded by the negative.

R-Griff

Comments

[John]

Great article Richard as usual!

"It's sad because Manny has bee praised throughout his career with the Yankees and Red Sox "

[TorontoRed]

"Once again, one positive means 750 players are clouded by the negative."

The fact that you had to preface your sentence with "once again" means that you know this is enough of a recurrence to warrant suspicion of all players. These aren't isolated situations in baseball, these are institutional incidents. Major League Baseball mirrors everything that is awful about America where marketing, not substance, gets the dollars. You people in the Canadian media who worship at the foot of the inflated American sports empires should be as humbled as baseball has made to be over the past few years. They've offered nothing new or positive and neither have you by continually promoting American sports played by liars, cheaters and criminals in baseball and American "football" as though those of us with Canadian and global perspectives need to be as sheepish as you are.

[Josh]

I believe you are mistaken - the option for the second season is Manny's, and does not belong to the Dodgers.

[Ken Diamond]

Richard, I don't know if you have access to the timeline involved in Manny's case but it all sounds a little funny to me. When did he started taking the meds? When did he fail the test? What were the meds and how is it that his doctor didn't know what was on a pro athletes "do not take list"? 50 games for what may have been an honest mistake seems like a big hit. Will we ever learn the whole truth?

[Ian]

I'm probably going to be called a moron and heavily disagreed with, but here it goes.

This situation I don't think is that big of a deal to anyone but the Dodgers and Manny. Manny is quoted in an ESPN article today that he has been tested and passed 15 times in the last 5 years. That period includes the 2 Boston World Series. I don't really think that he takes PEDs. He just made a bone-headed mistake and didn't take proper precautions with medication from his doctor. If any of those test results were positive, word would have leaked out earlier. The Dodgers unfortunately lose their best hitter and Manny gets dragged through the dirt with A-Rod.

I'm sure each team and MLB have a staff that can test all medication to make sure there is nothing illegal in it, it's just staggering that he would've chosen not to do this. I hope other marquee players learn from this, because when this fully picks up steam it likely won't pretty.

[gargalen]

"Ramirez gets $10 million this year, and $15 million in deferred money with no interest.

A plan the sides discussed would have it payable in $5 million installments each from 2010 through 2012.

If it winds up as a two-year deal, the plan called for $10 million each season, with three payments of $8,333,333 each from 2011-13.

Ramirez has until November to decide whether to void the second season."

I think it's a player option, not a team option. Looks like the Dodgers are stuck with a player who's cheated to maintain his production.

[ben zona]

Giving Manny the benefit of the doubt, isn't the simplest idea for Manny to sue the doctor for costing him $7.75mil in salary?

That is, if the doctor did indeed make a mistake, but who am I to judge...

[R-Griff]

You are right about the second year being a Manny option, which of course he will never opt out of now that his future is in doubt. The only benefit for the Dodgers (and we're reaching here) is that there is tons of deferred money in the conntract with no interest, making it a slightly easier financial burden. Maybe Dodgers management should take the $20 million for year two in 2010, head to Vegas and plunk it down on the Lakers to win the NBA title. That would pay for itself and if they lose that bet, it wouldn't be the first gameble that they lost. They were already gambling on Manny just being Manny for two years.
R-Grifdf