Just Manny Being Barry.

Here is Verducci's article in si.com. He forgets that McGriff, Pujols and Delgado have not been implicated, in addition to the others he names.

Juan Pierre filling in for Manny has to be one of the most feeble substitutions I can imagine, although young Pena for ARod hasn't shown much.  How do these big -payroll teams have such holes in their benches?

When was the last positive test for a full time major leaguer?  These guys either have cut back on the juice or moved to non-findable stuff.  I would guess Manny took some medication for something else and it had a non-intended effect.  Why would Manny need to take something (different) now compared to the last few years? 

He must have been Astaphaned.

Just Manny Being Barry.

Rimshot!  Well played.  I'm sure the Dodgers are thrilled with their $45-million dollar investment now.  That's two upstanding clients Scott Boras has there.

From what I've read, it was apparently neither an anabolic steroid nor a stimulant nor a recreational drug.  What's left?  Something HGH-y?

Probably Miraclo.

He forgets that McGriff, Pujols and Delgado have not been implicated, in addition to the others he names.

In fairness to Verducci, he is specifically speaking of the 8 hitters among the Top 17 HR hitters of all time (Ramirez being 17th on the all-time list) who were active during the "Steroid Era." McGriff (26th), Delgado (30th), and Pujols (91st) wouldn't be part of the discussion.

Rimshot!  Well played.  I'm sure the Dodgers are thrilled with their $45-million dollar investment now.  That's two upstanding clients Scott Boras has there.

Well they also don't have to pay Ramirez for the 50 games he's suspended, about $8 million in savings. Given that they seems to have the division locked up already, perhaps there are worse things that could have happened to the Dodgers...

From Tim Brown and Steve Henson of Yahoo:

the illegal substance for which the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger tested positive was not “an agent customarily used for performance enhancing.”

At least not on the baseball diamond. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the substance is supposed to boost sex drive. It is not Viagra, but a substance that treats the cause rather providing a temporary boost in sexual performance, the source said.

Suddenly this makes more sense.

Forgot to include the link.

According to ESPNnews it is this stuff:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin

"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."

the illegal substance for which the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger tested positive was not “an agent customarily used for performance enhancing.

 Well, not for the performance enhancing MLB is interested in anyway.

In the tough guy world of sports, if true this is actually probably more embarassing and damaging to Manny than had he been caught with Steriods. It shouldn't be, but it is.

You can understand why he was not really keen on asking for permission ahead of time. Its not the kind of thing guys really want to talk about.

I expect the late night talk show host writers et al. will have a field day with this for months.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the substance is supposed to boost sex drive.

Just Manny being flaccid.

Can you imagine the damage control conversation? Manny, you're going to get ridiculed one way or the other. Would you rather tell everyone the truth or make vague references to a medical condition and have everyone just assume you're on steroids?

 

Thanks, Gwyn.  I was hoping for Viagra, so "Bleeding Dodger Blue" would take on a new meaning.

Jinx.

I dunno, Ducey, with Raffy P. hocking Viagra, I would think it was somewhat more egregious for him -- and his rep around the league -- getting caught for 'roids, than for a sexual enhancement product.

Manny not informing Boras or the Dodgers as to any substance he is ingesting is unbelievably bad judgement; even $7 mil+ is not chump change for him.  As Richard G. wrote on his blog today: "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."

Well, add another MLB record to his list, that being, most money lost due to supension (the remainder of Rocket's career might have been another but that's speculative, obviously).

But why would Manny given his age need stuff like that? Isn't there something like that in the side-effects of certain PEDs? Could he be medicating damages he did with previous PED use? No idea, just asking.

I think Manny Ramirez is the first baseball player to ever say "I haven't taken steroids" and I actually believe him.  Its tempting to think that MLB would review the details and perhaps reduce the suspension on the basis that it isn't performance enhancing and was ACTUALLY obtained from a legitimite medical treatment. I doubt they do that though, and Manny definitely should have known better- but if he explicitly asked if there was any reason to talk to his Doctors then its mostly just unfortunate. 

Ironically the Dodgers may benefit from this since they'll save 1/3 of his salary due to the suspension and might be able to be more of  a buyer at the deadline because of it.

Manny being manly?

On Inside Pitch on XM they said what he took was some sort of hormone/supplement for females, and it's the same thing that Canseco was caught with at the border.  They interviewed Canseco and he said this stuff is taken to increase the testerone production rate in males and it is usually used after someone has come off of steroids in order to force the body into making testosterone without steroids.  Not sure how reliable Canseco is but this sounds more reasonable for the suspension.

 

Canseco might be the most reliable source of steroids information.

I listened on mlbradio today. The drug he was caught using (HCG) is apparently common in the steroid-use cycle and is used to rebalance testosterone levels in order to cover up steroid use. If you remember, Bonds was caught with 'off the charts' testosterone ratings and tried to pass it off as a 'naturally occurring' abnormality.


If this event follows the usual pattern, the really entertaining part - the bare-faced lies and excuses that could only interest the OJ jury - comes next. It's the cheat and lie two-step.

l personally can't wait to see the press conferences and testimony of Manny's own Jamie Astaphan. My only regret is that Barbara Frum's not still with us..

Manny Ramirez is the first baseball player to ever say "I haven't taken steroids" and I actually believe him

There's a gentleman trying to take money out of Nigeria who wants to make you rich.

What about Dubin?  Is still kicking?  He'd only be about 95 years old by now.

So it's looking like in all likelihood the Yanks and Sox titles were tainted.  As a Jays fan this is a strange feeling.  I'm no so naive to believe that it wasn't a widespread issue and some Jays might have been users but when looking at impact players there are very few sluggers who haven't been outed yet.  Thomas, Delgado, Griffey, maybe Thome. That's about all I can think of.   Call it homerism or naivety, but I'd be pretty shocked if Carlos used, he just seems more socially aware and not totally consumed with baseball and fame as most others are. 

Which reminds me of this article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/02/24/carlos.delgado/index.html?eref=si_topstories

the Yanks and Sox titles were tainted.

In what way? Was no one else doing it?

These were the conditions under which the game was played. Every player's accomplishments, and every team's accomplishments, are shaped by the conditions under which the game is played. Whatever they are.

Today's conditions include a rule that's actually being enforced. Which is good. Because when you have a rule that isn't being enforced, you simply don't have a rule at all.

Others were surely doing it but how many?   Was it a level playing field through all teams, regardless of market size/payroll?  Was it as rampant in X locker room than Y locker room?

These types of questions will naturally be asked.  This, in of itself, taints it for me.

Griffey's history of injuries, and normal age-related declines, strongly suggests that he has not done steroids.

Ironically, that decline gives him a strong case for the title of "best player of his era."

Before we throw Manny under the Bus (had him in my pool), check the past record of testing, as to how often, and when.  Check to see exactly what he tested positive for and how concentrated was the reading.  Find out all the specifics that can be possibly determined.  Let's find out if he's stupidly criminal, or, criminally stupid before giving Judgement.