Manny Ramirez: Suspended 50 Games for PED Use

by Ray Guilfoyle on May 7, 2009 1:13 PM EDT in Baseball

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for PED use and will be suspended for 50 games by MLB. My first thought after getting the phone call from my neighbor, right before going out for a run was, I have him on 3 of my 4 fantasy teams. I better start making some moves for his replacement Juan Pierre.

Luckily, I drafted Pierre in UBA, so I didn't make a move for Manny in the league...yet. In my snake draft, BIG league, I drafted Manny as the last pick in the first round-# 10 overall. So I quickly made a move to pick up Pierre.

While on my run, I was trying to figure out how long Manny had been using PED. Maybe his performance in LA last year was due to PED? We'll find out soon enough...I AM SURE.

The other thought I had was how this affects the Dodgers batting order. I assume Joe Torre's love affair with Russell Martin will continue, and he will bat cleanup, with Andre Ethier moving up to the 3rd spot. James Loney will move to the 5th spot, Matt Kemp to the 6th spot, and Blake to 7th, with Juan Pierre eitehr batting 8th or 9th.

What started out as an awesome start to the season for the Dodgers, leading the majors with a 21-8 record, will be tarnished with today's news. I am sure Torre will handle it professionally as he always does.

The other thing I wonder about....worry about....is how this will impact the Dodgers lineup...specifically Orlando Hudson and Andre Ethier. Both have had all-star seasons to date. This bears watching.

One thing you can count on, Torre will have the Dodgers stealing bases again, in my opinion. Juan Pierre's value increases for sure. Rafael Furcal, Orlando Hudson and Matt Kemp will probably see more green lights on the basepaths.

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50 games

I think this causes the most damage to Ethier as he will no longer be able to mop-up after Manny. However, mixed leaguers need to keep in mind that many will be back for the final three months of the season. This in no way destroys a season.

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by faketeams on May 7, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

hopefully, the guys at the top of the order still set the table.

Bonds stands alone.

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by nostocksjustbonds on May 7, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

From ESPN

However, two sources told ESPN’s T.J. Quinn and Mark Fainaru-Wada that the drug used by Ramirez is hCG — human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG is a women’s fertility drug typically used by steroid users to restart their body’s natural testosterone production as they come off a steroid cycle. It is similar to Clomid, the drug Bonds, Giambi and others used as clients of BALCO.

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by faketeams on May 7, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions