Don't Blame Manny; The Grass Was Wet

Those awaiting a statement from Manny Ramirez about his alleged performance-enhancing drug use when he returns to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night after serving a 50-game suspension probably should be tested themselves.

Manny was the artful dodger when questions of his suspension arose during his "rehab" stints at Triple-A Albuquerque and Class A Inland Empire. Heck, the Dodgers also sent a plethora of organizational personnel on his little league tour, ensuring his protection from the big, bad media.

That comes as no surprise, seeing how the Dodgers also saw fit to protect Manny from the wet grass at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque and the sunlight over Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernadino.

Ramirez skipped his final scheduled appearance for the Isotopes because rain earlier in the day left the outfield grass wet, and the Dodgers didn't want him to ... get a grass stain? Perhaps they feared that Major League Baseball officials would mistake the stain for another type of grass and slap him with a 100-game suspension for a second offense.

The baggy-clothed crusader also was allowed to opt out of his final scheduled appearance because it was a day game that came after -- gasp -- a night game!

The two absences leads to the question: Is Manny radioactive waste or an elite professional athlete whose physical conditioning should be able to handle wet grass or two games in 16 hours without fear of major injury?

Granted, either answer is correct.

But when professional sports organizations pampers their athletes in such a manner, how else would you expect a $25 million player to act? This is not an indictment on the Dodgers; most baseball franchises -- except perhaps the Boston Red Sox, who might add landmines to wet grass in the outfield if Manny were to play --probably would've handled Ramirez's "rehab" the same.

Ramirez knows he can do anything he wants with little repercussions. He can shove a Red Sox traveling secretary (happy belated anniversary on that, by the way, Manny!), take a swing at a teammate (Kevin Youkilis) and stop trying in games so he can get traded -- and then get traded. To a team whose fans treat him like a rock star.

Who else could get himself suspended 50 games and then all but assuredly will get a standing ovation when he returns to Dodger Stadium on July 16, his first home game.

The fans can't be blamed. Hey, the guy, however tainted, still is a superstar, still is a member of the 500 home run club. He's usually worth the price of admission.

But is it too much to ask the organizations to hold such a player accountable? To treat him as an employee, like the rest of us are treated by our employers?

Instead, the Dodgers shielded Ramirez from the media. They disappointed thousands of Albuquerque Isotopes fans who bought tickets to the rainy-day game.  And they'll likely publicly show nothing but support during his return for fear of what he might do if they don't support him.

And if the Dodgers don't make him play those tough rainy games or day games in the minors, then Major League Baseball should. He's under suspension, for goodness sake. Make him do something that he might consider punitive.

Wait, I just read what I wrote. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That's funny, the thought of any discipline by Major League Baseball!

Inevitably, Manny's right when he told the media in Albuquerque, "People love me everywhere I go."

So as long as organizations keep paying, or even employing the Manny Ramirezes, the Barry Bondses, the Milton Bradleys of the world, the players are not to blame for their self-serving behavior.

When are these organizations going to start protecting their fans?