Another shoe drops

Manny Ramirez: 50 game suspension. It probably no longer should be, but it was a stunner. Why are we surprised by anybody admitting to, or getting caught in, the steroid scandal.

Still, somehow it seemed like Ramirez was clean. Sure he was self-centered in Boston. Yes, he has been a little goofy in L.A., but it still seemed like was clean. Yes, he was playing at a high level into his late 30s, but there was no dramatic spike in his numbers. He has been consistently producing 30-40 home runs for ten years. He did not suddenly go from 20 home runs to 55, 60 and beyond.

Now, once again we don't know. Manny is still a great hitter and probably would have been one of the best in baseball over the past ten years even if he hit 25-30 homers a year. The problem is how do we know?

With each suspension, admission or indictment we are left to wonder whether anything we have seen over the last 10-15 years was real. Sure, the games were legitimate and the best team won, but were the scores and numbers real?

Worse yet, I think we are becoming immune to it. When I heard the story, I found myself calculating the time frame of his return. July? Perfect, just like last year when he came in from Boston. The Dodgers just acquired their slugger for the second half without making a trade or giving up a thing. They actually save $7 million (Manny's lost salary during the suspension). What a deal! All they have to do is hang around first place until July then let Manny kick start their second half.

I tried to snap back and be mad about it. I am. Manny cheated the fans, and the game. I let my son dress up as Manny for Halloween last year and now I have to explain to him why Manny does not get to play for 2 months. Still, when he returns I am not going to tell him to boo Manny or not root for the Dodgers. We will go on. Baseball will go on.

Sadly however, this scandal is going to be with us for twenty more years. Yes, the number of players flunking drug tests will dwindle (you really have to be a knucklehead to get caught now, sorry Manny), but the stars of this era will become eligible for the Hall of Fame. Do Clemens, Bonds, Ramirez and Palmeiro get in? They were the greatest of their era, albeit a tainted era, but do they deserve to sit in baseball immortality next to Ruth, Dimaggio, Jackie Robinson and Cy Young? The debate will go on and remind us of this scandal.


What I hope the Hall Fame voters do is disregard the whole group. No plaques for Barry, A-Rod, Clemens or Manny. No weekend in Cooperstown for McGwire and Sosa and let's not even get started on Rafael Palmeiro.



Instead of voting these guys in, how about the Hall voters take a new look at some of the stars they have left out. Perhaps their achievements look a little better in light of what we have seen. Can the Hall now find a place for Bert Blyleven, Tommy John and Jim Katt (all pitchers who won over 280 games)? What about the Cubs great Ron Santo? Isn't Bill Buckner and his 2700 career hits worth a look? Perhaps the perspective we should gain from the steroid era is a better appreciation of some of the players who came before even if they did not reach the so called "magic numbers" of 500 homers, 3000 hits, or 300 wins.



Part of what makes baseball great is its history. Baseball can best honor its past and move forward into the future by exiling the phonies and honoring the real greats of the game.