Apparently, the third time really is the charm, or in this case, the third time is the demise. National reports state that Manny Ramirez failed a drug test that he took as he entered Tampa Bay Rays' camp this February. The story became public this past Friday and was accompanied by Ramirez's own announcement that he would be retiring rather than facing a 100 game suspension for a second failed drug test under the MLB's policy. Other than the two failed drug tests it is also rumored that Ramirez's name came up in the preliminary steroid testing MLB did in 2003 that did not involve any penalties for positive tests. A failed drug test for any top shelf MLB player invites disappointment, but for a guy like Manny Ramirez, it leaves an extra tinge that is hard to explain. Personally, I can't put a definitive word on it. It just leaves a bad, sour, taste in my mouth.
With or without any performance enhancers I would be willing to contend that Manny Ramirez is more than likely the purest hitter of his generation. He was the right-handed Ted Williams of the 1990s and 2000s. From coming up in the majors with the Indians (where I saw him on a nightly basis), to his prime in Boston, Ramirez's swing was pure, the ball jumped off his bat, and his eye at the plate was impeccably sharp. There were no holes in Ramirez's swing, no pitcher, no at-bat, no count was ever safe. I remember a game winning homer Ramirez hit in 1995 against Oakland off of the great closer Dennis Eckersley. Eckersley peppered the outside corner with a fastball at the knees. Ramirez put it into the left field bleachers and made it look easy in the process. As Eckersley walked off the field after the homer, one word came out of his mouth apparent to the television cameras. "WOW!". You can't teach the skills Manny had, and you certainly can't chemically fuse them in a science lab. Manny may be one of the most talented baseball souls to ever walk this Earth. But, although those talents can't be created with performance enhancers, they probably can be sustained. Manny's 38. He's not the same spry young kid he was in '95. I have no doubt his desire to stir up his own old excellence was more than likely his demise, the reason for his drug use, and ultimately what's made him turn his back from the game he was so good at.
It truly is a shame. Not only will we never see one of the greatest hitters of all-time ever again, but his reputation has more than likely been permanently soiled. Manny's hall of fame chances, which due to his skills should never even have a question placed near them, are more than likely gone, and rightfully so. He's a cheater, and he needs to pay the penalty, especially since he's stepping away from the game so sheepishly. Its all really so unfortunate. Manny, you would've been a hall of famer without the drugs. Now, you're just one more black eye placed on the game due to the steroid era. I wish we could celebrate Manny Ramirez 20 years from now, his talents, his hilarious personality and antics. Now his story will have to be hidden. Sad.
(photo courtesy of cleveland.com)
Well said.
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