SHENANIGANS!

Manny Ramirez failed his most recent drug test. He’s been suspended for 50 games and will lose about a third of his $25 million salary for this season. I’m happy to see that baseball is taking drug use seriously, even if I’m embarrassed that congress has seen fit to involve its self in the proceedings. Still, I just have a hard time believing the denials.

From the Times article:

Ramirez said in a statement released by the players’ association that he had been given a medication, not a steroid, that a doctor had recently prescribed him for a personal health issue.

“Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy,” Ramirez said. “Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing: I’ve taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons.”

Really, your doctor prescribed you a medication which was banned under the MLB drug policy? So what you are telling me is, your $25 million a year salary doesn’t buy you a doctor who can look at the components of a drug and compare them to the list of MLBs banned substances? Apparently private health care in the US doesn’t actually buy you a better doctor.

What I find EVEN MORE shocking is that the teams don’t have a doctor on staff for that sole purpose. Anytime you are prescribed something, or want to take something, it has to be cleared by this team doctor. As an owner/manager I would insist on it, just to avoid this sort of problem. Apparently Ramirez is pretty good, and him being gone for 50 games will hurt the team, so it’s in management’s interest as well.

I wonder if baseball is contemplating some sort of "three strikes you’re out" policy for drug use. They probably couldn’t stand the irony.