Violaters Shouldn't Rehab

Major League Baseball has allowed minor league rehab appearances for those who violated the drug policy. Manny Ramirez and J.C Romero, for example, were each allowed rehab appearances before their suspension ended.

Personally, I don't think they should be allowed to rehab before their suspension is up. They violated the policy, they should be penalized. They're banned from MLB for 50 games, that should mean all of baseball, minor leagues and its affiliates. If they need rehab, they should wait until the suspension is up. They can learn their lesson and it supports a stronger drug policy for MLB.

It's not really a suspension if they're still allowed to play somewhere. Yes, it's not the majors, but what if it is not Manny, instead a veteran player on a last place team, but borderline major league talent. He played in the MLB, but he isn't that good. He rehabs in Triple-A, but that is where he should play anyway.

Because of the rehab, Manny Ramirez is receiving more attention around the minor leagues now. Minor League Baseball even broadcasted the game live on their web site. Between innings, kids swept off the bases wearing Manny dreadlocks. Manny received so much fan support and said "People love me everywhere." What kind of message is this sending to kids? Take a banned substance get positive support and attention?

In conclusion, MLB should not allow rehab appearances. By allowing it, it is almost like they are somewhat supporting the policy.

Free At Last, Bastardo, and Other Notes

J.C Romero is back! After his 50 game suspension for violating the drug policy, Romero is back in the Phillies bullpen. After several minor league appearances, Romero will look to get right back into Major League action.

To make room for Romero, left hander Sergio Escolona was sent back down to the minors.

In about a month from today, Manny Ramirez, another violator of the policy, will return from his 50 game suspension.

Another left hander, Scott Eyre, says there is a 90% chance he could retire after the 2009 season.

“My wife is probably ready for me to be home. I’ve been playing for 13 years,
and it’s basically all she’s ever known. We’ll talk about it at the end of the
year, but as of now I would say, yeah, I’ll retire.”

Another southpaw, Antonio Bastardo, dominated last night taking advantage of an early 4-0 lead against Jake Peavy, who left the game after one inning with a respiratory illness. In the Phillies 10-5 win over the San Diego Padres, Bastardo allowed just 1 earned run over 6 innings. He allowed just four hits, struck out five and walked one.

Bastardo's velocity regularly reached 94, harder than was thought to throw. Known for his offspeed pitches, he dominated most of the game with one pitch: his fastball.

On his birthday, Raul Ibanez hit two home runs, the 200th and 201st home runs of his career.

Call of the Day: Jimmy Rollins made a great play to nail Kelly Johnson back in September of 2008.

"Chopped to Rollins.. The play at the plate.. OUT at home
plate! Out at home plate is Kelly Johnson. J-Roll got it into Ruiz in a
hurry, so the runner is now at first base with two outs here in the eighth
inning, on a huge out- here comes Charlie Manuel."

Phillies Reactions to Manny

Some Phillies players have discussed the fifty game suspension of Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder, Manny Ramirez.

Brad Lidge

"It makes you wonder, was he doing it last year? Every time something like
this happens, you feel cheated a bit. Was he on the substance when I had to
pitch against him in the postseason? Naturally, it makes you feel upset."

"So he either did it negligently, or he did something he wasn't supposed to
do? Either way . . . I'd be curious to know the details. It makes you wonder,
was he doing that last year?"

"It's real frustrating, because it continues to tarnish our game," he said.
"No one knows who is going to be next. As players, we should realize that
every time someone gets caught, our game takes a hit."

Matt Stairs

“If you know the stuff isn’t on the list, why take it? I know I’m not very
smart, but I know I can figure that one out. There are a bunch of guys who are
going to have to stop taking all this health [stuff] and go back to being chubby
and having fun.”

“I think now there are guys who are taking MLB approved supplements and
sticking with it,” Stairs said. “But I’ve never even used that stuff and never
will unless someone puts it in my drink by mistake.”

(For more on Matt Stairs, visit Stairs' Way to Heaven and see the "fact" I suggested.

Shane Victorino

“It’s sad. I feel bad for him, but I guess he brought it on himself.”

Charlie Manuel

“I used to do a lot of work with him as a hitter. I knew how good he was.
He’s a great hitter. I know his talent. I’m sad. I don’t know what to say. I’m
just sad.”

“I don’t know anything about [the possibility of Manny taking steroids in
the 90s],” Manuel said. “When he was young I don’t think he was taking
anything.”

“I’d like to see baseball get cleaned out – cleaned up,” Manuel said. “I’d
like to see baseball get through it and move on.”

QUOTE SOURCE: Philly.com, Comcast Sportsnet

Phillies Note: Danny Ozark passed away on Thursday. He had a career record of 594-510 managing the Phillies, including 3 consecutive division titles. He was 85 years old.

Call of the day: In 1983, Tony Perez hit a home run to win the game.

"The 2-0 pitch.. LONG DRIVE! Deep Left center! Outta Here! A 3 run homer, Tony
Perez. And the Phillies win it by a score of 7-4, on a 9th inning homer by
Perez!"

Manny Suspended 50 Games

Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers has been suspended for 50 games for the use of performance enhancing drugs.

The suspension is similar to J.C Romero's. Manny was unaware the substance was banned. The substance that caused him to test positive was likely from a medication he received from a personal doctor for a medical problem.

Depending on rain outs, Manny will likely be back on the field on July 3.

Ramirez has been a key player for the first place Dodgers who set a modern day record for their 13-0 start at home. In 27 games, Manny is batting .348 with 6 HR and 20 RBI.

Manny will lose $7.7 million in salary for suspension.

Xavier Paul fill be called up from Triple-A to replace Manny on the Dodgers roster.

UPDATE (5:34 PM): The steroid Manny reportedly took was HCG, or human chorionic gonadatropin, a women's fertility drug. The drug is normally taken when a steroid user comes off a steroid cycle in order to restart testosterone production.

Romero Suspended

The Phillies reliever, J.C. Romero, has been suspended for 50 games due to substance abuse.

Romero was tested positive in August. Initially, Romero was supposed to be suspended immediately, resulting in missing the postseason. However, Romero denied he used the substance.

Romero tested positive again in September for the over the counter substance he purchased at a GNC store. Romero was unaware it caused the positive test, and stopped taking the substance. In October, tests were negative.

MLB officials said they would reduce the suspension in half if Romero pleaded guilty. But Romero declined, opting for arbitration.

"[Sergio] Mitre and Romero both legally purchased nutritional supplements from
national chain stores in the United States. Nothing on the labels of those
supplements indicated that they contained a trace amount of a substance
prohibited under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment
Program. Neither player intentionally ingested this prohibited substance, but
the arbitrator nevertheless found, wrongly in our view, that the players'
conduct violated the Program's 'no fault or negligence' standard."

Romero claimed to have the substance tested. The substance also did not show a warning sign on the label.

"The season is a grind," Romero said. "When you're a middle reliever, you have
to be ready to get up and down and pitch every day. Everyone takes something.
Some guys drink coffee, others supplements. We try to make sure they're all
legal. I certainly did."

The Phillies lost their best left handed option out of the bullpen for 50 games. Romero, was picked up mid 2007 season after his release from the Boston Red Sox, pitched 59 innings in 2008. He was 4-4 with an ERA of 2.75, WHIP of 1.34, and struck out 52.

Romero is currently on a Phillies cruise, and try to work things out. As of now, Romero is suspended for the first 50 games of 2009.

QUOTE SOURCE: MLB.com

Rainin' and Waitin'

The weather couldn't get any worse on Monday. Cold, wind, rain. Brutal. Somehow the Phillies and Rays played 6.5 innings.

The game started off decently. The Phillies got a nice 2-0 lead on a 2 run single by Shane Victorino with the bases loaded as a light mist fell from the sky. Things were looking good for the Phillies with their 3-1 series lead and their ace on the mound.

However, as the game went on, the weather got worse. Puddles filled the infield. The wind effected everything. It became unplayable.

The fielders had a tough time fielding. The wind effected fly balls. Jimmy Rollins missed a fly ball to him. He had it lined up in deep short, shallow left, but the wind pushed it all the way back to the infield.

The grounds crew spent a countless number of times fixing the infield puddles, the mound, and home plate. But the rain was just too heavy for the field to hold up, even with the great draining system.

Somehow, the players stuck through it. 3rd inning, 4th inning, 5th inning. After the 5th inning, the game was official. Instead of calling the game, the umpires decided to continue onto the 6th inning as the rain got heavier.

Cole Hamels still on the mound was not able to throw his changeup or curveball due to the conditions. Everything was hard to grip. B.J Upton singled on another ball Rollins was unable to handle due to the conditions. Carlos Pena drove in Upton and the scored tied at 2. It wasn't until the end of that half of the inning when the little tiny light bulb in Bud Selig's head flashed and gave him the idea to do something.

Giving the Rays an extra chance to hit in poor conditions, the tarp came out. The weather was horrible to continue on. The game was suspended, and could resume on Wednesday in the middle of the 6th inning. The suspended rule was created by Selig in 2007. Despite creating this rule, Selig still needed the rule book to explain his own rule. This is the first suspended game in World Series history.

With the game being official, if the Phillies held the lead when the game was called, that would make them World Champions, right? No, that is not the case. Commissioner Bud Selig says the game would be finished in its entirety at some point. They would wait until Thanksgiving if they had to, as Selig put it.

Playing the whole 9 innings, is a great call by Selig. If you're a Phillies fan, think about it. Wouldn't you want the players on the field when they win it all? Wouldn't it be more special if we got to see the last out, knowing it was the last out, or ending the game on a walk off homerun? Wouldn't it be missing something if we didn't get to hear Harry Kalas' call on the radio. It just simply would not feel right. Playing all 9 innings is the right thing, proving that you did it the right way. No '*' next to World Champs.

As Philly may be phrustrated because of the conditions of the Ray's last at bat, you have to look on the bright side. We got 6 innings out of Hamels. He pitched well through the worst of conditions which shows how good he is. If the game did not reach 5, the game would have started over from scratch, and Hamel's would have been wasted. The Phils have a pinch hitter and the top of the lineup due up. Our bullpen has been solid all year. In the end, the better team wins.

The weather can not be controlled, but the forecast looks better for tomorrow. Philadelphia has waited 25 years for a championship, and as of now, they'll have to wait a little longer. Once again, testing our patience.