Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games for positive drug test — The suspension, which begins with tonight's game, makes him the biggest star penalized under baseball's testing program that started in 2003. — Manny Ramirez has failed a drug test and has been suspended 50 games starting today, Major League Baseball confirmed.
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ESPN.com:
Manny Ramirez of Los Angeles Dodgers will serve 50-game suspension for drug violation — Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for violating its drug policy. — Ramirez — The commissioner's office …
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Yahoo! Sports:
Source: Ramirez's substance a sexual enhancer — Buzz up! — LOS ANGELES - A source close to Manny Ramirez — said Thursday that the illegal substance for which the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger tested positive was not “an agent customarily used for performance enhancing.”
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Manny suspended for use of PEDs — Ramirez biggest name to be punished by MLB's drug policy — LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez for 50 games on Thursday for use of performance enhancing drugs. — Major League Baseball made an official announcement shortly after noon ET.
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Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
MLB suspends Ramirez for 50 games; he reportedly used HCG … Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance, incurring an immediate 50-game suspension and serving as the highest-profile reminder yet that the use of such drugs …
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Manny Ramirez to be suspended 50 games — The magic bubble has popped. The report is anonymously sourced, but Dylan Hernandez and Bill Shaikin of The Times have the following story: — Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended 50 games starting today, The Times has learned.
Andrew Baggarly / Extra Baggs:
Giants react to Manny Ramirez suspension — All the TVs in the visiting clubhouse were tuned to coverage of Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. Other than that, it seemed like an ordinary morning. No agitated conversations, no high fives, no cheering.
Buster Olney / ESPN:
No-tolerance policy must be put in place — Manny's admission and suspension should push MLB to get totally clean — Start with this: The players connected to performance-enhancing drugs through positive drug tests or hard information have lost the benefit of the doubt.
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MLB Rumors
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Joe Torre knows Yankees fans, empathizes with Joe Girardi — The New York crowd had chanted ‘We-want-Torre,’ but the Dodgers manager says, 'They weren't always happy with me.' — Two seasons removed from managing the New York Yankees, Joe Torre still can't distance himself from his former employers.
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:Both doom and gloom — The Yankees have the nicest clubhouse in the game.
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iYankees
Michael Vega / Boston Globe:
Remy is battling cancer complications — Before last night's game against the Cleveland Indians, Red Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo stood alone in NESN's broadcast booth at Fenway Park. Orsillo began the telecast with stunning news about the protracted absence of his broadcast partner, Jerry Remy.
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Jerry Remy / redsox.trufan.com:Feature Comments: — While Jerry is great in the booth …
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Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:
Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark dies — Danny Ozark, the Phillies manager whose hound-dog face and penchant for malaprops sometimes obscured the success his teams enjoyed during the 1970s, died today at 85 in Vero Beach, Fla. — Mr. Ozark, who during his 6-plus years at the helm managed …
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Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs recall Whitesell from Triple-A — Clark placed on disabled list with strained ligament in hand — SAN DIEGO — The D-backs have a new starting first baseman. — The team recalled Josh Whitesell from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday and manager Bob Melvin said the 27-year-old will play every day in the foreseeable future.
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Federal Baseball
Jeff Seidel / MLB.com:
Twins fall to O's in rain-shortened game — Gardenhire not happy with chain of events on Wednesday — BALTIMORE — Mother Nature didn't appear to want this game to take place at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Wednesday night. — There were four rain delays that totaled nearly four hours …
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Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Janish finding ways to stay sharp — Cincinnati (14-13) vs. Milwaukee (16-12), 7:10 p.m. ET — CINCINNATI — Rarely in the starting lineup, Reds shortstop Paul Janish finds ways to stay busy, and most importantly, stay sharp. — What Janish did during the Reds' 15-3 loss to the Brewers …
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Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Sizing up A-Rod's ‘historic’ contract — Clause in deal that'll pay slugger total of $30M for HR milestones now up for debate — As fireworks, book reviews and favorite cousins explode all around him, here's our latest question about Alex Rodriguez: — Is he still someone we can look at as a “historic” player?
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
MLB:
Washington Nationals call up Ron Villone, designate Mike Hinckley for assignment — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals have selected the contract of left-hander Ron Villone from Triple-A Syracuse and designated lefty reliever Mike Hinckley for assignment.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
A-ROD ALMOST CERTAIN TO PLAY FRIDAY FOR YANKS — The plan is for Alex Rodriguez to be in the lineup as the third baseman tomorrow night in Baltimore, the Post has learned. — A conference call was scheduled between Rodriguez and members of the Yankee front office for this afternoon …
David Lennon / Newsday:
Perez put on DL, Takahashi goes to pen — The Mets were forced to shuffle their rotation again last night when they placed Oliver Perez on the disabled list with patellar tendinitis of his right knee. As a result, Ken Takahashi will remain in the bullpen and Jon Niese will be called …
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