Manny Ramirez retires....good riddance

From the "Mad Hungarian" Al Hrabosky talking to baseballs to Bill "Spaceman" Lee talking about everything under the sun to anyone who would lesson, baseball's history has had no shortage of eccentric personalities. Manny Ramirez falls into this category. Manny Being Manny was coined to explain his bizarre behavior and general laziness in the field. Today, Manny Ramirez announced he was going to retire rather than serve out the 100 game suspension that was on its way from Major League Baseball after Manny failed his second drug test this Spring. Manny being Manny just couldn't stay away from banned substances it appears.

It's just as well Manny runs off into the sunset. Baseball doesn't need this kind of press again as it tries to move past the whole steroid and performance enhancing drug era. Manny being Manny just couldn't put the team before himself. He never has and now he never will. It's a shame Manny developed the way he did. He was a phenomenal ballplayer, one of the best I ever saw. However, the shine came off Manny's star when he was suspended in 2009 for using a banned substance, most likely hCG, a female fertility drug steroid users use to restart their testosterone after a steroid cycle. Then only a few months later Manny Ramirez was named by The New York Times as one of over 100 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003 during MLB's survey test. Now, this is basically a third strike and forces me to question the true source of Manny's baseball prowess. In my opinion Manny Ramirez is a detriment to baseball, a disgrace to every ballplayer who has managed to stay away from steroids and the like. Here is a guy who knew the consequences and still went ahead and allowed illegal substances into his body. I hope the baseball writers keep Manny away from the Hall of Fame.

While I am of the mindset that not all players who have admitted to using steroids should be barred from the Hall of Fame, I do believe Manny should not be considered. Certain players, like David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Andy Pettitte have had stellar careers that bear the mark of performance enhancing drug use. However, all have spoken freely and all have shown remorse for their actions, unlike Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Manny Ramirez. People make mistakes and should be given second chances. However, someone like Manny who flaunts the rules and shows no remorse for anything should be made to pay with the only thing we can take from him, his dignity in the world of baseball.