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Pastimes : Major League Baseball (MLB) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (15189)	4/6/2011 10:54:47 AM
From: niceguy767	Respond to of 29239

And to think that pitching is the O's weak spot according to most. If only the O's pitching stats could hold up over the remaining 157 games!

To: stockman_scott who wrote (15189)	4/8/2011 5:07:21 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	1 Recommendation Read Replies (15) \| Respond to of 29239

End of the line for Manny: Ramirez Makes Surprise Retirement Announcement By DARREN EVERSON Wall Street Journal APRIL 8, 2011, 5:01 P.M. ET Baseball star Manny Ramirez unexpectedly retired from the sport Friday amid more controversy regarding drug use. In a statement Friday afternoon, Major League Baseball said it recently informed Ramirez, who was six games into his first season with the Tampa Bay Rays, of an "issue" under the league's drug prevention and treatment program. Ramirez previously was suspended in 2009 for violating the sport's performance-enhancing drug policy while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. "Rather than continue with the process under the program," the league said, "Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player." Ramirez, 38, could not immediately be reached for comment. The sudden decision marks a bizarre end to a storied but controversial career, further tainting Ramirez's once-uncontested reputation as one of the great hitters in recent baseball history. In 19 seasons, most of them with the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, Ramirez hit 555 home runs, made the All-Star team 12 times and was long considered the sport's most feared hitter—along with being one of its most eccentric personalities. He was a key member of Boston's 2004 and 2007 World Series-winning teams, and he electrified Los Angeles in 2008 after he was traded mid-season to the Dodgers and hit 17 home runs in just 187 at-bats. But in May 2009, Ramirez received a 50-game suspension for breaking the league's performance-enhancing durg policy when he tested positive for using a women's fertility drug. Ramirez blamed the result on being prescribed a medication that his doctor thought was permissible. He returend to the Dodgers and finished with 19 home runs, but had just eight last season in an injury-plagued year with the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. This year, Ramirez signed a $2 million one-year contract with the Rays—an apparent bargain for a player with his credentials. But in his first 17 at-bats this season, Ramirez had just one hit. Write to Darren Everson at Darren.Everson@wsj.com online.wsj.com