Top News:
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Manny Ramirez suspended 50 games after failing drug test — The suspension, for using what a source says is a female fertility drug, begins tonight and will cost him $7.7 million. Ramirez takes responsibility but says a doctor prescribed the drug.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Fox Sports, San Francisco Chronicle, Newsvine, Associated Press, Sons of Steve Garvey, McCovey Chronicles, sox1fan.com, True Blue LA, Beyond the Box Score, Blogging Baseball, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, The Schmuck Stops Here, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Dodger Thoughts, The House That Dewey Built, NESN.com, MLB FanHouse, Bronx Baseball Daily, Full Count, Mets Today, Home Run Derby, FanGraphs Baseball, Sox and Pinstripes, MetsBlog.com, Projo Sox Blog, Bats, Los Angeles Dodgers, THE BOOK, Yahoo! Sports, LA Times Sports Blog, Deadspin, Halos Heaven, Over the Monster, Fack Youk, New York Mets Fan Blog, Walkoff Walk, Boston Globe, River Avenue Blues, El Lefty Malo, Baseball Daily Digest Blog, Center Field, Baseball Crank, It is about the money, stupid, 24 Hours From Suicide, Mets Merized Online and Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, Newsvine, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Dodger Thoughts, MLB, It is about the money, stupid, The Big Lead, The Yankees Dollar, Big Apple Sports, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, True Blue LA, NESN.com, Baseball Insider, ESPN, Deadspin, DC Pro Sports Report, Sliding Into Home, Baseball Reflections, Fire Ned Colletti Now, 3:10 to Joba, MLB FanHouse, Jorge Says No!, Mariners Insider, yankeesdaily.com and Jersey Hardball
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.”
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Manny is latest star to fall under drug cloud; banned 50 games — Major League Baseball, battling to woo fans in a recession, now must overcome the perception the sport remains polluted with players using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. — Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez became …
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.
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Manny reportedly used HCG, gets 50-game ban … 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 in the testing era may have been reduced, but not eradicated.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
D-backs to replace Melvin with Hinch — Club dismisses skipper, coach after 12-17 start — SAN DIEGO — The D-backs will name farm director A.J. Hinch as the team's manager Friday, a baseball source said. — Hinch, who has no prior managerial experience, will replace Bob Melvin, who was dismissed Thursday night.
RELATED:
Tyler Bassett / KTAR.com:
Bob Melvin to be replaced as Diamondbacks manager — The Arizona Diamondbacks had high expectations for this season and have under-performed, leading to the team making a change at the managerial position. — Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports Bob Melvin will be out as manager …
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.
ESPN.com:
Bob Melvin fired as Arizona Diamondbacks manager — PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks fired Bob Melvin on Thursday, hoping a new manager will be able to get the most out of their talented core of young players. — The Diamondbacks said they will select Melvin's replacement …
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
MLB:
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez plays in what could be final rehab game — TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez played what could be his final rehab game Thursday, going 0-for-2 with two walks and putting in three innings of defense.
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 28: Rays at Yankees (updates with A-Rod news: He'll be back tomorrow) — YANKEES (13-14) — Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (2-1, 3.82). — Notes: I'm off today in advance of the road trip. Thanks to Ernie Palladino for calling in the lineup. ... The Yankees, who have lost four straight …
Associated Press:
Mets jump Moyer, Phillies early to get two-game sweep — NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltran and David Wright each hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Frank Fitzpatrick / Philly.com:Former Phillies manager Danny Ozark dies
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rare Collapse by Rivera Sends Yankees to Fifth Straight Loss — When the greatest savior in franchise history crumbled at the end a dismal homestand on Thursday, it was the nadir of the Yankees' rocky season. At least, that is how it would seem. Things can only improve — can't they? …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
RELATED:
Keona Gardner / TCPalm.com:
Mets player Angel Pagan arrested for traffic violations in Martin County — MARTIN COUNTY — New York Mets baseball player Angel Pagan has been arrested for traffic violations, according to Florida Highway Patrol arrest report. — On Thursday troopers stopped Pagan, 27 …
