Steriods and Manny

As Manny Ramirez stepped into the batters box for the first time since his 50-game suspension. He stood in front of a sold out crowd at Petco Park, greeted with both boos and cheers.

Though Ramirez failed to get the ball out of the infield in four plate appearances, it did not seem to matter to Dodgers fans, they had their star back and came to Petco decked out in blue and white, ready to bleed out the boo's of Padres fans.

Now that Manny has done his time for cheating the game, just like A-Rod, it will be forgotten and fans will move on. The fans seem to see steroids on a different level then the players, coaches and media do. After watching some of the best players in the game be caught (Manny, Arod, Bonds, Clemens) most fans have the mind-set of thinking most players of this day and age did it at some point, so we might as well just accept it. It's something the game of baseball should not be proud of, but something you cant be the fans for thinking.

For players in this day, a different mind-set with similar consequences, is something players must deal with. Steroids, at least at some point were acceptable. After-all to be the best you have to compete with the best, and if the best are taking steroids, you better be taking them to. Now with strict drug testing, we can only hope players are getting the picture.

Manny will most likely lead L.A., who has a 7.5 game lead in the NL West, to a division title and possibly a world series trip. He is a great hitter, with or without performance enhancers. Fans will grow to love him again, and "Mannywood" will return. Fans always have the "what have you done for me lately mind-set" and Manny is the kind of player that will always deliver. He is a true talent in this league.

One thing fans do seem to be intolerant of is lying. So just a bit of advice to any player out their right now, if you get caught, fess up and we will forgive. Look at Bonds, Clemens, McGuire and Sosa, just to name a few, compared to Manny, A-Rod, Giambi and Pettite. Fans will forgive and forget, as long as you fess up for what you have done.

The bigger issue in this entire situation is the fact that I am even having to blog about one of the best players in the game using performance enhancers. Baseball is Americas past-time and it's reputation has been tarnished by players desire to be the best, and more importantly get the big bucks. What kind of model are we setting to the kids out there, who are young and rising stars? If you look around more and more kids are being caught using steroids, it's a growing problem.

Though baseballs penalty has become much more harsh, it's still a major issue when a player gets cheered after returning from a 50-game suspension for cheating as if it's ok....