Manny Ramirez

This past Friday, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder/designated hitter Manny Ramirez abruptly retired.  He had been batting .059 in six games.  It was later revealed that he had once again tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and was facing a 100-game suspension.  Instead of going through with the suspension, the controversial outfielder chose to end his career.

The Braves enter their mid-week series with division rival Florida Marlins 4-6, a record that most in the baseball world would call a mild fiasco for a team that garnered such praise out of March.

Is anyone really surprised? Really? It almost feels as if this is how it's supposed to be.

After parts of 19 seasons in which he accumulated 555 home runs and over 1,800 RBI, the former Yankee-killer we know as Manny Ramirez has called it quits. We've seen the last of his cell phone conversations in left field between innings, and no longer will his critics be able to accuse the 12-time All-Star of not playing hard.

Manny Ramirez called it quits this last week, deciding to retire instead of going through an impending MLB drug treatment program.

Sources say that Manny was facing a 100-game suspension due to testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

How did Manny Ramirez fool the baseball world so long? How did he make us believe at times that he actually cared about the team he was playing on? There were times when it seemed Manny genuinely gave a damn about winning, when in fact all he really cared about was himself.

Manny Ramirez is officially hanging up his cleats, leaving behind a career filled with highs and lows.

After Ramirez tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance during Spring Training, the 38-year-old slugger decided it was better to step away from baseball rather than face the scrutiny and embarrassment of a 100-game suspension.

So, Manny Ramirez has decided to retire rather than face another suspension for failing a drug test.  Not surprising in the least, either the failed test or the walking away.  Once again, a lack of character taints an entire career and for Ramirez this is just the latest example.

Manny Ramirez has decided to retire from professional baseball amid speculation of a second positive drug test. The debate has already started on whether his legacy will be based primarily on his statistics, drug tests or "Manny being Manny" moments. The Tampa Bay Rays were still searching for their first win in 2011.

Okay, now you can boo him.

And throw some dirt on the Rays season while you’re at it.

Manny Ramirez was one step ahead of the law Friday when he abruptly quit retired from baseball, which appeared ready to slap him with a second suspension. This slap was for 100 games, after he again violated the sport’s drug policy.

Manny, 38, bailed.

Manny Ramirez is a man of great courage. He has retired from baseball rather than allow Major League Baseball to unjustly suspend him for 100 games.

Major League Baseball announced on April 8, 2011 that Ramirez has been forced to retire in order to avoid addressing a drug "issue" raised by the league. In its usual fashion, MLB has refused to identify the substance it has accused Ramirez of using.