Manny Ramirez

This time, it's not Manny being Manny. The former Red Sox, Dodger and Indian is calling it quits after the Rays slow start.

Major League Baseball made the announcement today.

The move isn't all that surprising, considering his age and his recent lack of productivity, but it's still sad to see a character like Manny go.

This time, it's not Manny being Manny.

The former Red Sox, Dodger and Indian is calling it quits after the Rays slow start. Major League Baseball made the announcement today.

Breaking News:  According to a Major League Baseball press release, Manny Ramirez is retiring as an active baseball player.  As per the press release, "Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Just as many kids growing up in the late-80's and 90's, I had a huge collection of baseball cards. This was a few years before it began to cost more for a pack of cards than it did for a gallon of milk. It was also when people collected ball-cards in hopes they would be lucky enough to pull out a card of their childhood hero.  

Another baseball season has gotten underway with a smattering of baseball games on Thursday, and once again spring is here...figuratively, if not literally.

Baseball, of course, is driven by statistics more than any other sport, and the game is filled with wonderful statistical milestones that set apart the mortals from the immortals.

The 2011 season promises to see many players crossing significant career milestones, with Derek Jeter crossing that holiest of holy marks, the 3,000-hit barrier.

Let's have a look at 20 significant milestones that we may see in 2011.

It has been almost four years since the Indians last finished a season with record of .500 or better. The last time, in fact, was 2007, when the Indians won the AL Central with a record or 96-66. Since that time it has been all down hill for the Tribe,  81 victories in 2008, 65 in 2009, and 69 in 2010. Had it not been for a hot 7-3 finish the Tribe would have finished in the AL Central basement for the second consecutive season.

Bad news for Tribe fans: this season may not be much better than any of those.

That’s right the Boys of Summer are back!

Baseball season kicks off this week and ladies, you have got to be prepared. The days of just knowing that A-Rod is a hottie, or that someone hit a home run, or who’s dating who are over.

This time of year, America is buzzing over both March Madness and the fantasy baseball information superhighway. 

In this show, I'll provide you with the broadband information you'll need to win a championship and get your coins in.

Join me as I get it in and let you know the under the radar players to roster.

Begin Slideshow

Manny Ramirez seems to really be enjoying himself in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform. Although there are still a lot of skeptics that think that currently the Rays are only experiencing the honeymoon phase with Manny.

It is also possible that Manny and the Rays could truly be a very good fit for each other at this time. The key phrase being "at this time."

With the massive departure of regular faces and vital contributors from Tampa Bay in the offseason, bringing in Ramirez makes a lot of sense for both the player and the team.

It seems like an eternity since Major League Baseball finally got around to admitting it had a problem of the performance enhancing variety, but in reality it has barely been a half a decade.

Players once thought to be first-ballot Hall of Famers are struggling to garner more than a pittance of support from sports writers and fans alike as the sport carries on the best it can.