If Dodgers owner Frank McCourt had his way, he'd kick Manny Ramirez to the sidewalk, void his contract, and say, "See ya later."
But McCourt doesn't have that luxury, so he has simply asked Ramirez to do some very basic things to make amends for his embarrassing 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.
He did address the team, so that's one off the checklist.
But that's about all he's done.
All Ramirez has to do is show remorse, take batting practice, be a presence in the clubhouse, and continue to help out the young hitters.
So what is he doing? He's staying away.
The Dodgers expected Ramirez to come to Los Angeles after he briefly addressed the team in Miami last week. But Ramirez didn't.
Ramirez had no other offers of substance before McCourt came in to pay him $25 million this season and tacked on an option year for $20 million.
In the offseason, Ramirez worked at Athletes Performance Institute, but he did it at the one in Pensacola, Fla. Nobody could figure out why.
Now Ramirez has planted the seed that he might be suing the doctor who prescribed hCG, a female fertility drug that also helps males produce testosterone. Reports have indicated that Ramirez did not test positive for hCG, but his testosterone level was four times higher than it should have been.
All the Dodgers want Ramirez to do is come clean about what he did, be a good teammate, and prove to the management and fans that he's truly sorry. He told the Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers, "I'm not ready."
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