Is anyone surprised Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs? I'm not shocked, but I am disappointed. I'm just sick of the whole steroid issue. After the Mitchell Report came out I was hoping on-the-field baseball would take center stage, and the PED discussion would slowly fade as drug testing discouraged players from using. I was naive.
 
Contrary to most Red Sox fans, I was not happy A-Rod's name came out. I can't stomach the Yankee's insecure prima dona, but I hate the bad spotlight drugs puts on our game. When he admitted to using I was slightly relieved he did not take the Clemens denial approach. Of course, his admission appears to be a half truth, and the scandal rolls on.
 
Now we have Manny in the spotlight and this issue will never go away. I jokingly posted on Fox Sports, "Manny started doping on August 1, 2008.", the day after Boston traded him. This was in response to the 'tainted championships' comments made by a few idiot Yankee fans. A torrent of abuse rained on me as some morons can't identify a tongue-in-cheek comment when they see it. Of course Manny was dirty when he played in Boston. Only a fool would think otherwise, but there will be plenty of fools in Red Sox Nation saying, "Manny tested positive as a Dodger." All sports fans are biased, but some can be stupid about it.

If Manny took drugs during this testing era, it's a guarantee he was taking PEDs before tests were being taken. It would not surprise me if the Red Sox suspected he was using and it was just another justification for trading him. I'm not suggesting that was the case. It just wouldn't shock me. It's only remotely possible that Manny started doping after he left Boston in some greedy attempt to 'pump up' in pursuit of his next big contract, but I don't believe that. I'm guessing he's been using for years.

Now the Dodgers have to deal with his baggage and it's far more damaging than what he pulled in a Red Sox uniform. On one hand I feel badly for Dodger fans who've embraced Mannywood and appear to have a legitimate winner in 2009. On the other hand, they've been riding Boston fans with, "Thanks for mistreating Manny.", which is complete bullshit. We loved Manny. He was our favorite knucklehead until his dishonesty, and lack of character, hurt our team last summer. Now I ask, "How are you Dodger fans liking Mannywood today?"

This latest steroid story is good news only for the athletes who were exposed before Manny. Cheaters like Barry Bonds, A-Rod, and Redneck Clemens will begin taking the, "Ya see, everyone was doing it.", position if names keep piling up.  No, everyone doesn't cheat but it's convenient to say so if you do. I guarantee A-Rod doesn't mind the spotlight shifting to the west coast. He has a new book coming out, another fiasco, I assume it's 50% fiction.

I would like all the PED users outed. Having this discussion dominate baseball is not good for the game. The 105 names on the alleged 'tested positive' list should be released to the media. Baseball needs to stand up and say, "These are the players who tested positive for PED's in the past.", ending the speculation. Let each player decide if he'll admit, deny, or dodge these allegations. There will be a shit-storm of coverage as they do, then we can get back to baseball.

From that point forward we'll only have to deal with the players who test positive in the future. Hopefully, common sense will dissuade them from using.........but I'm not as naive as I was 18 months ago.

The team of the 20th Century has not lived up to expectations in the new millennium. Yankee bashers are joyous as they verbally tear down the Bronx Bombers. It's an easy target. While I share their animus towards the New York Yankees, arch rival to my Red Sox, I don't engage in the vitriol. It's pointless, and in many cases retarded.
 
My dislike of the Yankees stems from my New England roots and Fenway loyalty, but I've always respected the organization and many players who wore pinstripes. As of late, I've lost respect in their way of doing business. It's not about the money. The front office has become a one-trick pony.
 
The Yankees have worked with free agency since it's inception but back in the day they also had a healthy number of home grown stars, from their deep farm system, on those contending teams. Since the championship teams of the 90's, what percentage of Yankee 'stars' have come up through the farm system?  That last great Yankee era had Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera as home grown Yankees. These are certified MLB stars winning multiple championship rings after being raised on the Yankee farm. Most of today's Bronx 'stars' come from other teams.
 
That 90's era was built on talent developed in the system and acquired veterans like Paul O'Neal, Wade Boggs, Tino Martinez, El Duque, David Cone, Scott Brosius, Roger Clemens and Chuck Knoblach at the end. The Yankees used every tool available to build those teams, trades, free agent signings, and their fruitful minor league system. Those days are long gone.
 
Alphonso Soriano may be the last impact player to come through their system. How many of their farmhands are currently All Star caliber for any team? At the moment Robinson Cano, Chien Ming Wang, and Joba Chamberlain are the only young players on the Yankee roster I would consider as potential superstars. Most of the Yankee farmhands have not panned out beyond 'servicable'. Cano has not achieved stardom after four seasons, but he could get there. It's too early to tell with Joba. I believe Wang is the real deal.
 
Since the end of 90's dynasty much of the Yankee leadership has been a cast of mercenaries signed from other ball clubs. Players like recently departed Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu, today's starters Alex Rodriguez, Damon, Matsui, and newcomers Teixeira, Sabathia, and Burnett, represent the way New York does business in the 21st century. Sure, there are leftover stars from that 1990's era, but that core is getting old and the farm has not restocked the club with Yankee stars of the future.
 
When you add to that list of free agent players the recent busts, Javier Vasquez, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, and Kevin Brown to name a few. You may see my point of view. Win or lose, The Yankees of today are not a product of a great organization. They're mostly a group collected through the wheeling and dealing of the front office. 
 
The state of the Yankees farm system is in question. On my last check, they had only 2 of the top 100 minor league prospects. None in the top 30. 
 
The Yankee trend toward opening the wallet and dropping insane amounts of money as the exclusive means for building a contender leaves this fan with far less respect for the organization as a whole. I have great respect for many Yankee players and managers, past and present, regardless of where they came from, but I think upper management has lost it's edge. Beyond his resources, i.e. Steinbrenner money, I no longer see Brian Cashman as a top notch general manager. Compared to the 90's, when several of his free agents helped NYY win titles, there have been few good moves this decade......and too many busts.
 
With aging stars of the 90's near the end, and few young players on the rise, Cashman had to make big moves in the offseason to restore Yankee pride, and christen the new 1.5 billion dollar stadium. The $443 million offseason shopping spree, for FIVE players, was a desperate attempt to bring this team back to the post season. Even Yankee fans have to see the end is near, and feel the desperation.
 
There is joy in Mudville as the mighty C.C. was roughed up in his pinstriped debut. Everyone outside the Yankee family is enjoying this opening day of misery. I'm glad they had today off, so I could enjoy it longer. I relish in Yankee misery because I believe they're doing it all wrong, and they're too stubborn to realize it. After all, they have 26 rings.
 
The Yankees will compete in 2009 and beyond. Sabathia will be okay. Mark Teixeira won't go 0-for too often. They still have all those stars from the 90's. But, this team needs to perform NOW. Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte will be gone soon. After that, the cupboard is bare.

I once thought the best feature of FoxSports was the message boards that accompany each story. I no longer feel that way.

Real sports fans generally dislike homers, clueless fans who see no merit in teams beyond their own. Fans who believe every team stinks except their club, when no stats or records support them, are foolish at best. It's pointless to discuss sports with homers. They see the sports world though a subjective lens without reason or logic. The same can be said of haters.
 
Haters can make our time on FoxSports message boards intolerable. They're worse than homers because their entire focus is on players and teams they hate. They're truly pathetic souls lost in a fog of negativity. They have little to offer a discussion beyond incivility, insult and stupidity. Whether they attack you personally, or use names like Skankees, Choke Sox, Celdicks, Fakers, Squeelers, in reference to teams they hate......It's best to ignore them. Unfortunately, we're human, we respond, and the message boards become an ignorant, insult laden, flame fest.
 
No recent champion, division or league, can be accused of sucking. But fans of far less successful teams do just that. It's jealousy, plain and simple. The Yankees and Red Sox get a lot of attention because they're good. Fans of lesser teams are sick of them as much as New Yorkers and Bostonians are sick of each other. Fine, but can't we stick to the subject of a message board and avoid the obvious ill feelings? We all know you hate the Yankees and/or Red Sox, get over yourself.
 
There are some who enter a discussion related to a team they hate for the sole purpose of baiting the fans of that team. These trolls make the message boards pointless as the mere sight of these Fox users brings the content to the lowest level. Dumb fans, those easily baited, start flaming with their own hateful ignorance. The distraction from actual discussion kills the board. 

Sometimes you have to name names.

Whether they act uncivil on the message boards or not, haters with defamatory screen names will attract insults and will not be taken seriously. The username is our first indicator of who the person is behind the computer. Should we expect objectivity regarding baseball in New York from the user ihatetheyankeesforever?  When you add the nastiness and insults thrown in his posts, this user has zero credibility. I hate the Yankees too, but saying they suck is just retarded. BahstonSux is the king of negativity and pointless posting on everything related to Boston. It's actually sad. BostonSux is a message board stalker. I pity a man with nothing better to do than hate on a city. Get a life.

Fightnphil's enters every Boston thread with the sole purpose of starting trouble. His recent racist remarks went far beyond what Fox should allow. I don't care what another racist said first, ignore them. Responding to one racist pig in the same manner makes you a racist pig.

DangerManDelPiero spends way too much time battling the Boston haters and in the process looks foolish himself. I don't care that we root for the same teams. If all someone does is fling hate at other haters it's best to avoid the threads they're posting in.

It doesn't matter what someone says, or what their username is..........DON'T TAKE THE BAIT.

There are some knowledgeable and reasonable sports fans blogging in FoxSports. I enjoy reading the posts and blogs written by ordinary fans because many are just as skilled as the so called 'experts'. We don't get paid so our love for the game shines through, even if we're not always objective. I appreciate those who can offer their insight, make a point, and disagree while maintaining civility and mutual respect. 
 
The anonymity on the message board makes it too easy to be a jerk without consequence. We don't act this way in real life. Why do it here? Ignore the haters, trolls and flamers. They are cowards. Keep the discussions related to the topic and avoid the incivility. If these message boards ever get shut down, you won't have to guess why.

Being a Red Sox fan, I have no love for Alex Rodriguez. I think he's a prima dona who cares more about himself than his team. His ego requires he be the highest paid player. He wants to be loved but hasn't the personality, or brains, to do the right thing and endear him to baseball fans. His immense talent makes him a star, beyond that he has nothing. He is Mr. Anti-charisma.
 
Like Manny Ramirez, we love to watch A-Rod hit, whether we're hoping for a big whiff & choke, or a blast over the fence. Players with this level of talent put fans in the seats, and make baseball as a whole more fun to watch. Of course the Yankees will miss A-Rod, but so will the rest of baseball.
 
I never want to see A-Rod succeed, I take pleasure in the fact that he has no rings and has off-the-field baggage that distracts from his on-the-field value. I wish no ill will towards A-Rod, no injuries or misfortune in life, I just want him to strike out and lose baseball games.
 
When the Red Sox face the Yankess I like the teams to be at full strength. When key players are missing, there's a component to the rivalry missing. I want the complete package, A-Rod hitting, Josh Beckett pitching and all the stars at their position. I also don't want dumbass fans to have their excuses lined up. I know you win or lose with the players on the field, and depth is an important factor, but I don't want to hear, "So what, we played without (name any player)." 
 
I wish Alex Rodriguez a speedy recovery and hope his rehab goes well. I'm looking forward to another late season A-Rod chokefest. It doesn't matter if it's September or October. We know he can deliver.

Get well A-Rod. Whether fans admit it or not, baseball needs you.

I for one am glad Manny Ramirez has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the numbers of the deal appear to closer to what LA wanted, not Scott Boras figures. There's no doubt in my mind Boras misguided his gullible client. Manny thought forcing Boston's hand and being traded last summer would result in a windfall contract near the A-Rod salary level. Twenty-two-and-a-half million dollars per season is not chump change, but I'm sure a two year contract and a 12.5% pay raise is not what ManRam had in mind.
 
I'm glad Manny is playing. Regardless of what I think of his misdeeds and shady departure from Fenway, I think he's the best hitter in baseball and the game is better when he's stepping up to the plate every day. I hope for the Dodger's sake, Manny's less-than-A-Rod contract does not turn the immature slugger into the distraction he was in Boston..... should his season not be as good as people expect. I believe McCourt and company played this perfectly. How could they miss? Nobody else was willing to pay Manny.
 
The Dodgers were bidding against themselves. Why offer more? Unlike the Yankees, who bid more for C.C. Sabathia when they already had the highest bid on the table, the Dodgers showed restraint in the face of Scott Boras' tactics. I applaud them for doing what was best for their team, and their loyal fans, while still offering a good deal to the player they really need. Brian Cashman should be taking notes.
 
Being a Red Sox fan it would be easy for me to trash Manny for his 2008 antics, but I can't do it. Even with his defensive flaws, questionable attitude, and distractions........Manny was a key part of the Red Sox ending the 86-year drought and winning two championships. I choose to focus on the good our knuckle-headed left fielder did in Boston rather than his misbehavior.

Thank you Manny.
 
Ramirez did not get his four year deal for 100 million, but he got a deal that's fair to both sides. Scott Boras has a little egg on his face.......and a paycheck. Good luck Manny. I hope you redeem yourself in La-La-land ending your career on a good note.