Manny Suspended for Steroids! [J. Mark English]

Its really hard to be shocked these days given the "steroid" era of baseball. However, another one bites the dust! The man so many teams passed up on in the off season, whom propelled the Dodgers to the best record in baseball in this young season, has been suspended. Manny Ramirez will miss 50 games due to using performing enhancing drugs:

The suspension will cost Ramirez $7.7 million, or roughly 31% of his $25-million salary. Players in violation of baseball's drug policy are not paid during suspensions.

Ramirez is expected to attribute the test results to medication received from a doctor for a personal medical issue, according to a source familiar with matter but not authorized to speak publicly.

The Dodgers informed triple-A outfielder Xavier Paul this morning that he was being promoted to Los Angeles.

With the suspension taking effect with tonight's game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium, Ramirez will not be eligible to return to the team until July 3.