Dominican baseball legend Manny Ramirez done, say it ain't so

It appears that Dominican baseball legend Manny Ramirez is finally done with baseball. Apparently he has found peace out of the game, after appearing in 17 games in the A's minor league system this season. He left the A's affiliate in June, after not receiving a call up to the big league squad.

Ramirez is living in a gated community outside Miami, and is happy to be enjoying life with his wife and kids. And he gives much credit to his newly found faith in God. From Jorge L. Ortiz and the USA Today story, "I feel good. My family's good. Thanks to God, I have a peace I'd never had. I have an incredible peace."

Like many former athletes, he is focusing on his family and his kids.  "Sometimes I miss it, but I try to fill that void by taking my kids to their basketball games, their baseball games, taking them everywhere."

Manny continues about his evangelical faith: "If the Lord says that's it, they're not going to open the door for you, I would say, 'Thank you Lord for the opportunity you gave me,'" he said. "He controls the situation." 

Please Lord, for the sake of the Dominican Baseball Guy and fans of Dominican baseball everywhere, tell Manny to go play in the Dominican Winter Baseball League this year!

Manny Ramirez is from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball legend Manny Ramirez, photo by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dominican player Bartolo Colon suspended 50 games for steroids

Once again we have a Dominican baseball player suspended for performance enhancing drugs. Bartolo Colon was busted and handed a 50-game suspension for a first time offender. That is the first time he has been convicted, not accused.

Just this past May, MLB investigated an off-season surgery on Colon's elbow. Doctors reportedly injected stem cells from Colon's back into his elbow, a procedure that did not violate MLB drug regulations. You would think he would try not do use illegal substances after that off-season, but in a statement he all but admits to the steroid use:

"I apologize to the fans, to my teammates and to the Oakland A's. I accept responsibility for my actions and I will serve my suspension as required by the Joint Drug Program."

I miss the days when players would at least lie and try and act like they had not been taking performance enhancing drugs. The Dominican Baseball Guy thought all along that is what the stem cells from his back that had him off to such a good season. But now I am not sure if it was the surgery or the PEDs or the fact that his is a really talented pitcher that led him to such a good year.

He has the surprising A's in playoff contention and is 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA. And he had a 20-plus inning scoreless streak this season. Now we will have to see what the A's will do without him because he will not be back until next year, because the A's are not making it to the second round of the playoffs.

Bartolo is from Altamira, Dominican Republic.

Dominican player Bartolo Colon suspended 50 games for steroids, photo by Keith Allison

Dominican pitcher Bartolo Colon has 22 inning scoreless streak

On Tuesday , Dominican pitcher Bartolo Colon scortched the Angels for seven innings, only surrendering one unearned run in his final inning of work. That unearned run ended his consecutive scoreless inning streak at 22.1 innings, but he does still maintain a streak of 22.2 innings without surrendering an earned run.

The amazing thing: Colon is in his 15th big league season and is two years removed from major elbow surgery. That surgery in 2011 was under investigation by MLB because it involved injecting his elbow with his own stem cells from his back. The Dominican pitcher Colon was eventually cleared in that case, and he pitched last year with the Yankees. He is back this year with the A's, and is having an even beter year, at 39 years old. Colon has nine wins and a 3.55 ERA in 23 starts and over 140 innings.

The even more amazing thing: according to Fangraphs he is pitching about 90% fastballs. Since Fangraphs began tracking pitches in 2002, no pitcher with over 100 innings has pitched that many fastballs. And Colon's fastball only averages 90 mph. 

How does he do it? He is doing what he has done his entire career, pounding the corners of the zone, and either getting called strikes or getting hitters to swing and make weak contact on pitches outside the zone.

Colon is scheduled to pitch next Tuesday on the road against the Royals, where he will attempt to lengthen his streak. He has a career record 170-122 and a 4.06 ERA. Very respectable numbers for a starter of his quality and longevity.

Bartolo Colon is from Altamira, DR.

Dominican pitcher Bartolo Colon, by Keith Allison on Flickr

Miguel Tejada ready to play ball

Miguel Tejada is ready to join an MLB team as soon as one comes calling.

The 37 year old Tejada is nearing the end of his MLB career, but should still have a couple good years left.  He played in 91 games last year for the Giants.  While his offensive output is down from his peak, he is still a very good fielder and can play three infield positions.

Adam Brush has been training with Tejada in Florida for several years.  A former college player that is a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified trainer, Brush has worked with a number of big league players including Manny Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Ramon Hernandez, Luis Hernandez, Juan Rincon, and Ardolis Chapman.  He is the owner of Five Tool Baseball Performance Training.

According to Brush, Tejada looks great and is ready to go.

"Miguel is a joy to work with.  He absolutely loves the game of baseball, and playing the game is what he wants to do.  He knows what it takes to play in the big leagues, and he knows that he can still produce at that MLB level," Brush said through a phone call.

Continuing, Brush says, "I first worked with Miguel over five years and he looks as good as he ever has.  He is taking over 200 ground balls and hitting four days a week.  And we are doing baseball strength and conditioning work three times per week.  He is working extremely hard, so that when he does get a phone call, he is ready to go."

A native of the Dominican Republic, Tejada is a legend in his home country.  He has played 15 seasons in the major leagues, but has actually played more years than that in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM).  Tejada is known as "the nation's ball player" or "the patriot player" in his home country, due to his prowess on the field in LIDOM action and his ability to represent Dominican baseball through numerous avenues.

Adam Brush witnessed the love that Dominicans have for Tejada during a training trip to the Dominican Republic.  They went to a LIDOM game one night.

Brush explains, "he stood up, got in the aisle to leave, and the entire stadium went crazy.  There were people yelling his name, taking pictures with their cell phones.  It was like a rock star.  It blew me away because I had never seen anything like it in my life."

"The Dominican baseball fans are absolutely unbelievable fans," said Brush.

A career .286 hitter, Tejada has played in Oakland, Baltimore, Houston, San Diego, and San Francisco.  He is a 6 time all-star and former MVP winner, so at the very least he is a great mentor for young players, especially Dominican players.  Miguel is from Bani, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball star Miguel Tejada with the Orioles in 2007, photo by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dominican player Manny Ramirez and his impact with the Oakland A's, Dominicano Manny Ramirez ayuda peloteros de los A's este ano

Spring Training is under way, and Dominican player Manny Ramirez is back playing for the A's.  So, begins another day of "what is  Manny Ramirez doing lately" here at the Dominican Baseball Guy blog.  Manny Ramirez is the favorite Dominican baseball player of all-time here at the Dominican Baseball Guy, so expect lots of updates as to what he is up to with the A's and in the minors, as he serves his suspension for performance enhancing drugs.

The latest is 5 people that Manny Ramirez is going to help this year, from Bleacher Report, one of the most comprehensive sports sites in all of the interweb.  The Dominican Baseball Guy loves Bleacher Report because they have individual sites and bloggers for each team.

So here are the 5 people that Manny is going to help this year: Cuban rookie Yoenis Cespedes, the A's 3 and 5 hitters, A's manager Bob Melvin, the young pitching staff, and Billy Beane and Lew Wolff.

And the Dominican Baseball Guy needs to add a couple more.  The Dominican player Manny Ramirez will be playing 50 games in the A's minor league system, so the Sacramento River Cats and their fans will benefit greatly.  And of course, the Dominican Baseball Guy will benefit greatly by having plenty of stuff to write about as the Manny Ramirez world turns.

Dominican player Manny Ramirez viene de Santo Domingo y Nueva York.

Dominican player Manny Ramirez with the Los Angeles Dodgers, photo courtesy of bestlaidplans.org

Manny Ramriez hits multiple home runs, Dominicano Manny Ramirez llega en Oakland

Well, he did hit multiple home runs in his first batting practice with the A's.  You can call the Dominican Baseball Guy the Manny Ramirez Guy if you so choose, because he is the most blogged about player in the history of the Dominican Baseball Guy blog.  Manny Ramirez is one of the main reasons the Dominican Baseball Guy first started following Dominican baseball so closely.

The Dominican Baseball Guy said that Manny Ramirez was going to be signed in his last post on Ramirez: MLB team to sign Dominican baseball player Manny Ramirez? Pelotero Dominicano va a jugar en MLB este año?  And that is what happened.  The A's signed Manny to a one year deal.  He will have to serve the 100 game suspension he is due, for failing a second drug test.  He will serve that in the minor leagues.

Ramirez arrived at A's camp and promptly hit seven home runs in his first batting practice.  Ramirez says that he wants to show his kids and family that you can change and correct a mistake.  He also said God opened this door back up for him and he had to take it.

The Dominican Baseball Guy obviously loves Manny Ramirez, BUT I think he is done.  It is a no lose for the A's though.  He comes cheap.  He will sell minor league tickets and big league tickets.  Maybe he becomes trade bait toward the end of the season, because if he is not on a contender, he honestly is not much use.  He could pinch hit or DH some.

The Dominican Baseball Guy predicts maybe 10 home runs and 40 RBI, as he will only be able to play 62 games.  He could tear up the Pacific Coast League though.

Dominican baseball player Manny Ramirez is from the capital, Santo Domingo.

Dominican baseball player Manny Ramirez in his last year in MLB,
by pvsbond on Flickr