Manny proof positive

The question remains what is Manny proof of? Is this a case of a guy taking a substance on the sly (something he alleges he did not realize was on the banned substance list and was prescribed to him by a doctor)? Or is this a case of just so many substances being on the list that the players can't even keep track of what is and what is not banned?

I'm not making excuses here and apparently neither is Manny. I have to give him credit for simply accepting the suspension, admitting the mistake and basically just moving on. If he is telling the truth that he has taken numerous MLB drug tests in the past (he says 15 but only Bud Selig and the MLB front office know the real score), then there must be some grain of truth to this being his only infraction. This is not A-Rod who was not only taking a banned substance but actual steroids. Of course, for A-Rod it is easy to come clean when you know that there are no consequences beyond perhaps a tarnished reputation and lets face it, A-Rod's reputation was hardly sparkling to begin with.

It will take a few days for all the facts to come out on this and until then everyone will be throwing around all types of wild stories and accusations. The incorrect ones will be quietly swept under the rug (never quite denied simply never spoken of again) and the true ones will be trumpeted until we can't stand to hear about it anymore. And Manny's numbers will come into question and once again people will whisper about other players (let me get you started - Albert Pujols anyone?).

Let this be a cautionary tale to all those who said the MLB drug policy has no teeth. One of the games biggest stars is now suspended for 50 games. If it can happen to Manny, they'll do it to anyone. If I were a ball player I would have a wallet-sized list of all banned substances to bring with me to every doctor I go to and if he prescribed something I'd make damn sure it wasn't on that list.