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SAN DIEGO, California: Disgraced Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Manny Ramirez apologised to his teammates and fans but refused to explain how or why he violated Major League Baseball's drug policy.
Ramirez also downplayed the 50-game suspension that the league's disciplinary committee slapped him with, jokingly calling it a "criminal record".
Asked how tough it has been mentally to become the first marquee player to be suspended under a new stepped-up drug policy, Ramirez said, "It has been great. It has not been that bad."
But the 12-time all-star Ramirez got a cool reception Friday from San Diego fans. It was his first game back with the Dodgers since he was slapped with the ban on May 7 after testing positive for a female fertility drug which is a common masking drug for steroids.
"I want to say I'm sorry to the fans, to my teammates that they're always there for me. I want to thank Frank McCourt (Dodgers owner) for his support and I'm here. I'm excited. I can't wait to get onto the field."
Indeed, despite the drug fiasco and the unwanted attention it has focused on the Dodgers, the organisation has welcomed the 37-year-old Ramirez back.
Ramirez was in the starting lineup when the first-place Dodgers began a three-game series against the Padres Friday.
When coming to the plate for his first appearance in the first inning, he was given a mixed reaction with some booing and some cheering. Many fans remained standing for the duration of the bat in which he walked.
"I missed the game that I love, I miss being around the guys," said Ramirez, who refused to do interviews during his suspension and recent stint playing in the minors. "It is what it is, but I'm here, I feel great and I'm ready to play."
Ramirez refused to answer questions about whether he used steroids.
The Dodgers went 29-21 without Ramirez who was hitting .348 with six homers and 20 RBI prior to his suspension on May 7.
"I know it's going to take time for me to get my rhythm, to get my timing" said Ramirez. "That's what I'm here for and I'm just going to go day-by-day."
Ramirez, wearing a pair of dark sunglasses at the indoor news conference, said he owes no explanation to the Dodger fans.
"I don't think so, because I already said I was sorry," said Ramirez who attended the news conference with his agent Scott Boras.
Asked if he knew the name of the doctor who prescribed the drug to him, Ramirez said, "I don't want to talk about my criminal record."
Asked what he apologised to his teammates and fans for he said, "not being there for them. Not being there to play the game. I'm a huge part of the Dodgers. I said sorry because I let those fans down. They go out there to see me play."
Dodgers manager Joe Torre welcomed Ramirez back with open arms and said he doesn't believe he will be a distraction in the dressing room.
"I think Manny coming on board is certainly going to lessen the load on some of these kids," said Torre. "I don't think it's going to be a chemistry problem. I'd be very surprised if that's going to be the case."
Torre coached the Yankees four championships between 1996 and 2000 and more than a dozen players from those teams have been linked to performance enhancing drugs including Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and Roger Clemens.
The first penalty for violating the league's drug policy is 50 games and the second violation calls for 100 games with the third being a lifetime ban.
- AFP/yt
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