Welcome

Blogging is like Navy SEAL training in one -- and only one -- respect: Many start, but few continue. Therefore, I offer no guarantees about my viability in this medium.
But I am going to start.

And today, we start with the news, courtesy of the L.A. Times, that Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for watching "The Real Housewives of Orange County" last week. OK. Wrong. He was suspended because he tested positive for a banned substance.

As my friend Jimbo pointed out, Bill Simmons' interesting point about Manny may now be called into question. Simmons (I can't find the link) suggested some time ago that it's unlikely Ramirez did the stuff. Manny, The Sports Guy said, doesn't have the attention span necessary to start and maintain a doping regimen.

Ramirez says he hit the happy zone on the test because of a prescription medication, not banned substances. ESPN's Peter Gammons is among the early believers.

This could be an important case that raises the following issues:

• MLB may respond by saying the ultimate responsibility in such things rests with the players, who have an obligation to double- and triple-check the contents of anything they put into their bodies.
• Players could respond by asking their union and MLB to create a database that includes the names and chemical composition of anything likely to provoke a positive test.
• If there is such a system in place, could it be improved and made more accessible?
• Is it possible for players to obtain prior clearance for certain medications prescribed for therapeutic purposes only?