Manny out for 50 games!

Manny Ramirez has been suspended by MLB for 50 games for failing a drug test. From a baseball perspective I wouldn't have cared for the news in the least bit what with all the hoop and scrutiny created by the media around A-rod this past week. But from a fantasy baseball perspective its positively earth-shattering!


Here's the story on Yahoo - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-dodgers-ramirez-drugs&prov=ap&type=lgns


Going into week 5 (or is it 6?) Team Navaneeth, which has so far been pretty competitive (hovering around number 4/5 spot in the league) had its catcher Posada and star pitcher Carlos Zambrano hit the 15 day DL. And now Manny, a key to my power hitting, is out for 50 god-damn games, all the way upto July 3rd, from the looks of things. Absolutely devasting, since such suspensions are not DL eligible, and even if it were, take a number, since the league only allows for 1 DL eligible position (currently occupied by Zambrano). So I have to burn precious bench space for both Posada and Ramirez.


The thought of letting go of either Posada or Ramirez, via trade, has crossed my mind. But the temptation of holding on to both, especially Ramirez, and the anticipation of knowing the kind of numbers he can deliver, once he returns is too great.



These are Mannys season stats/contributions so far --



Avg - .348
HR - 6
RBI - 20
Runs - 22
SB - 0



Argh absolutely wrecks my gut to see those stats go away. Possible options are to acquire Cleveland Indians Shin-Chin Choo, who brings speed and decent pop into the team. Going into thursday he'd already stolen 6 bases and was hitting .271. I reason I can bring him on and he can help improve my tally of stolen bases for the period Manny is out.


It'll definitely be an uphill task these next few weeks. Posada will remain on the bench till he is off the D/L and till then I'll play without the services of a catcher. I brought in Giants Pitcher Jonathan Sanchez while Zambrano sits out in the D/L.

Wouldnt want to cause bad luck, but the other teams are doing relatively Okay. Two times Navaneeth shuffles around the middle of the pack, Three times and NJ Killer Cubs burst into top 3 position.

Nav