Guess who’s back?

Yes, I’m back to share my thoughts on our beloved bums, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That June swoon not only stymied the Dodger Blue Wrecking Crew, but it kept me terribly busy with life.

Well, I’m back. However, I am quite understanding if you are not as excited about my return as that of the ever-perplexing Manny Ramirez.

I am not sure how many of you noticed, but, after Major League Baseball suspended Ramirez, I simply omitted him from any of my columns.

I guess you can say that I am one of those people that were terribly offended by what transpired. Major League Baseball and baseball purists want to turn the page on this dark chapter of the Steroid Era.

However, it is difficult when the respected careers of people such as Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa (although we all knew it all along, huh?) are tarnished by performance-enhancing drugs.

What now?

Some will say that by serving the 50-game MLB suspension, Ramirez had done his time and has learned his lesson. Cynics, however, will argue that it goes deeper than that.

Ramirez still hasn’t publicly addressed Dodgers fans or even come close to offering an apology for his actions. While we should not confuse him for or vilify him as a criminal, he should still be pressed to apologize to Dodgers fans for being so shady about this whole issue.

While some so-called Dodgers fans have remained supportive of Ramirez from the beginning, it is maddeningly irritating to see them offer support so blindly.

These were the same people that were screaming bloody murder whenever Barry Bonds approached Los Angeles city limits. They were the same people that wondered aloud why Bonds was allowed to play when it was so clear he had been using performance-enhancing drugs.

So…what is the difference between Ramirez and Bonds? Bonds has yet to be nailed.

But why treat Ramirez any different?

While those so-called Dodgers fans will bust out the Manny wigs and shirts, the rest of the league will come down hard on him. Dodgers fans will be hearing it, for sure.

Whether you are a baseball purist and feel just as weird as I do about the return of Ramirez, or are one of the dreadlock-wearing lemmings, just remember one thing…

No man is bigger than the team.

It will be interesting to observe how Ramirez performs now that he will be forced to play without the help of the juice.

Will he defy critics and prove that he is truly one of the greatest ballplayers of all time?

Or will he just deteriorate and slowly fade into baseball purgatory?

Whatever happens, remember that no man is bigger than the team.

Go Blue.