Baseball notebook: Manny’s silence vow ends quickly
Shortly after arriving in Albuquerque, N.M., Manny Ramirez vowed that he wouldn’t do interviews until his suspension ends.
“I ain’t talking today, baby,” he declared. “Write what you want.”
That lasted an hour.
After warming up, Ramirez returned to a cramped corner of the Albuquerque Isotopes clubhouse and held court.
One of the first questions was about his steroids use.
“I’m not talking about it anymore,” he said. “I already said what I’m going to say. I’m here to do my rehab, you know, and (go) to the game and get a couple at-bats and get back to the big-league team.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger is in Albuquerque to get into playing shape as he prepares to return from a 50-game suspension for violating drug rules.
Ramirez is expected to rejoin the Dodgers on July 3 at San Diego.
He played four innings Tuesday night for the Isotopes and was hitless in two at-bats. The capacity crowd of 15,321 was the largest in Albuquerque’s baseball history.
Yanks’ protest denied
MLB president Bob DuPuy has denied the formal protest filed by the New York Yankees after a disputed loss to Florida.
New York manager Joe Girardi protested Sunday’s 6-5 defeat at Florida because of a Marlins substitution mix-up.
Clearing the bases
President Barack Obama plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the All-Star game in St. Louis on July 14. … Reds first baseman Joey Votto was activated off the DL and in the starting lineup for a game against the Blue Jays. Votto went on the DL May 30 with stress-related issues associated with the death of his father. … Phillies slugger Ryan Howard was in the starting lineup against the Rays after being hospitalized over the weekend with acute sinusitis. … The Indians have activated center fielder Grady Sizemore from the DL. He has been out since May 31 with an inflamed left elbow. … Royals center fielder Coco Crisp will have season-ending surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder today. … The Diamondbacks have placed catcher Chris Snyder on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain. They called up catcher Luke Carlin from Triple-A Reno. … Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez had season-ending back surgery. The oft-injured slugger played in only eight games this season.