When Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was able to go on a rehab assignment 40 days into his 50 day suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, there was an outcry on the various social networks and in the media. Many stated that he shouldn’t be able to do this and that he should serve his 50 games without being allowed to play in the minors.
While this is good for the minor league affiliates who receive these players, it’s really not good for the game at all. Why should someone who is suspended be allowed to go “rehab” to get back into shape. Isn’t that what the player should be doing while he’s suspended without pay.
Well the commish, Bud Selig, has spoken about it and he wants to see a rule change that doesn’t allow rehab assignments for suspended players.
“I believe that should be changed in the next labor negotiations,” Selig said. (Serve) Fifty games and then you do what you got to do,” Selig said.
Bud won’t be able to do anything about it until 2011 when the current labor contract expires. And he doesn’t want to do anything about it now either. He’ll wait and bring it up when they start to negotiate the next contract.
If Bud can get this done when the contract expires, this might be the only good thing he’s done for the game.
Selig wants rehab for suspended players eliminated [Extra Bases]
