THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
SAN DIEGO - Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could.
Wearing sunglasses, and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference yesterday afternoon. He refused to answer steroids questions, laying off them as if they were pitches in the dirt.
"I'm here. I'm excited. I can't wait to get into the field," Ramirez said as his 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy ended before the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres.
Ramirez also brought along a new catchphrase: "Showtime tonight!" he said as he walked out of his news conference.
There was a playoff atmosphere during batting practice, with dozens of photographers following Ramirez, and extra security on the Petco Park field.
Padres starter Chad Gaudin brushed back Ramirez with his first pitch to him. Ramirez just smiled. He ended up with a walk, then was forced out at second.
It was a loud plate appearance in front of the sellout crowd, with Dodgers fans standing and cheering, and Padres fans trying to drown them out with boos.
Ramirez popped up to end the sixth, jogged to the dugout to get his glove and cap, then headed for the clubhouse, his night finished. He was 0 for 3 with a walk.
His ban was based on evidence he used human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a fertility drug that's banned by baseball, a person familiar with the suspension told the Associated Press after the suspension was announced May 7. HCG can mitigate the side effects of ending a cycle of steroids.
Ramirez refused several times to talk about the reason for his suspension.
"First I want to say that God is good, and good is God. I don't want to get into my medical records right now."
Asked what he was sorry for, he said, "I let those fans down, that they go out there to see me."
Photos: 2009 Phillies 
