Welcome back, Manny!

Bill Plaschke has a piece in the LA Times about Manny Ramirez' return to the Dodgers.

He takes issue with the way the Dodgers have coddled Manny, and about how the franchise and fans are embracing his return as if he'd ben on the Disabled List.

He writes:

Surely, somebody will hold him accountable for a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy?

Surely somebody would let him know that, because he has yet to offer any true remorse or explanation since his May 7 suspension, somebody was going to publicly wonder why?

As a fan, I think Manny should be ashamed of himself, and I wish he would take more responsibility than he has, and I'd wish he'd talk more openly and honestly about what happened. I wish the Dodgers had given him less leeway, at least in forcing him to attempt to pay back the fans and the franchise for the turmoil he's caused and will continue to cause. And I wish he would consider his place as a role model for kids and his role as one of baseball's superstars who bring excitement and attention to the game worldwide.

That said, the Dodgers are a baseball team trying to win a World Series for the first time in over 20 years. Yes, the case could be made that the Dodgers can win without Manny, but there's no doubt that they're better with him. Some have called for the Dodgers to dump Manny altogether, and while that sounds very noble, it's completely impracticable.

Trading Manny would be a Herculean task, and the Dodgers may not even be able to do it at all. Dumping him altogether just makes no sense since the Dodgers would have to eat the rest of his salary, and noble or not it doesn't seem fair to punish the Dodgers for Manny's transgression.

No, if the Dodgers are paying his salary, Manny will be playing for them (nobody wants another Andruw Jones). Let's also remember that Manny was charged and sentenced. He served his suspension and now he's done. Whether he deserves a stiffer penalty is a question for the next collective bargaining negotiations. For now, the penalty is 50 games, and those 50 games are up.

So as with many Dodger Fans, I welcome Manny's return to the Dodger lineup. I will cheer when he does well. I hope he helps the team reach new heights. And I also hope that he never touches steroids again and uses this as an opportunity to speak out on his mistakes and make some necessary changes.

Like him or not, booing and chiding him now doesn't help the Dodgers be a better team. Dodger fans have spent the last 50 games being upset at Manny. Now they're done and ready to watch him play.

Dodger fans want a World Series title. They want a team of which they can be proud. As one fan put it to Plaschke, "I love baseball, and I love the Dodgers, and so I cheer for them all." So who can blame them for that?

I hope that Manny doesn't make the same mistakes that Barry Bonds has made in handling the controversy, although he's off to a very inauspicious start. Ramirez' legacy will forever be tarnished, but he still has an opportunity to make a positive impact on the field as well as off. Let's hope he takes it.

Now, he's baaaaaaaaaaack! (again). Play Ball!