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I can't say I was shocked or surprised when I got a text message yesterday as I teed off at Stonewall Golf Club that said, "Oh my god, Manny got 50".

I knew exactly what it was for, I knew that anyone who has played in the last 15 years will be under the umbrella of suspicion for doping, but Manny was one of my favorites. Being a Red Sox fan was hard for years, but in 2004 Manny was probably the key element to shutting up every Yankee fan; and when he helped claim another crown in 2007, I thought he might be the most valuable player in Red Sox history--maybe not the best because you could debate Yaz and Williams, but those guys never won a ring.

When the Sox signed Manny in 2000 for $160 million I thought it was a great move, but never thought he would bring a World Series to Fenway, let alone two. The problem with rooting for players and teams now is that you can't ever be surprised anymore. If a guy ever hit 30 bombs in a season or hit .330 or got 200 hits, you have to wonder if they were ever enhanced. Did Tony Gwynn use? Ripken? Griffey Jr.? Molitor? Boggs? Thome? Fielder? Hell did Mike Schmidt dope? Dawson? George Foster? I mean how far back should we go? Did Jack Clark use it? He hit 35 in 1987.

Manny used something. We aren't sure what exactly or for what reason, but all the experts say that people who use HCG are doing so to produce more testosterone when coming off a cycle. He is vague. He says it was for a medical condition and that the doctor said the drug was okay. HCG was recently added last year to the banned list, but how stupid are you Manny? Why would you even risk it, or did you really know and you just thought your good name would get you by?

His numbers are so good that, now, you have to wonder how long he was doing it; 533 home runs and still in his prime puts him in the 600 club after his career is done. Only six other players have memberships. He has over 1700 RBIs and will most certainly have 2000 or more. You know who's in that club? Hank and Babe...yeah, ridiculous. Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Manny Ramirez would be the only hitters ever with 2000 RBIs until A-Rod gets there...EVER...sick!

Last year when he joined the Dodgers, he drove in 56 in 53 games, hit like .400 and carried LA to the playoffs. His numbers are scary and you could argue he is one of the top three hitters ever, maybe four if you include Bonds, but we all know he was doping too.

So what do we do and say about Manny? Is he still one of the greatest ever, or are the numbers counterfeit? Should we put him in the Hall or does he sit and sweat with McGwire, Bonds and Clemens? Do we just chalk it up as "the roid era" and look the other way and forgive him?

The Dodgers will be fine. The West is so dirty that they will still win the division by 10 games I bet, and Manny will be back by July 4th weekend. It might work out for them because he will be fresh for the playoffs; and part of me thinks it's good that he was caught. Now we know how religious baseball is about trying to clean the mess up. When a guy like Manny gets snagged and has to sit for two months it's a huge story, and I applaud Selig and the union for once because this is what should have happened 20 years ago.

You can form your own opinion on these guys. I still think they are great players. We will never know how enhanced the numbers are and I'm in the minority when I say the great players should all be in Cooperstown; but it's sad and I can see how the average fan will abandon all of them and I bet you Manny feels awful about it. The guy is human and he is embarrassed; he feels like he let his boys down and you can bet your life it won't happen again with him.

-Rick Bishop