Los Angeles Dodgers

Juan Pierre will head back to the bench when Manny Ramirez returns from his 50-game suspension, confirmed Joe Torre.

Prior to this season started, the Dodgers gave Pierre and his agent permission to talk to other teams in hopes of working out a trade, since Ramirez's re-signing with the Dodgers pushed Pierre to the backup role in left field.

Yesterday Torre said, "Yeah, I really didn't consider any other option," adding that Pierre will play about twice a week while giving one of the three regular outfielders a rest.

Forgive my ignorance on the matter, as I'm not well-versed in MLB rules and regulations, but why in the world is a suspended player allowed to play in the minor leagues before making their post-suspension major league debut?

Now obviously I understand it is in the rules that a suspended MLB player can play up to 10 games in the MiLB system, but still do not receive a paycheck of any kind. Paycheck or no paycheck, how can something like this be allowed?

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Scott Podsednik lined a two-out single to center field to bring an end to a marathon 13-inning game on Thursday afternoon.

The Chicago White Sox (35-37) mounted threats more than once in the late innings, but Podsednik's single plated Gordon Beckham and finally gave them a 6-5 victory over the majors’ best team, the Los Angeles Dodgers (47-26).

They have had the best record in Major League Baseball all season long. They have the lowest team ERA in the league. They have a top-notch closer with 18 saves.

Despite all of the above-mentioned success, the Los Angeles Dodgers have something in common with Rodney Dangerfield: They get no respect.

Like many people after Manny Ramirez was suspended for a violation of the Major League Baseball substance abuse policy, I thought the Dodgers were going to go downhill in historic fashion.

That obviously didn't happen.

The Dodgers have the fourth-best batting average (.278) and the best on-base percentage of any team in baseball (.357).

In addition to these fantastic offensive statistics, the Dodgers are leading the majors in ERA (3.64).

Manny Ramirez is no stranger to controversy, and now is part of a new one that has gained popularity in recent days. Only this time, it is not his fault.

As everyone knows, Ramirez is currently serving a 50-game suspension for violating major league baseball's illegal substance policy. Ramirez's suspension will end on July 3, barring any rain-outs before then.

Looks like the apparent blunder of nixing a Washburn deal with the Minnesota Twins last year was not much of a mistake. 

Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was kind enough to take part in a live chat event at 1:00 pm Pacific Time on MLB.com.

For 39 minutes, the native of Dallas, Texas answered questions from fans that were logged into a chat room.

Clayton is in his second season with the Blue Crew. Drafted in 2006 by the Dodgers at only 21-years of age, Kershaw was the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year at Highland Park High School in Texas.

Who out there still thinks Major League Baseball is genuinely troubled by steroids and performance-enhancing drugs?

I hope not too many hands are being raised.

Don't get me wrong—MLB knows it has a problem on its hands and PEDs are the source, but the suits only believe the issue to be skin-deep. It's a matter of public relations damage control and nothing else.

Spin.

Moral obligation to society? Ethical duty to protect the record books?

How about health? Sanctity? The kids? Surely you can't be serious.

The Wall Street Journal published a story recently about the amount of college education, or lack thereof, in Major League Baseball.