Manny Ramirez is one of the most idiosyncratic baseball players to have played the game. Known for “Manny being Manny”, his outspoken style, his baggy uniform, looking like he was asleep standing up in left field then springing into action to make scintillating defensive plays, Manny Ramirez left the game under a dark cloud having tested positive yet again for using a female fertility hormone. Female fertility hormones are used as masking agents to cover up usage of illegal performance enhancing drugs. Ramirez didn’t adjust well to home life in South Florida and was recently arrested for domestic abuse of his Brazilian born wife. Many pro athletes in different sports find it difficult to adjust to retirement and don’t want to face the fact that they are no longer the sports heroes in the limelight, a status which they enjoyed over many years during their playing career. In addition, they haven’t been around their wives and families full-time, since the baseball season can run from February spring training through October World Series play, they are often strangers in their own families.

Manny Ramirez recently announced that he would be playing in the Dominican Republic Winter League and stated his reason as wanting to bring focus to baseball in the Dominican Republic. Or was Manny unable to put down the bat and glove and transition into retirement? Nevertheless, Manny Ramirez was unable to play in the Dominican Winter League as the Dominican League abides by MLB rules and Manny’s suspension for the PED would have to be served out.

While everyone is wondering who will make the World Series this year, other teams who didn’t make the playoffs or who were knocked out of the playoffs picture, are already gearing up for Spring Training 2012. Spring Training basically consists of practice sessions and exhibition games played in Florida (The Grapefruit League) or Arizona (The Cactus League). Many people enjoy the Spring Training exhibition games for a chance to see players play the game in smaller parks instead of in huge stadiums.