Manny deflects PED questions

Dodgers slugger addresses media before return

Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

SAN DIEGO -- Manny Ramirez made like Mark McGwire in his pregame media conference on Friday prior to returning to the Dodgers lineup from a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy, saying he didn't want to talk about the past.

"First, I want to say that God is good and good is God," Ramirez said, answering a question about his banned-substance use to open the 12-minute session at PETCO Park, before going 0-for-3 with a walk in the Dodgers' 6-3 victory over the Padres.

"I don't want to get into [that part of my] career. Right now, I'm happy to be here. I'm ready to play. I practiced at Triple-A, and I can't wait to get out on the field."

Ramirez walked in his first plate appearance to a mixture of boos and cheers with several Dodgers fans having made the trip to San Diego. He was retired in his next three at-bats before departing in the sixth inning.

On May 7, Ramirez was suspended under MLB's drug policy for using a performance-enhancing drug later identified in media reports as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which he said was a female fertility drug prescribed by a doctor.

The penalty of 50 games under the policy is for the first infraction. The second is 100 games and a third calls for a lifetime suspension with a right to seek reinstatement after two years.

Once he apologized to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his teammates, Ramirez began working out and preparing for his return, which included a 10-game Minor League rehab stint.

To repeated questions Friday about his performance-enhancing drug use, Ramirez said he believes he owes no further explanation to his legion of fans, which in Los Angeles have supported him in droves.

"I don't think so, because I've already said I'm sorry," said Ramirez, wearing reflective sunglasses for the indoor presser because "I wanted to."

McGwire said at a Congressional hearing in 2005 that he didn't want to speak about the past when asked by public officials about his alleged PED use.