With his agent, Scott Boras, sitting silently by his side, Ramirez played the same card.

Asked if he had been contacted by the U.S. Drug Administration about how he procured the drug that caused the positive test, Ramirez said:

"I can't say. I don't want to talk about my record. I just want to talk about the game."

Asked if he knew the name of a particular Miami doctor who prescribed the drug for Ramirez, he said, quizzically:

"I don't want to talk about my criminal record."

He then laughed.

Asked how tough it was to sit out for 50 games, he said:

"It was tough. But it's over. I'm moving on."

Asked if steroids were bad for the game, Ramirez said:

"I'm not talking about that, sir. I just want to talk about the game. If you want to talk about the game, I'm in my locker. If you want to talk about anything [else], Scott is there to answer your questions. I'm moving on."

Then asked what he apologized to his teammates and the fans for, Ramirez added:

"Not being there for them. Not being there to play the game. I'm a huge part of the Dodgers and I'm proud to wear that uniform. I said sorry because I let those fans down. They go out there to see me play."

At the time of his suspension, Ramirez was batting .348 with six home runs. He missed a good portion of Spring Training in a protracted contract squabble with the Dodgers, finally signing a two-year deal on March 4 that could be worth as much as $45 million.

Now he has missed 50 games, and even the always-confident Ramirez said it's going to take some time for him get his legs and swing back. Thus, he would take his first few games, "inning by inning."

"I feel great," he said. "I know it's going to take some time.