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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

MLB: Manny Ramirez ends tour in minors


By Dylan Hernandez
Los Angeles Times

SAN BERNARDINO — Circled by security guards wearing lemon-lime jackets who kept a mob of fans away from him, Manny Ramirez made his way out of Arrowhead Credit Union Park, probably for the last time.

Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti, who watched Ramirez play for the Inland Empire 66ers on Monday, confirmed that the All-Star outfielder’s weeklong minor league assignment ended when he exited the Class-A affiliate’s San Bernardino ballpark.
Ramirez had three at-bats in five innings as the 66ers’ designated hitter and was 1 for 3 with an infield single and two strikeouts.
He also struck out twice Sunday.
So is Ramirez ready to make a return to the big leagues? Ramirez — 3 for 10 in his five minor league games overall — didn’t make himself available to answer that question — or any other.
But Colletti warned not to expect immediate results from him.
Of the suspension Ramirez received for violating baseball’s drug policy, Colletti said, “Fifty games? That’s a long time.”
Ramirez reached base in the first inning, hitting a ball sharply to the third-base side of Rancho Cucamonga shortstop Andrew Romine, who couldn’t make the throw to first. He advanced to second base on a single by Pedro Baez.
But Rancho Cucamonga starter Michael Kenney struck out Ramirez in his next two at-bats, both times on four pitches. Ramirez struck out looking in the second inning and swinging in the fifth.