Lyflines criticizes writers who criticize the Manny Ramirez rehabilitation assignment:

Major League Baseball has rules for drug use. Manny Ramirez violated them, which brought on a pre-determined punishment. Manny has served, and is continuing to serve, that punishment, as pre-agreed upon by all interested parties. This outcry would have been a lot more effective the first time it actually happened, when JC Romero pitched in minor league game(s) while still suspended from the Phillies earlier this year, because “Major League Baseball rules allow him to pitch in the minors for 16 days before the suspension ends.” Where were Tracy Ringolsby and Rob Neyer and Dale Arnold and all of the outraged WEEI callers then? I heard them, and it sounded a lot like … [crickets] …

As one of the people who doesn’t think this should be allowed, I confess that the Romero rehab didn’t register with me, because Romero isn’t really a star. There was no national media following him around. I also admit we should have been outraged when the rule was first written. That doesn’t mean, however, that now that we are aware of the rule that we shouldn’t be outraged. A suspension to me means you don’t play ball for 50 days. Major League players can afford to hire batting practice pitchers or batting practice batter to help keep them sharp while they’re not on the team. They shouldn’t be helping any level of organized baseball make money.

I’m sorry I wasn’t outraged earlier. I’ll try to read the rules more closely next time.