Applying reason to the actions of Manny Ramirez is always a mine field, but his actions are that of a man who knew his skills had badly eroded long before he announced his retirement Friday, rather than than serve a 100-game suspension for a second positive drug test.
He thought juicing was the only way to liven up his slow bat, and he didn't care about the consequences.
He's a Hall of Fame talent who will never be in the Hall, and instead of being remembered as one of the most feared sluggers of his generation, his legacy will be that of a cartoon character. We think much of his "Manny being Manny" act was done consciously, and it grew tiresome. Despite his prodigious numbers, he'll drift off the face of baseball, unlikely to find employment in the game.