Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers are making plans for the suspended outfielder to return to the team after spending several games in the minor leagues.

Ramirez is eligible to return to the Dodgers on July 3. But according to Major League Baseball’s rules, he’s allowed to play in up to 10 games in the minor leagues before he returns.

Why? How can a guy who was suspended for 50 games as part of baseball’s performance enhancing drugs policy have the right to do anything to sharpen his game skills BEFORE his suspension ends? How is it in the league’s best interests to let a guy suspended for these reasons return to baseball, albeit the minor leagues, before his suspension ends?

If the Dodgers want Ramirez to play a half-dozen games in the minors before he returns to the big leagues he should. But that should start on July 3. Otherwise it’s not a true 50 game suspension. Part of the penalty for the clowns that continue to abuse performance-enhancers and cheapen the integrity of the game should be the requirement that they work themselves back into game shape AFTER the suspension ends.

Part of the penalty for using performance enhancers should be that the player is put in a situation where his performance can be hindered upon his return. He either comes back cold or he loses more time getting back into game shape.

Suspended players should not have any opportunity to participate in any kind of sanctioned league activities, major or minor, before their time on the sidelines is up. Otherwise it’s not a full 50 game suspension. And it’s just one more reason people can continue to question the voracity of the league’s efforts to stop this problem in its tracks.

What a joke.