Triple-A Team Finds Tenuous Manny/Steroids Link

Manny Ramirez's time with the Albuquerque Isotopes was uneventful: four plate appearances, zero hits, one walk, and one near-riot when he left the stadium during a pregame rain delay. But some good did come of his AAA sojourn.

The 'Topes pulled in a record 54,763 fans for the series, and I'm guessing more were interested in seeing Manny than the Nashville Sounds. Ill-gotten gains, you say? So does Albuquerque President Ken Young, who donated $10,000 to the Taylor Hooton Foundation, an anti-steroid charity. "I'm not going to say they're not connected," he said (or didn't say).

Manny's stay wasn't without drama. A standing room only crowd was disappointed when he left the stadium 40 minutes into a 54-minute rain delay. But no worries: refunds for everyone!

Said Manny:

You know me. Occasionally, I'll be quirky...'I'll be quirky.' Albuquerque! I'll be right back!

No, actually that was minor league baseball enthusiast and former major league mascot Homer Simpson.