Can Dodgers keep on winning without Manny Ramirez?

If they can, they might just give the guy back to Boston.

The Dodgers’ run for the World Series title in the 2009 MLB baseball season is in question with the huge loss of slugger Manny Ramirez.

The dreadlocked slugger was banished for 50 games when MLB found out that Ramirez had testosterone in his body that was not natural and came from an artificial source. Ramirez said he did not take steroids and was only given medication by a doctor that contained a substance he never taught was banned.

Of course, MLB heard that one before and eventually decided to suspend Manny Ramirez anyway. A person familiar with the details of the suspension said Ramirez used the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin.

Ramirez is batting .348 with six home runs and 20 RBIs through the first 27 games of the season. The Los Angeles Dodgers have bolted to a 21-8 record and a 13-0 mark at home that has set the modern major league record for a home winning streak to start a season.

That’s BEFORE everybody found out that Ramirez was taking female fertility drugs illegally.

And now that he’s out, the question would have to be on the Dodgers and if they can survive just long enough to make a run for the title. It’ll be awfully hard to do it without Ramirez but at this point, the Dodgers really don’t have much of a choice.

Ramirez was acquired by Los Angeles from Boston last July 31 and became a fan favorite. His contract negotiations became a long-running drama during the offseason, and he agreed in early March, well after the start of spring training, to a $45 million, two-year contract that gives him the right to void the second season and become a free agent again.

I have a feeling they’d be having contract negotiations again once the season is over.

Which team will win the 2009 MLB World Series? BetUS.com has the odds.

Philadelphia Phillies 14/1

Tampa Bay Rays 14/1

New York Yankees 9/2

Boston Red Sox 11/2

Want more odds? Visit BetUS.com for more baseball betting odds. Want to watch MLB baseball live? Get MLB baseball tickets online now.