In matching up against the powerful Philadelphia Phillies for the second consecutive year in the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers believe they have more going for them this time around. For beginners, the Dodgers have the home-field advantage, something they did not enjoy in 2008 while bowing out in five games against the eventual World Series champion Phillies.

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz became the latest star implicated in baseball’s ever-growing drug scandal, acknowledging yesterday that the players’ union confirmed he tested positive in 2003. Shortly after hitting the go-ahead home run that beat Oakland 8-5, Ortiz responded to a story on The New York Times’ Web site that he and former teammate Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs six years ago.

The New York Times is reporting David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were among the more than 100 Major League Baseball players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

Manny Ramirez took batting practice before the Dodgers-Padres game last night. He avoided questions about steroids during a news conference but did make apologies. SAN DIEGO—Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could. Wearing sunglasses and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference yesterday afternoon. He refused to answer questions about steroids, laying off them as if they were pitches in the dirt.

SAN DIEGO—Manny Ramirez will be back in the big leagues tonight after a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy. His return should be nothing short of a spectacle. It’ll be the start of the Fourth of July weekend, and thousands of blue-clad Los Angeles Dodgers fans are expected to be at sold-out Petco Park to support the dreadlocked slugger in the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.

NEW YORK—Manny Ramirez joined a growing lineup of all-stars linked to drugs yesterday, with the slugger banished for 50 games by a sport that cannot shake free from scandal. The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder was suspended by Major League Baseball, adding a further stamp to what will forever be known as the Steroids Era. Ramirez said he did not take steroids and was given medication by a doctor that contained a banned substance. A person familiar with the details of the suspension said Ramirez used the female fertility drug HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the banned substance wasn’t announced.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder becomes the latest high-profile player ensnared in the sport’s drug scandals. The specific violation was not announced.

PHOENIX—Manny Ramirez clambered up the stairs to a rooftop patio jammed with reporters, team employees and television cameras. “Why such a big deal?“ he said with a grin. “I played here before.“ One day after agreeing to a $45 million, two-year deal, baseball’s slugging clown prince arrived at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training headquarters this morning. With the Dodgers’ new Camelback Ranch ballpark providing a backdrop, Ramirez declared that he was looking forward to his first full season in Los Angeles.

PHOENIX—Manny Ramirez has rejected yet another offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers announced Thursday night the star outfielder’s agent, Scott Boras, had declined the offer—a $25 million, one-year contract with a $20 million player option for 2010—the club’s fourth this offseason. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt says he wants Ramirez back “but we feel we are negotiating against ourselves.“