Is it just me, or is anybody else tired of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and fans letting the phrase, “That’as just Manny being Manny,” excuse his unsportsmanlike, cheating behavior which pervades the game of baseball?

What the Dodgers should do is take a page from a team with class, such as the Boston Red Sox, and cut the umbilical cord that feeds this apathetic creature.

Although he was an integral part of the championship run that finally ended the curse of the Bambino in Beantown, his laissez-faire attitude in the outfield let plenty of catchable balls find their way into the field of play.

The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for general manager Theo Epstein was when Ramirez essentially faked a knee injury during the first half of last season so he could get some extra time off.

Thus, a deal was forged that sent Man-Ram to the left coast, and a perfect marriage was consummated.

Is there a better place for this guy than the laid-back attitude that seethes from LA?

Judging from the way the Dodger Nation handled his little slip-up with performance enhancing drugs earlier this season, I would argue there is not.

After Ramirez got popped for using the women’s fertility drug, hCG, which is commonly used to start a person’s natural testosterone production after coming off a steroid cycle, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told The Associated Press, “This organization will never condone anything that isn’t clean.”

While this may be the right thing to say, he did not seem too angry with Ramirez when he returned to the lineup and helped the Dodgers get to the National League Championship Series.

Not to mention, Dodgers fans treated him like royalty when he resumed his role on the team after he cheated.

There is no doubt the man can hit the cover off a baseball.

But his ludicrous behavior just continues to leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.

On Monday night, the Dodgers carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth with their stud closer, Jonathon Broxton, on the mound.

Philadelphia Phillies fans felt a collective palpitation of their hearts as last year’s NLCS Game 4 hero, Matt Stairs, stepped to the dish.

Stairs bombed a home run in last year’s game off the arm of Broxton that cemented the win for the Phils and catapulted them into the World Series, which they eventually won.

This time around, Broxton was a little more determined to keep the ball out of Stairs’ wheelhouse.

Broxton walked Stairs and plunked the next batter, Carlos Ruiz, with former MVP Jimmy Rollins on deck.

All Rollins did was hit another memorable Phillies playoff game-winner in walk-off fashion.

And guess who missed it?

Yes, Ramirez was in the shower, apparently thinking the game was over with a ninth-inning lead.

This is acceptable behavior, Joe Torre?

It is time for the Ramirez apologists to give it up.

He can hit all the home runs he wants, but his legacy will be: tarnishing the sport.

Reach the Erik at emschimm@asu.edu.