Costas: Promoting Ramirez was tasteless

(KRQE) - Major League Baseball Network commentator Bob Costas said on ESPN Radio on Tuesday that it was "tasteless" to have promotions around Manny Ramirez's rehabilitation assignment in Albuquerque.

"What I do have a problem with is the idea that when (Ramirez) shows up in Albuquerque, he's treated like a returning hero," he said on the show Tirico & Van Pelt.

Costas said he didn't take have a problem with Ramirez being assigned to Minor League teams during the end of his 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. He said players should be allowed to get ready for their first game back, but not be paid during the suspension.

"What should happen is he should be allowed to do his little tune-up assignment," Costas said. "I understand that there will be some interest in it — it's natural that more people would turn out to see the game — but it doesn't have to be celebrated like it was."

Costas also criticized Gov. Bill Richardson and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez for their treatment of Ramirez, which he compared to the treatment of Charles Lindbergh returning from his first trans-Atlantic flight.

Ramirez played three games with the Albuquerque Isotopes last week.

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Also on the Web: ESPN Radio's interview with Costas