That thud you heard this morning was either one of two things:

A) Dodgers fan hitting the floor after hearing or reading, whatever your median of choice is nowadays, that Manny Ramirez will be suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug policy.

B) Yankees fans hitting the floor after hearing or reading, whatever your median of choice is nowadays, that Manny Ramirez will be suspended 50 games for violating MLB's drug policy.

I think we can all understand the Dodgers' thud but why the Yankees? That was from jumping in jubilation. Alex Rodriguez can now focus on baseball for a change rather than dismiss every other question in a postgame interview.

This has become a pattern for all past and present major leaguers that have been involved, directly or indirectly, with PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs).

Barry Bonds slipped out the back door and away from media scrutiny once Roger Clemens' former personal trainer took the stand and exposed Roger's drug use last year. Then, it was Miguel Tejada's little run-in with lying under oath to Congress at the start of spring training that had everyone forgetting about Clemens. Then Tejada was a thing of the past, once the latest revelation of Alex Rodriguez's drug use was released in hardbound form 'A-ROD.' 

Now, Man-Ram's saga will take media resources off A-Rod for a few weeks, months, well at least 50 games.

That's great news for the Yankees, who will have to climb out of a small hole in the AL East  in hopes of making a run at the postseason.

We had some suspicion that the Jam were folding a number of weeks back but nothing concrete. The lagging attendance was obviously the first clue, but grumblings about the high costs that went along with the D-League franchise (for starters the franchise fee, which will remain a secret with owner Stan Ellis because of contractual obligations) were trickling out of the front office with each game.

The Jam is the second minor-league franchise to close its doors to Bakersfield in less than 3 years. Remember, the af2 Blitz? I don't but that's because I was still unpacking boxes from my move to the city.

If indications and inclinations are proven correct, the Blaze will departing Sam Lynn Ball Park for greener pastures at the end of this season. Or maybe the Blaze will just go out to pasture.

So when the Blaze bolt, that would be the third minor-league team to leave the No. 126 media market (Nielsen market rankings) in the U.S.

What's the explanation? I've had discussions with all the principalsinvolved -- Ellis and Blaze owner D.G. Elmore. Even talked with Condors president Matthew Riley, who has built and successly maintained the lone exception to the recent rash of departures.

Now, I'd like to hear from you.

Can Bakersfield support minor league sports? You might be surprised to know that Ellis and Elmore said, YES to this question last week.

Maybe the better question is why should/shouldn't Bakersfield support minor league sports?