Baseball: Manny Ramirez, Bryan Stow, Gary Brown, Tim Lincecum, Juan Carlos Oviedo

Manny Ramirez is hoping to be reinstated to the major leagues, telling ESPN Deportes he would serve his 100-game suspension after refusing to do so in April and opting for retirement. "I would comply with my pending sanction and I would be available for any major league team," Ramirez said. "I already informed [agent] Scott Boras of my decision to return and begin the process.  Ramirez tested positive in a drug test earlier this season as part of baseball's drug program that bands steroids, amphetamines and other performance enhancers. It was his second failed test, as he was linked to a female fertility drug in 2009 used to conceal steroid use. He served a 50-game ban that season with the Dodgers, later moving to the White Sox at the end of 2010 before signing a contract with the Rays in the offseason. When caught in April, he told baseball that he would rather retire than serve the ban. Clearly, he's changed his mind now that he's had time to reflect. - http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/32184166

Family members of a San Francisco Giants fan who was brutally beaten outside Dodger Stadium said he is speaking and more responsive than ever since his attack nearly six months ago. The family of Bryan Stow posted the update Wednesday on its website, saying his latest improvements came a week after he received a shunt to relieve pressure on his brain.  During a speech therapy session, Stow was able to say his full name and the names of his daughter and son. "We are blown away with all of this," the family said. "Literally one day we got some facial responses and the next, he's talking. His voice is gravelly and you have to be close to hear him, but he is talking. Right now, Bryan is more awake and more responsive then (sic) ever." - http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44625698/ns/sports-baseball

LF – Gary Brown (Giants) -  Brown, who starred at Cal State Fullerton prior to being the Giants' first-round pick in 2010, spent the entire year with San Jose in the California League. He posted numbers similar to Trout's, with a .336/.407/.519 slash line in a league that favors offense. Brown showed there is more to his game than his electrifying speed, hitting 34 doubles, 13 triples and 14 home runs to go along with his 53 swipes. After seeing other former first-round picks of the Giants such as Tim Lincecum, Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner fast-tracked to the big-leagues, it was a little surprising that Brown spent the entire year at high-A. Next year may prove differently. - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6250

It seems like he’s been playing forever, but Tim Lincecum still has two more go-arounds in arbitration. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, however, that unlike most pitchers, Lincecum doesn’t want a long term deal: “It’s just easier for me mentally not to have to put that kind of pressure on yourself,” he said. ”Not that you don’t want to succeed, but when you’re signed to a long-term deal, it’s like saying, ‘I’m going to live up to every expectation.’ That’s why I like going year to year, so I can improve on it and not sit on what I’ve done.” - http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bbk78

Leo Nunez is apparently not who we thought he was. The Associated Press reports that the Florida Marlins closer and Dominican native has been playing under an assumed name for all seven of his years in Major League Baseball and is actually older than the age that's listed by the team. The news came to light on Thursday as Nunez returned to the Dominican Republic to sort the issue out and was placed on the Marlins' restricted list. It probably goes without saying that he is not expected to pitch for the Marlins the last week of the season. Nunez's real name is Juan Carlos Oviedo and he's 29, a year older than listed in the team media guide.