Dodgers owner: Manny 'very sorrowful'

LOS ANGELES, May 11 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said Sunday outfielder Manny Ramirez is "very sorry" for his 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy.

On the fourth day of Ramirez's suspension, McCourt answered questions during the Dodgers 7-5 loss to San Francisco from broadcaster Vin Scully about the suspension, the way Ramirez is responding to it and his future with the team. McCourt said he had spoken with Ramirez by telephone and had also met with him, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"I found him to be very sorrowful," McCourt said. "He was really apologetic. He's very sorry."

McCourt said Ramirez knows he has disappointed everyone in the Dodgers' organization as well as "the fans and the community."

"He's hurt," McCourt said. "But he also knows he dropped the hurt on himself."

McCourt said he didn't ask why Ramirez used a banned substance and said he would not "sit and dwell in the past."

"We all do things from time to time that disappoint people, don't we? So it's how you deal with that that really matters," he said.

The team owner said he was not considering voiding Ramirez's contract for $25 million this season with a $20 million option for Ramirez next season, and he said it was "way too early to tell" how much damage the matter might do to the Dodgers' franchise.

"I think that if Manny takes the steps that I'm hopeful that he will, I think this will be something that won't damage the franchise at all," he said.