ST. LOUIS  Commissioner Bud Selig, mystified by the fan support Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez received during his drug suspension, wants the punishment to be stiffer.

Ramirez drew sellout crowds in five minor league games before returning July 3 to the Dodgers. Selig would like to prevent players from playing on rehabilitation assignments before the 50-game ban expires.

"I believe that (rule) should be changed," Selig said Tuesday in a question-and-answer session with the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "Their logic was OK — guys get hurt, they can go out on rehab, and so and so forth.

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"But I think that's something we need to really change in the next labor negotiation."

Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, said baseball will not ask the players union for the rule to be modified before the labor agreement expires in December 2011.

Union general counsel Michael Weiner said he still wants to permit players to have a rehab assignment so they are ready to play when the suspension ends. "A player suspended for 50 games should be able to return to play after the 50 games are served," he said.

Said Selig, "It (should be) 50 games and then go do what you got to do."

Although Ramirez has denied using steroids, he was suspended for violating baseball's drug policy. The substance that prompted the ban has since been reported as hCG, a female fertility drug popular with steroid users to mitigate the side effects.

But Ramirez was treated by an outpouring of support when he returned.

"I think it surprises a lot of people, the positiveness of it," Selig said. "But you always get back to fans: They want their team to win. And this player has now been disciplined. He's back. They're in first place. He can help them win. And I think that's what you're seeing there."