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Sadly the Red Sox are back in the swirl of controversy over the use of steroids and this time we can't totally blame Manny for it.  The New York Times is reporting that David Ortiz otherwise known as Big Papi tested positive for steroids in 2003.  This is a blow to Red Sox Nation and all the fans here in Worcester and Central Massachusetts.  According to the article Major League Baseball first tested for steroids in 2003 and the results were to remain anonymous.  Subsequently federal authorities seized the "doping" list in their pursuit of who was behind the distribution of the performance enhancing drugs that have so tainted our national past time.

Manny Ramirez was also on the list.  He is no stranger to controversy and was suspended this year by Los Angeles because of "a drug that was used by bodybuilders after the use of steroids."  Given the role that both Ramirez and Ortiz played in the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox Championships it will be hard to escape the stigma that it might not have happened if these 2 players had not used performance enhancing drugs in their career.

Of course, since 2003 they have passed numerous drug tests.  Ortiz who recently opened a restaurant in Framingham Big Papi's Grille did not have a comment for the newspaper.  Big Papi will no doubt have to earn back some of the respect he is sure to lose from this story.

Major League Baseball needs to come clean with all of the information that they have so that everyone can move past this.  The game of baseball is bound in statistics and history and with each revelation true baseball fans feel slighted.  I remember the home run race between Sosa and McGwire in 1998.  I remember the excitement but nowadays I feel slightly ripped off and silly at having cared so much.  I hope I won't feel that way about the Boston Red Sox...

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