Manny and Ortiz Reportedly Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003

The coals are white hot as Major League Baseball is prepared to get roasted once again. 

We’ve already consumed the Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, A-Rod, and Manny Ramirez.  It’s time for the next helping of the game’s biggest stars. 

First, you can go back for seconds with Manny Ramirez as the New York Times reported that ManRam was one of the 104 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003. 

As you know Manny was suspended earlier this season for 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance.  This new development should not come as a shock.

His partner in crime though, David Ortiz aka "Big Papi", is a different story. 

Though his performance since arriving in Boston merit some suspicion, he had not been linked to PEDs, perhaps because of his jovial personality. 

His numbers can somewhat be contributed to getting a chance to play every day (which he didn’t do for the Twins) and getting protection from Manny Ramirez, one of the most feared hitters in the game. 

However, it appears there was more to the story than just opportunity and protection. 

It’s a sad day for me.  I have suspected Big Papi, but quietly. 

He is my son’s favorite player. 

At five years old he won’t understand that Papi did something wrong.  I will wait until he’s older and then let him know.  I can tell him that it wasn’t just Papi.  It was a league-wide problem. 

The players took shortcuts for fame and fortune.  Now they have to pay for it.  Hopefully I can spin this nightmare into a positive. 

I ask the players who tested positive to step up and declare that they were on the list.  Instead of slowing peeling away this Band-Aid in such a painful manner, let’s expose them now in one quick motion. 

Give the players a week to come out on their own, then go public with it.  It’s pretty clear that the big names are going to come out eventually. 

Let’s just get it over with so we can move on.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.