Behind The Box Score

A week after David Ortiz’s positive test in 2003 was released, Ortiz decided to speak on the issue. Expected to give a testimony similar to Alex Rodriguez, Ortiz told the public, he has “no idea how I tested positive, I have never taken steroids.” Denial is a common theme with many steroid users and we will never know who is telling the truth.

 For many users, you can believe both ways whether they juiced or not, due to the stats they put up before the news of their positive test. Barry Bonds, yeah he took steroids but he was still hitting home runs before he allegedly using. Manny Ramirez, yes he was also hitting home runs before 2003.

David Ortiz, who? Did anyone know “Big Papi,” prior to ’03? With a lack of power and a weight issue, the Minnesota Twins released the newfound slugger after the 2002 season. In six seasons with Minnesota, Ortiz hit 50 home runs, yes throughout his entire tenure. That’s an average of 8.33 per season, and in 2003 during the first half, Ortiz had only four home runs. After the break was the turning point, in less than 100 games, Big Papi pounded out 27 jacks to end the year on 31.

Interesting right? How can you go from hitting 8 a season to 27 in one half? How can that be when Ortiz tested positive the year he had his “breakout” season? With numerous media outlets backing the Boston star, someone had to step up and bring some evidence to the table. At the age of 33, Ortiz has hit 246 home runs with Boston, four times the amount he averaged in Minnesota. During his hot streak, Ortiz was in his prime but a jump similar to his is just beyond belief. An unnamed scientist may have said his theory is “possible” but with the evidence shown, we all know what was going on.

 Two years removed from the Spygate scandal, another Boston sports team is corrupt and it’s about time somebody told the truth. Ortiz juiced and everybody knows it, but the mythical “Red Sox Nation,” refuses to believe it when the evidence is there, just give up the 2004 ring and quite possibly the ’07 ring, for most teams in Major League Baseball do it the right way, Boston in an 86 year drought decided to turn to steroids and the truth is coming out. Ortiz was roided so was Manny and it remains to be seen what will come from a trio of teams in Boston that hit more home runs than ever and won games because it.