According to a report just posted by the New York Times, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz both tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. Wonder if Ortiz wishes he could take back this quote from February: “I think you clean up the game by the testing. I test you, you test positive, you’re going to be out. Period.” What a fraud.

Five others have been tied to positive tests from that year: Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Jason Grimsley and David Segui. Bonds, baseball’s career home runs leader, was not on the original list, although federal agents seized his 2003 sample and had it retested. Those results showed the presence of steroids, according to court documents.

The information about Ramirez and Ortiz emerged through interviews with multiple lawyers and others connected to the pending litigation. The lawyers spoke anonymously because the testing information is under seal by a court order. The lawyers did not identify which drugs were detected.

Nobody should be surprised that Ortiz and Ramirez tested positive.  Some of the other names from that list, however, will surprise. Altogether now: Release the list! Release the list! The “lawyers” cited as the source are just twisting the knife in baseball. It’s a slow, painful reveal. Whether or not fans care, the stench of PEDs and these two will linger for a few days, and then someone will pitch a no-hitter and it’ll be forgotten. And then, six weeks down the road, a record-setter will be outed. And we’ll do this song-and-dance all over again.

Unrelated: Michael Schmidt is doing some damn fine work on the PED beat. How long until ESPN scoops him up?

Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on 2003 Doping List (New York Times)