MLB: The Hypocrisy of the Forgiven PED Players

David Ortiz

In the Boston area, David Ortiz is considered to be at the same Godlike status that players such as Tom Brady, Larry Bird and Ted Williams enjoy. While one can quibble about whether or not footballs were deflated, and whether or not that made a difference with Brady, it is amazing that Ortiz, who was one of 104 players outed from the anonymous drug testing of 2003, approaches that plane.

Yes, it certainly helps that Ortiz has a great, larger than life personality. He is always smiling and happy, endearing himself to the fans and media in Boston. His late game heroics led to quite a few decals proclaiming that “the game isn’t over until Papi says it is.” Even his occasional griping over his contract status and the shifts in baseball are overlooked as ‘Papi being Papi.’

Then there is the season that Ortiz is putting together this year. At age 40, Ortiz is in the midst of his best season thus far. He has a .332/.426/.682 batting line with 22 homers and 32 doubles, leading the league in doubles, on base percentage, slugging and OPS+. Did we mention that he is 40 years old?

Yet, to suggest that Ortiz is back on the juice is frowned upon in baseball circles. Yet, while the evidence is circumstantial, one would certainly have to consider such a possibility. However, as that story would not fit the narrative that Ortiz is just a lovable slugger who plays the game with a vibrancy and joy that can melt the hearts of even the crustiest baseball writers, it is ignored.

Let’s put it this way – if any other 40 year old player was in the midst of their best season in their career, they would be called upon to pee in a cup almost daily. Well, any other player except the human GIF…..

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