Ortiz exposed

Add David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez to the list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

Lawyers with knowledge of the results broke the news to the New York Times today.You didn't really think The Boston Globe was breaking that one...did you?

Ortiz, who was a pedestrian player in Minnesota before exploding in Boston during the 2004 season, has been especially vocal about the steroid issue in baseball.

Back in February Ortiz said he wanted players who tested positive for steroids to be suspended from baseball for a year instead of the current 50-game penalty.

"I would suggest everybody get tested, not random, everybody," Ortiz said. "You go team by team. You test everybody three, four times a year and that's about it."

And if a player tests positive for steroids?

"Ban 'em for the whole year," the slugger said.

Ortiz's best year in Minneapolis was 2002 when he hit .272 with 20 homers and 75 RBI. But, he had a ton of holes in his swing and ex-Twins GM Terry Ryan, regarded as one of the elite talent evaluators, non-tendered Ortiz.

"Big Papi" didn't attract much attention as a free agent, signing for just $1.25 million with the Red Sox. The next year in Boston he batted .288 with 31 bombs and 101 RBI. He really took off in 2004, hitting .301 with 41 homers and 139 RBI and becoming one of the great clutch hitters in history as the Red Sox ended "the curse," winning the World Series.

In 2005 Ortiz continued his mashing with 47 bombs, 148 RBI and a .300 average. He topped out in 2006 with 54 home runs.

McMullen calls out George Mitchell and the BoSox back in December of 2007...