David Ortiz deflecting blame to Yankees like a soccer goalkeeper

David Ortiz recently appeared on a radio show in Boston to blame the Yankees for the revelation of his failed PED test back in 2009. This is one conspiracy theory that has absolutely no merit.

It’s funny to me the lengths some professional athletes will go to protect their legacy once they have retired and the idea of potentially being enshrined in a Hall of Fame comes to the surface. Such is the case of David Ortiz, who recently blamed the New York Yankees for leaking his name in 2009, as part of a New York Times story that shed light on 104 players that tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

In 2003, the MLBPA and MLB conducted anonymous drug testing to determine just how widespread PED usage was in the big leagues — so the powers that be could determine a better testing regiment and subsequent punishment system.

According to the findings of the New York Times, some of the players that tested positive included star names such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

On Friday, Ortiz took to Boston airwaves, claiming that the Yankees collaborated with the Times to make sure he was included in the report as to offset some of the negative press associated with “many” Yankees that were also supposedly caught cheating.

"“What happened in 2009, when they threw my name out there, I always sit down and think about what was the reason for them to come out with something like that? The only thing that I can think of, a lot of the guys from the Yankees were getting caught,” Ortiz said on WEEI. “No one from Boston. Who was the big guy in Boston? It was me. A newspaper coming out of New York with that news, I guess they were just trying to do what they did — call the attention somewhere else.”More from Yankees NewsAaron Judge’s influence on Carlos Rodón shows he’s more powerful than YankeesYankees sign 2022 Red Sox reliever, invite him to spring trainingYankees trade Lucas Luetge for 2 intriguing Braves prospects after DFANever forget Miguel Andújar wrecked Yankees’ Nolan Arenado tradeDiamondbacks outfielder’s comment on Carlos Rodón’s IG raises eyebrows"

At the time of the screening, A-Rod was a member of the Rangers, so I’m curious who Ortiz is making reference to.

As it stands, in 2009, Ortiz said he would look into his failed test to find out what happened, but I guess eight years of fine detective work has yet to turn up any leads. Someone call David Caruso!

For Ortiz to bring attention back to a subject that many believe to be true but have also put out of mind is a curious decision. Then again, it does lend itself to my original hypothesis, especially when Big Papi says:

"“If one day I’m up for the Hall of Fame and there are guys who don’t vote for me because of that, I will call it unfair,” Ortiz said."

I’m all for players hitting their professional prime at different rates of acceleration, but it’s truly hard to believe Ortiz could “naturally” go from hitting 58 home runs in parts of six seasons with the Twins — to smashing another 483 in 14 years with the Red Sox.

Say what you will about the likes of Rodriguez and Jason Giambi, but at least they were accountable enough to accept blame for what they did. Ortiz continues to take a page out of the Bonds and Roger Clemens playbook.

Like other “suspected” PED users, there is no way Ortiz should ever be allowed entry into Cooperstown. I say that not as a Yankee fan, but as a protector of the dignity and tradition of baseball in general.

Next: Super prospect Torres benched for not hustling

Just because someone has never been suspended for steroids, doesn’t mean they didn’t take them. If you actually believe Ortiz is innocent then I know a guy that will sell you a piece of the Brooklyn bridge. Deal?