Projo Sports Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Former Red Sox teammates of Manny Ramirez did not shy away from answering questions about the slugger's 50-game suspension by Major League Baseball for testing positive for a banned substance.

MIKE LOWELL

"I'm surprised to hear about anyone [testing positive]. He's another big-name guy and it's another black eye for the game. I think guys are playing the game trying to maximize the talents they've been given naturally. Everyone is linked in that category and it's a shame. I understand it's hard for Major League Baseball to try to glorify guys who they think are doing it right because you don't know. That's almost where it's gotten to and it's very unfortunate. We keep finding these guys and I think the message is terrible, especially for young kids who aspire to be Major League Baseball players."

"I don't put [crap] in my body because I don't want, I don't understand why now anyone would even come close to taking anything that will remotely result in a positive test. In the past guys did it, and that's why they wanted testing. Nowadays hopefully we understand it. Maybe there's some secret society I wasn't invited to. I don't get it."

"He's a phenomenal hitter and I never saw anything [when he was in Boston]. I defer to asking Manny that question."

"It hurts me more because he made a personal choice and it was the wrong one. It sends a terrible message. Each person has to look in the mirror in the morning."

"I would love to see a time [when the game is clean]. But it doesn't seem like it's any where near because we've got guys, I guess you could say, who are still trying to beat the system. I don't understand why it would be done now. I don't get it."

Lowell was asked if a player gets caught now, he would have to be stupid.

"I would lean towards that, yeah," he responded.

JOHN SMOLTZ

John Smoltz

"I've got so much going on in my life right now, I have no idea. I just saw it on ESPN. I have no idea. I don't have enough to even comment. I want my water to work in my place. I want my clocks to work. I need furniture and I'm playing catch. That's the best I can give you today. I'm in my own little world right now trying to get back. Certainly news like that is never good news, so we'll wait and see what happens"

"If [Ramirez] becomes another one then certainly it's another shot at baseball's attempt to clean it up. I'm on the tail end of my career and I hope they clean it up - I really do. I hope it gets back to the greatest game on earth. I'm confident it will. Unfortunately you have to go through stuff like this - speculation, hearsay, legitiment stuff - sooner or later there will be enough wakeup calls and guys will do whatever they can to make sure their name is not out there. I'm sure nobody in their right mind wants to be dealing with it."

"I was surprised a long time ago. I'm numb now. I just hope nobody gets falsely accused."

DUSTIN PEDROIA

Surprised?
"Obviously playing with him for a couple of years, that's the furthest thing you think of. It's definitely unfortunate for him, but for all of us it's not really our issue anymore. Manny's moved on to L.A. and it's unfortunate for him. Obviously he's one of the greatest right-handed hitters - ever. It's tough to look up there as a fan of the game, just like anyone else, and to see a superstar like that go through something like this."

You worked out with Manny prior to 2008 at API, how hard does he work?
"Obviously he knows how to get into shape and how to take care of his body, so it's surprising. I don't really know all the details, the only thing I know is that I played with him for a couple of years and he worked hard. I didn't suspect this stuff."

Will there be a time when the steroid issue no longer effects the game?
"I hope. That's what everyone is rooting for. Everyone who plays this game wants little kids to look up to all the major leaguers and know that this game is clean and we play the game the right way. Hopefully those kids can look up to us. I think everyone hopes all this stuff will go away and fans can watch us on TV and enjoy it."

Are players of your generation a sign of good things to come?
"Obviously the game is changing in a different direction. You see more speed guys. You look at the Indians' Grady Sizemore. He's a younger player and he's very exciting to watch in the outfield. He hits a lot of triples and does a lot of things. That's the kind of player the game is going to and it's exciting. I think there are a lot of younger players in this game now who fans can look to and say this game is changing the right way."

Does MLB make it clear what players can and can not take?
"You get the sheet in spring training of what's on the banned-substance list. . . Obviously guys are careful. I talk multivitamins every day and that's it. I think the careful route is the best so you don't have to worry about anything like that."

On players like A-Rod and Manny who have been busted:
"It's unfortunate because those guys are talented enough. It's unfortunate this happened, but the game needs to move on and turn the page. I think everyone is tired of hearing about it. I don't think anybody wants anybody to get in trouble or get suspended. Everyone wants to move on and play baseball."

JONATHAN PAPELBON

"You can't take back world championships."

"We've got more things to worry about on our team. It's obviously a big news story and blah. . . blah . . . blah. But there are so many more things on our team that we have to get ready for and more on. He's not in our clubhouse anymore, so this is something we're not even worried about."

"It's not a good thing, but if it's not involved in our clubhouse, I'm not going to worry about."

"Hopefully we can get to a point where there will be no more accusations of steroid use. Hopefully our game can get to a point there will be no more steroid use. I know everybody is trying to get to that point, but we'll see."

"We weren't really the best of friends, I don't think I'm going to sit here and try to figure out what he did when he was with us."

"It's really easy, actually. They make a pamphlet for you in Spanish and English. You just read it and know what not to take. It's really not that hard."

"We've got to clean it up. It's that simple. We're trying to get on that road to clean it up and hopefully we can do it."

"I was surprised. I was. I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't. I was."

DAVID ORTIZ

"No comment about Manny,'' he said, walking past reporters at his locker. "I play for Boston. Manny plays for L.A. Go and ask him."

Surprised?

"Of course."

50 games?

"That's a lot."

When will it end?

"I don't know. I have no idea."

Is the list of banned substances clear?

"It's a little confusing from what I've seen because there's guys out there taking things that sometimes you can buy it over the counter, sometimes it's banned, sometimes it's not on the list. I don't know. ... You definitely got to be careful, man."

"I try not to buy anything. I pretty much try to use what the trainer has here. If I fail over that [crap], what can I say, but it's just crazy. You got to be careful."

Sad?

"Of course. You don't want nobody to be involved in situations like this.''

 Tags  David Ortiz Dustin Pedroia Jonathan Papelbon Manny Ramirez Mike Lowell

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