Say It Ain’t So, Papi…Please?

I believe I speak on behalf of Red Sox Nation when I say NESN gave us a bit of a scare this afternoon. When we looked at our TVs  and saw Tom Caron saying the New York Times has reported David Ortiz being on the anonymous list of players who tested positive for Performance Enhancing Substances in 2003, no Red Sox fan was leaving the TV for the fridge – unless it for a couple of cold ones. 

This really hurt me to find out.  That being said, I’m going to keep giving Ortiz the benefit of the doubt until I hear more.  We don’t know what he tested positive for yet and until we do, it’s unfair to spill our emotions on the guy.  Ortiz has been my favorite Sox player since Nomar left Boston and I’m not the only one who loves him.  Watching an Ortiz homer is perhaps more special than watching one by any other player.  Whether it sails in the Green Monster against a lefty or it lands in the glove of Okajima in the Sox bullpen, we love to see our Papi do his thing.  Everyone knew the name “Big Papi” after that homer in Game 4 of the 2003 ALCS.  Now if this news takes a turn for the worst, then I’ll be writing something different. 

It’s certainly was an emotional day for Red Sox Nation.  A buddy of mine called me today saying how shocking this was considering the personality of Ortiz and how this wasn’t the type of thing he would do.  I got numerous texts from friends who were equally as shocked.  I even saw a facebook group made by a friend that said, “I got FiOz…Faith in Ortiz,” with the description line saying “Say it ain’t so Papi.” 

I think that’s gonna be a phrase that all of us in RSN will be saying for a while until this whole thing gets sorted out. 

On a side note, this whole thing has overshadowed that we might be losing a player or two before 4:00PM tomorrow with the trade deadline rapidly approaching.  I’ll be doing the same thing I did last year posting as soon as I hear anything.  Looks like tomorrow is gonna be even more exciting than we could have anticipated.

It’s gonna be hard, but for the next couple of weeks, or even months, make sure to Keep the Faith.