Joe Castiglione & Dave O'Brien, Red Sox Pregame

But -- David Ortiz today faced the music he met with the media along with players association. -- director Michael Weiner. And he was very definitive.

Guy he vigorously denied every using steroids I think that is clear to say and depending on May come down on this issue watching the press conference watching David. Yeah I think he actually achieve something that all the other guys who have been accused or admitted to using steroids. Were unable to do with the possible exception of Andy -- And that is although in -- case whose growth hormone. And that is he actually came on sympathetically. I think in a lot of people's eyes again depending on how you look at.

And he did look straight into the audience it was a very definitive statement. I definitely. Was. A little -- less. But in those days when I was. Buying supplements and vitamins and over the Connor. Little supplement the vitamins. Over the -- But I never buys their own so uses steroids.

I think implicit in that -- you know it doesn't say it out right. Implicit in that is he did not ever putting needle in himself and he never took steroids. In that way in that if he did use steroids if steroid showed up in a blood test in other words. It was accidental not something that he necessarily even knew. Was in those supplements which by the way were widely available and Christine -- was in a lot of those supplements. Over the counter you could go to your local DNC back then and purchase those.

And David said that he knows it's been a distraction and he's sorry about at all. And and the kind of guys that --

One. Politics of the fans. For that distraction. My teammates. Our manager. You know who would go into the situation and now this past week he's been. And I am I to -- Lucas. You know do I'm on the kind of -- that I. I look forward to. I think about the fans -- I don't think this game. Would have been as good as it is without the fans. David this it really doesn't know.

What the testing was all about what. The substance could have been he doesn't know what it is and the players association and I'm sure everyone had listened to -- and of the red pieces of the press conference if you didn't see it. You you know at the legality is that those tests were under seal -- supposed to know the names players association. Reportedly then can't tell him. What it is that he tested positive for -- David talks about supplements he used in being a little careless you know several years ago. We we have our panel left to draw our own conclusions about what those might be.

And he's been tested day he said did and come clean since the drug policy has been in effect in baseball. Since I mean I mean that's their feet seeing more time and I never dispose of first or driving distance tool time. For those who received two. No idea Kamal to me doing anything. And.

Those are Olympic type tests write the implementation of the drug policy in Major League Baseball regular testing began in 2004. So he's saying is that over that six year period between 2004. Red Sox won their first World Series in 2009. David Ortiz never tested positive for a steroid plus as you mention the additional drug testing for the World Baseball Classic. And the Olympic standard of drug tests that was administered as part of the WBZ which is very very stringent. So we're left to think that David tested one time positive. That was in 03 not sure what for he admits to using supplements which may have contained steroids at that time. And so I think because he looked into the camera he's such a lovable guy and not just by Red Sox fans are big baseball fans with the possible exception of New York. All over the country love David Ortiz he's such a popular likable guy. This is different then all of the other guys different than Manny your. Or so so or bonds or anybody else's -- have been accused of using steroids who has or who has just deposit.

While Michael winner of the gap players association director. Said that it's unclear what the number rarely has in the government -- is that a 104 is -- ninety six's 83. How many of those. Where people that tested twice. And -- ambiguities he talked about the legalities of releasing. Any of the names the leaks from my lawyers from the government. And David was asked if he'd like to see all of the names released.

Well let me tell you this past week. I mean. Really. Confused and and frustrated because. My name I've been mainstay in Tennessee tuition. -- they're looking for last I don't know letting him in ask Lucas reminds. People to be with a -- from the union that I can go to a and they're doing. And they brought too much announcement to gave me so. I don't think they'll relate to see another player who in total what I mean to -- last week.

So David it sounds like has softened his stance because of as he put it the nightmare that he's gone through. He was one of those in February who came very vigorously and said. You know you'd like to see all the names revealed -- would like to see. An immediate one year ban from baseball and anybody who is testing positive for steroids and their attacks issued a statement. Which is. Very supportive of David I would say the -- you know calling -- team leader which he certainly is ban and lauding his accomplishments on and off the field. And also saluting commissioner Bud Selig for. What the Red Sox today is his sponsoring continuing leadership in eradicating the use of steroids. In Major League Baseball. Where it goes from here is going to be passing Tennessee on the baseball public in the in the public at large reacts to which he statements today. But from a Red Sox point of view I don't know if it could've gone any better today. Well I'll have more during the rest of the pregame show job.