Why Today's Red Sox Steroids Story Is More, And Less, Important Than It Seems

Steroids? In Boston's clubhouse? Big news a week ago. Now it's something of an afterthought that a pair of team staffers were let go for steroid use. But this story's going to be huge, and I'll tell you why.

It's obvious that the Boston Globe has been sitting on this story a while, waiting to connect it to something larger, but they're going with it now while the BoSox steroid iron is hot. It's the type of investigative journalism that's too common these days: it's clear the paper worked long and hard on this, and the page one placement and length make it seem like it should be really important, but in the end it leaves you feeling a little cold, and confused.

The facts are that two members of Red Sox security were investigated by MLB for steroid use, and subsequently let go by the team. That's all. But the juiciest stuff is in the implications, which remain only implications. It's likely the Globe was following those bread crumbs when the Times scooped them this week.

Alex Cyr was busted with a vial of steroids last July, which started everything unraveling. Cyr was more than security, he was a part-time assistant to Manny Ramirez, often running errands for the slugger. Implication number one.

Cyr told investigators he bought his steroids from co-worker Jared Remy (son of NESN broadcaster Jerry). Remy, for his part, was very close to Felix Leopoldo Marquez, and claims he and Marquez openly discussed and used steroids together. Marquez was a salaried personal assistant to David Ortiz. Implication number two.

But, again, the good stuff — the stuff the Globe wishes it could report, and the stuff fans want to read — just isn't here. But, fortuitously for this story's chance at having legs, that's not going to stop anyone from inferring that steroids were everywhere in Fenway and everyone knew about them. The lesson here: in the middle of a witch hunt, implications are all you need.

Sox Fired Two In Steroids Case [Boston Globe]