``That's a great question - I don't know,'' said closer Jonathan Papelbon about whether Ramirez was stupid in thinking he could get away with it. Papelbon did not want to remember if he was ever suspicious of Ramirez' usage of performance-enhancing drugs while the slugger was with the Red Sox .

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

``Obviously it's a big news story and blah, blah, blah, but there are so many things on our team we have to get ready for. He's not in our clubhouse anymore. It's not something we're worried about.''

David Ortiz was highly sought after as an interview subject yesterday, given his friendship with Ramirez. Ortiz batted in front of Ramirez, who often hit cleanup while with the Red Sox , with so much success from 2003 until last July 31, when Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers.

Ortiz, however, ventured few of his personal thoughts.

``I'm not talking about Manny, I play for Boston, Manny plays for LA - what can I say?'' said Ortiz.

Asked if he felt for what Ramirez is going through, Ortiz said, ``Not yet - everybody has to hear what he's got to say about it, right?''

Ortiz said he was surprised to hear the news about Ramirez. Although players are given a great deal of information every year in spring training about what they can and cannot take, Ortiz said it is not totally clear in his mind.

``It's a little confusing, because there are guys out there taking things that sometimes you can buy it over the counter, and sometimes it's banned and not on the list, I don't know,'' said Ortiz. ``I don't really know, but like I say, you definitely have to be careful.''

Third baseman Mike Lowell could not fathom how or why ``anyone would come close to taking anything that could remotely result in a positive test.''

The fact Ramirez did left Lowell downbeat about the stain it leaves on the game.

``Another big-name guy, I think it's just another black eye for the game,'' said Lowell. ``I think guys in the game who are trying to maximize the talents they have been given naturally, everyone's linked to that category, and that's a shame, you know?

``I think it's very unfortunate, but I think we keep finding these guys and the message is terrible especially for young kids that aspire to be major league Baseball players.''

John Smoltz is no longer shocked by these types of revelations.

``I was surprised a long time ago, I'm numb now,'' said Smoltz. ``I just really hope nobody gets falsely accused, that's my biggest (concern). . . . In today's media frenzy with blogging and rumors, once it gets out there, you never get (your reputation) back. I hope nobody falls victim to something that isn't true.''