Sure, last night he was responsible for the only two runs the Red Sox scored.
Sure he has been the Red Sox most clutch performer in the short time he’s been here.
Sure, he is batting .333 with 2 hrs, 6 rbi in just 8 games this season.
But before you anoint Darnell McDonald a hero, before you go buy his jersey, before you give him credit, remember that there is always going to be a cloud of suspicion hovering over his shoulder.
Believe me, I don’t like being the one to point out the elephant in the room, but if I don’t you will ask why I didn’t.
According to ESPN, Darnell McDonald failed a steroid test in 2005 while in the Cleveland Indians minor league system. He received a 15 game suspension.
We know that Theo Epstein has a record of embracing and enabling steroid users--see Eric Gagne, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, etc.
So when a 31 year old career minor leaguer (who has already failed one steroid test) comes out of obscurity and hits two home runs in his first two games and puts up the numbers he puts up and is playing under General Manager Theo Epstein, I think we have every right to talk about the elephant in the room.
So, memo to Red Sox Nation: lets take things slowly. We fell in love with Big Papi and he burned us. Its ok to hesitate before you fall in love again.
