N.Y. Times' Schmidt Continues Push To Reveal Names On '03 MLB List

Schmidt Lauded For Investigative Reporting Of Players On '03 PED List

N.Y. Times sports reporter Michael Schmidt, who Thursday broke the story that Red Sox DH David Ortiz and Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez in '03 tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, has "earned a spot as one of the paper's best sports investigators," according to Joe Strupp of EDITOR & PUBLISHER. In addition to the Ortiz/Ramirez story, the 25-year-old Schmidt in June broke that former MLBer Sammy Sosa also failed MLB's survey test in '03. Schmidt said that he "increased his pursuit of the 2003 list" after SI in February revealed Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez was among the names. Schmidt "set out a plan, to speak with anyone who might have seen the 2003 list," which has been the "subject of controversy because it was supposed to have been destroyed and its names never revealed." But after federal officials "seized test results from that year as part of their own investigation, names began to come out and litigation has followed." Schmidt did not say "how many sources were involved or if he sought to have a certain number of people confirm the information before reporting it." He added, "This is not some systematic leaking. We are not getting a call here once a month" (EDITORANDPUBLISHER.com, 7/30). ESPN's Skip Bayless said Schmidt "did a terrific reporting job here, beat the heck out of ESPN on this story." However, Schmidt "effectively has been calling people that he thought had access to list -- lawyers, congressional insiders, court clerks, who knows." Bayless: "He could call dozens of people and effectively he had to ask every person, effectively, to break the law and reveal names" ("ESPN First Take," ESPN2, 7/31).

TV MONITOR: Thursday night's edition of NBC's "Nightly News" first reported on the Ortiz/Ramirez story at the 6:20 mark into the broadcast with two minutes, 34 seconds of total coverage. NBC's Rehema Ellis reported on the issue, which included commentary from Schmidt and NBC's Bob Costas. ABC's "World News" first reported on the story at the 6:57 mark, with a 34-second report from anchor Elizabeth Vargas. CBS' "Evening News" first covered the story at the 22:11 mark, with a 24-second report from anchor Katie Couric. NBC's "Today" Friday morning first touched on the report 16:58 into the broadcast during their news segment; Friday’s editions of ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS' "The Early Show" did not mention the story. Locally, the entire first segment of NESN’s "W.B. Mason Extra Innings" postgame show Thursday afternoon following A’s-Red Sox featured a discussion on Ortiz and footage from Red Sox manager Terry Francona's postgame press conference. A’s 1B Nomar Garciaparra, who played with Ortiz on the Red Sox from ’03-04, was later interviewed about the report (THE DAILY).