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A Boston Globe column by Dan Shaughnessy stating that David Ortiz was widely suspected of using steroids "crossed a line," according to Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner.

Werner wrote a response that was posted on the team's website and was also submitted to the newspaper.

"You fit all the models," Shaughnessy said he told Ortiz in the column. "You are from the Dominican Republic. You are an older player. Older players don't get better. You've had injuries consistent with steroid use. You showed up on the list from 2003. You fit all the formulas."

At the time the column was published, Ortiz was on a 27-game hitting streak extending back to last season, and was batting .426.

Since its publication, Ortiz has gone hitless in his last 13 at-bats (0-for-16 overall), his average dropping to .338.

"It's probably my style sort of not to respond," Werner said Friday night, "but I felt like the piece that Dan wrote really crossed the line. I know David responded to it, but I also took the approach that somebody else should stick up for David."

Werner said he told Ortiz that he thought the column was "over the top and outrageous" and that Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry also spoke to Ortiz on the subject.

Via Gordon Edes/ESPN