Blood Sport delivers on more than just Biogenesis scandal

A few months back, I obtained a copy of the book Blood Sport by Tim Elfrink of the Miami New Times and Gus Garcia-Roberts of Newsday. As much as the Biogenesis scandal was still relatively fresh in my mind, I reluctantly placed the book aside in order to read with a less influenced mind. Turned out to be a good decision.

But if you have not yet read the book and are inclined to purchase a copy, there is a word of caution, but it’s not a negative one. If you’re thinking that as soon as you flip to the first page that you will be completely whisked into the frenzy that became perhaps the biggest PED scandal in MLB history, prepare yourself for something different.

Yes, many details of Biogenesis are revealed, but Elfrink and Garcia-Roberts supply us with much, much more.

We are told of the childhood of both Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch, and how they shared the same passion for the game of baseball. As we now are aware, one made it while the other didn’t. But the background we are provided with does lend itself to how both became what they did rather well.

For instance, in an interview with a former ARod associate, we learn that Rodriguez was once told as long as a certain player was on his high school team that Rodriguez would never play as the starting shortstop, Rodriguez decided that a change of schools was necessary in order to achieve his dream.

And with Bosch, he would live vicariously through, of all things, softball. He had put together one of the area’s best softball teams so that he would have a chance to compete. While he was far from being the team’s star. In fact, Bosch wasn’t close to being the best on the team he constructed. As the team’s “coach”, he would insert himself into games only when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

We also receive a quick history into some of the PEDs that infiltrated the game and how those PEDs were able to do so. The authors go as far back as the late 1800’s to tell of the story of Pud Galvin and his experimental use of possibly baseball’s first PED. While some may find this telling of background and history to be on the bland side, I found it necessary so that all the pieces could be put together and those events leading to the eventual closing of Biogenesis.

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And what book that tells about PED use would be complete without an interview of Jose Canseco? Canseco’s book, Juiced, opened the door into a lurid world of PEDs and their place in baseball. Canseco has been panned for his “tell-all”, but some of Canseco’s revelations had proven to be true.

There are also interviews with Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets batboy and clubhouse employee who was involved in the distribution of anabolic steroids. Another is that of Brian Greenspan, the high profile attorney who represented for Anthony Galea. And of all the interviewees, Hank Haney, former swing coach for Tiger Woods.

It is important to note that these interviews are use within the footnotes of the text and not as separate chapters of the book. There are quotes from these men and others scattered throughout the book.

A transcript of ARod’s suspension appeal was also obtained by the authors. There was much aired during this hearing such as that Rodriguez has successfully received permission from MLB to use testosterone. This fact, previously kept under wraps, came out when the book was released, so that may not be new news to you. What might be new is the process of how players can receive permission to take certain substances that are on the banned list.

And were you aware that MLB had investigated alleged steroid use within the University of Miami’s baseball program?

A telling of the moment when Anthony Bosch decided it was time to cooperate with baseball was, in my mind, a bit chilling. Some may ask to this day if baseball had a case against Rodriguez without Bosch’s cooperation. There are those that insist they did, but Bosch was the one that could tie everything together.

So as you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Sport. The books includes so many details that you may find it necessary to read again. And I plan to do that in the near future.