The Juice: The Real Story of Baseball's Drug Problems

by Will Carroll

"Steroids are ruining the game of baseball. It has faced no more serious threat since gamblers gained control of the World Series in 1919."

Or are we overreacting? The problem of steroids, recreational drugs, and other performance enhancers is one of the fundamental issues facing not only baseball but all of sports and society. With pundits pointing fingers and former players naming names, a drug-induced McCarthyism is tarring some of the greatest players ever to take the field. In The Juice , Will Carroll, an acknowledged authority on baseball conditioning and injuries, calls for a scientific, reasoned approach to the steroids problem. He first explains the science of steroids and other drugs, describes how athletes are tested, considers the scientific evidence of effects and side effects, and, most important, analyzes whether and how these drugs impact the game. He explores the grey area of legal supplements, covers the BALCO story, and speculates on the next generation of performance enhancers. And he profiles the motivations and experiences of professional players, student athletes, and baseball trainers. Carroll has interviewed hundreds of players, executives, owners, and experts. His information from players who have used steroids will surprise everyone with the reasons why players cheat. His exclusive conversation with the creator of some of baseball's most abused substances will make The Juice the season's most widely discussed baseball book. For readers who want to understand why baseball has a drug problem, how the drugs work, and how they have affected the game, Carroll provides the answers. They are surprising―and should lead to new and better questions.

Genres: Baseball, Sports

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2005

Reviews

[Brendan Folk · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Albertson, although not his real name is a person that is apart of The Juice: The Real Story of Baseball’s Drug Problem, is a minor league baseball player that would do anything to make it to the MLB. Major League Baseball in the past 30 years or so has been struggling to keep its players away from performance enhancing drugs. Drug testing has been in effect for a while now but it doesn’t seem to stop players from using these drugs, what would you do if you were in the situation of the MLB? Wondering why drugs is such a compelling part of this book, it has you wondering why players would do such things to their bodies just to be good at what you do for a short period of time.

This book looks to inform baseball lovers or people who truly care about the game of baseball itself is about the use of steroids in the game of baseball. This book was published in the year 2005, although this maybe ten years ago, many of the things discussed in this book apply to today’s game of baseball. While reading a book like this it will really open your eyes to the abuse and addiction that comes with using steroids. The biggest problem in baseball today is that a play will do anything to get an edge of any sort. When reading this book we learn the effects of steroids, the consequences of using steroids, and how it affects others. Sometimes in life it isn’t worth taking risks to get a result that won’t last.

This book is a book that I want to read because I love the game of baseball and anything I will do anything to learn more about baseball. This book reminds me of my life because baseball is a game that I understand inside and out, anytime I can learn anything more about baseball is worth my time. I can relate to the people that this book is intended to reach because I too understand baseball even at its low points. This book is a book that when I saw it, I needed to read it.

Any sort of baseball fan should read this book because it gives you an inside look at what goes on in the locker rooms of these athletes. This book is aimed at again baseball fans. Baseball fans are always hunger to learn new and interesting things about the game. Anyone who enjoys sports however will also have a high interest in this book. This book is not for people who think that baseball is a boring sport or is a sport that is hard to understand, because it is a book that brings the game into the room you are sitting in.

[Trev Chase · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you enjoy needles then steroids are for you. They help you grow huge muscles, hit hard, and look great. There's only a few side affects as you age saggy skin and muscles, small testicles, and no money from spending so much money. This is the life of the average steroid user, and Will Carroll does a really good job in The Juice at taking an in-depth look. Showing you many of the negative side affects of steroids. Carroll does a good job getting fascinating interviews from former professional players that admitted to using steroids. They clearly explain the negativity that steroids had on their bodies. The book shows that Carroll put in tons of research to create this book and make it as good as it could be.

[Randell Carlton Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.15.18-6.22.18 6/10

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I re-read this primarily for historical value, after blasting through it when it first released - what did we know who only little knew about BALCO etc.? - and it hasn't aged particularly well. The profile sections are pretty neat, as is the section on stat inflation, but much of the rest of this is just eh. It was important at the time, to be sure, but there are better things to read now. The fact that so many cooks had their hands in this soup (including two Wills Carroll!) surely didn't help, but it probably helped them finish the book quickly.

[Will Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stab the needle in your butt, get big biceps, and accomplish your dreams. Get shriveled testicles, hulk out on your family, and die of liver cancer. This is just the life of a steroid user, and Will Carroll does a really good job in The Juice at taking an in-depth look. Are steroids all they're cracked up to be? Is the reward worth the cost? These are just a few questions that Carroll presents. The book touches on the methods of steroid use, the effects of steroid use, and the consequences of steroid use. Carroll grabbed some really amazing interviews with current and former players that admitted steroid use. They were able to talk about their experiences, achievements, and regrets. The author's purpose in writing was to factually educate the reader, on steroids, with stats and testimonials. Carroll did heavy research into some users; as well as the steroids themselves and came away with a really quality piece that can helpfully educate readers. I wanted to read The Juice because I have a connection to baseball, and have always had an interest in learning more about steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in general. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in learning about the topic, or loves baseball. The book lived up to everything I expected of it, and it was really enjoyable to read.

[Leonora · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 half stars, worth reading if you have an interest in the topic but not anything super exciting.