Red Sox Used a Steroid Doctor? Now That Makes Sense.

Lou Merloni let this bomb fly over the weekend: Back when we was with the team (though he doesn't remember what year) a doctor addressed the team about steroids and how to use them. Or perhaps how to not abuse them. Some people may see this as Boston's promotion of steroid use or complacency with the problem.

In reality, it's just the opposite. It's being realistic.

This was a smart decision by the Red Sox. Ignoring steroids would have been wrong. They were everywhere and there was no way to stop them. No testing. A pact with the Player's Union that prevented teams from doing anything on their own. And a commissioner who sat by the weigh side and let it happen. Back then, there was no testing. There was no reason not to use steroids. Denying the use of steroids would be like trying to teach high school kid's abstinence: Completely unrealistic. Kids are going to have sex. They always have and that's not going to change because some suit tells them to wait. And if kids don't know how to screw, they're going to make stupid decisions, not use condoms, and spread STDs around. And that is the real tragedy.

Same thing with baseball players. A good number of these guys come from the Dominican or other foreign countries, the sticks or the projects. The only thing they know about steroids is that it makes them stronger. Keeps them employed. And makes them filthy rich. They didn't know the side effects. They didn't know how often is too often. Without some common sense applied, they'd end like guys who spent their careers in the WWE. Lives ruined after their careers were over.

Boston was just doing the right thing. They knew steroids were a problem and they knew the contract with the Player's Union meant they couldn't do anything about steroids. Selig wasn't doing anything and neither was anyone else.

The direct analogy to teenage sex education was so obvious even Merloni pointed it out at his press conference:

“It was like teaching your teenage daughter about sex education,” said Merloni. “The organization acknowledged that there were likely players using steroids and basically if you’re gonna use them this is how you use them so you don’t abuse them.”

You can go ahead and hate the Red Sox. But what was there other option? Doing nothing? That would have been a bigger tragedy.