Selena Roberts' controversial book on Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod: The Many Lives Of Alex Rodriguez, has received quite a bit of attention over the last few weeks. Old is the news that Rodriguez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during his time with the Rangers, new are accusations that he has used PEDs since high school and that he tipped pitches to opposing hitters expecting the same in return. The book, which officially hit the market on Monday (May 4th), is already the top-selling book in Amazon.com's baseball department and ranks 90th among the millions of works sold on the site. The reviews have been mixed, especially those contributed to Amazon by customers. As of Wednesday morning, 24 reviews had been submitted and there was no inbetween. Nine gave the book five stars. The other fifteen? They opted to hand the 272 pages just one. My favorite part of the "research" I did about the book's popularity on Amazon, arguably the most popular retail site on the internet, was the company's handy "Best Value." For just $29.04, you could buy Roberts' A-Rod and Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Riods, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big by Jose Canseco. Interesting. That's all I'm saying. I have nothing against Roberts. If presented with the same "information" as she was, assuming my sources were creditable, I'd have probably written a similar book. It is a reporter's duty to provide the public with information; no matter how damaging and personal it may be. Most, and I consider myself one of those people, believe that there is a line though. That line is different is each industry, and in baseball it's a fine one. That is why Jose Canseco was universally criticized when he wrote the aforementioned book. More than any other sport, baseball is a fraternity. It's very much a closed-door society. That's both a positive and a negative. Like a very highly profitable union, baseball people protect each other. Because of that, it took years for the rampant steroid use of the late 1990s to become public. You want a perfect example of baseball people keeping things internal? Take a look at the comments Yankee manager Joe Girardi, Red Sox manager Terry Francona and first base coach Tim Bogar made after Monday's game, which included a heated conversation between Girardi and Bogar in the fourth inning. "I am not going to comment on that," Girardi said. "It was baseball men being baseball men, and leave it at that." OK, maybe the Boston contingent will open up... "That's between me and him: It's a baseball thing, heat of the moment. He just had something to say, and I answered him back," Bogar said. Or maybe not. "I don't know. I think Joe was just checking on the family. Usually when those guys haven't seen each other for a while they ask how things are going. Bogie said everybody's OK at home,? Francona deadpanned. It was obvious that the conversation between Girardi and Bogar was acrimonious. If Girardi was in fact checking on his family, there must be some huge issues in the Bogar household. Plain and simple; Baseball people protect baseball people. As you would expect, Rodriguez's teammates immediately came to his support when he admitted that he did, in fact, use PEDs. However, in the wake of recent accusations by Roberts -- the tipping of pitches and the extent and time frame of his using -- players from all over Major League Baseball have come to bat for A-Rod (pardon the pun). "A-Rod, from how I know him, that's not how he plays the game," David Ortiz, of the rival Red Sox, said regarding the tipping of pitches. "That sounds crazy. I'd have to see it to believe it." Would you like more? "If he's tipping pitches on my team and giving them to the other guys, that's like a Benedict Arnold, that's like being a traitor. ... I doubt he did that. I know he didn't do that. It's just not in A-Rod's nature to do that," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. We know two things about Rodriguez. He used performance-enhancing drugs during his time with the Rangers, and he strives to be liked. The public, mainly fans around baseball and outside of the Bronx (some inside), had nothing but distaste for Rodriguez well before his name starting being mentioned in the sentence as the word steroid. Confirmation that he did use just fueled hatred that was already there. Now, with Roberts piling accusations on Rodriguez with amazing intensity and frequency, his fellow players are rushing to his side. Is that not exactly what A-Rod wants? He desires to be liked, and now guys like Ortiz and Hunter are issuing public support. The man who was easy to despise because of his astronomical contract, obvious vainness and very public extra-marital affairs, is now drawing sympathy. Roberts, regardless of motivation, may be earning both green and publicity, but if she was trying to further tarnish Rodriguez's image ... if at first you don't succeed, try again. Sure, the public might think less of Rodriguez, but his peers are at his side. And as we know, baseball people protect their own. Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: [email protected]