Braun=Cheater

[cardsfan04]

Tested positive for PED's. I'm gonna butcher this, but his testosterone:epitestosterone ratio was 4:1 when 1:1 is normal. He's claiming he naturally produces excess, but seems like BS to me. It's worth noting that the standard in the NFL is 6:1 before failing a test, but the NFL has a pretty laughable testing policy I believe.

[glen a richter]

And the Astros cry harder. First they get exiled to the AL west, then Pujols follows them, then Braun ends up being out 1/3rd of the season meaning the NL Central could be completely wide up this season. And meanwhile, the Astros get to contend with Texas and Anaheim. They just can't win.

[dmiles2186]

And the Astros cry harder. First they get exiled to the AL west, then Pujols follows them, then Braun ends up being out 1/3rd of the season meaning the NL Central could be completely wide up this season. And meanwhile, the Astros get to contend with Texas and Anaheim. They just can't win.

I feel horrible for Astros fans, I really do. Not for the whole Pujols thing, etc. But now they have to put up with the DH. I'm not kidding, if I was an Astros fan and had to put up with the DH after years of watching real baseball (a.k.a. no DH), I might quit watching the sport altogether. The DH blows.

[cardsfan04]

And, he's cleared. I don't know whether it's BS or not, but MLB better be prepared to make a detailed statement on this.

[cardsfan04]

Apparently MLB is pissed. A third party ruled on this and MLB isn't happy that they sided with Braun. I don't know whether to believe Braun was innocent (I'm going to need some convincing, not just a vote). But, I don't really buy into the MLB conspiracy theory stuff either.

[cardsfan04]

Wow, this keeps getting better.

Apparently, the courier thought Fedex/Kinkos was closed late on a Saturday night after the test was taken. So, he took it home with him and put it in his refrigerator overnight. Then, the next day he shipped it off.

[DaDitka]

And he get's away with it.

[dmiles2186]

Jeff Passan of Yahoo wrote an article on this. He compared Braun getting off to a criminal being let go because they failed to read him his Miranda Rights. An apt comparison.

[cardsfan04]

Jeff Passan of Yahoo wrote an article on this. He compared Braun getting off to a criminal being let go because they failed to read him his Miranda Rights. An apt comparison.

Passan's a jackass (couple weeks ago randomly devoted part of an article to writing a haiku on how obnoxious Cards fans are that didn't add any substance to his article), but decent comparison nonetheless.

The thing that really bothers me is how smug Braun is being about this. His defense was essentially "I don't dispute the results of the test, but protocol wasn't followed." There has to be a high level of scrutiny and a large burden on the MLB in cases like this. So, in that sense, of protocol wasn't followed, Braun (or any player) probably shouldn't be suspended.

But, FFS, don't go proclaiming your innocence if your defense is "I'm guilty, but . . ."

[thedoc]

MLB dropped the ball on this. He said he would take a DNA test to prove that the test wasn't his. If MLB let him take the test and he fails it's over and done and nobody would know about it. If he passes and it wasn't his sample then they are in the same boat as now. Most likely he would have failed the DNA test.

[cardsfan04]

MLB dropped the ball on this. He said he would take a DNA test to prove that the test wasn't his. If MLB let him take the test and he fails it's over and done and nobody would know about it. If he passes and it wasn't his sample then they are in the same boat as now. Most likely he would have failed the DNA test.

I had the same thought as you, so I asked somebody on a Cards forum about this and this was his response:

It's very likely that MLB refused because

1) They don't want to set a precedent for having to continuously DNA test all specimens taken throughout the process to make sure it's still the same person's specimen; and
2) They didn't want to give any legitimacy to the idea that this might not have been his specimen. By allowing such a test, they'd be saying "you know, we're not sure either."

Now, though, if they can get a de novo review in court, I bet they'd go for it.

There's a decent chance MLB appeals the arbiter's ruling in court. If they do that, a de novo hearing would be essentially doing the appeal all over again, except in court. The other option (not sure the latin on it lol) is for the court to just rule on the arbiter's ruling based on info presented (i.e. no new evidence).

Basically, I think MLB will look really bad if it's not Braun's specimen, but doesn't gain anything if they prove that it is. I mean, they'll gain legitimacy in that they didn't screw this up, but how much of the fanbase is going to remember anything more than "Braun won his appeal." The appeal is over, so even if they prove it was his, they can only gain something if it goes to a de novo hearing.

[glen a richter]

Publicly MLB is pissed about it.

Privately, let's not forget Bud Selig's historic interest in the Brewers organization.

[cardsfan04]

That has crossed my mind, but I'm not buying it. I think they really are pissed.

[cardsfan04]

This article does a really good job explaining the appeal.

It's nothing really groundbreaking. But, it is a thorough, easy to understand, explanation of the appeal from start to finish.

[dmiles2186]

Privately, let's not forget Bud Selig's historic interest in the Brewers organization.

Bud Selig loves Milwaukee so much that he once allowed an All Star game to finish as a tie in that city.

[cardsfan04]

Privately, let's not forget Bud Selig's historic interest in the Brewers organization.

Bud Selig loves Milwaukee so much that he once allowed an All Star game to finish as a tie in that city.

Yep, and now we have this silly World Series rule. I don't trust Selig much, but in general I think he does a pretty good job. Many positive things have been implemented on his watch (wild card, steroid testing, interleague, etc.). But, he really (Frank) that one up because he was embarrassed.