Ryan Braun Wins Appeal

According to the MLBPA and various news outlets (one of which was XMs MLB Radio), Ryan Braun has won his appeal against his suspension for testing positive for PEDs.  Apparently, he was correct in saying through his representatives that unusual circumstances triggered his positive test result.

I, for one, am glad that Braun won his appeal.  Baseball does not need one of its stars tarnished if he is innocent.  The biggest problem with it is that the positive result was supposed to be confidential until after the appeal process had been completed.  Unfortunately, we now live in a world where each and every 'news' outlet is scratching and clawing to break stories first, so Braun's name and reputation was disregarded when news of the positive test was leaked to the press.  I think MLB should look long and hard at whomever leaked the result before the process was carried out and they should serve a swift and severe punishment.

Congratulations to Braun.  Maybe now he can move forward and rebuild his reputation.  I'm sure a lot more info will be coming out as to what triggered the positive result.  I'm really curious to see how it happened.

What Now?

So, ESPN has broken the news that Ryan Braun tested positive for a PED during the playoffs.  Braun is appealing the positive result through arbitration.  For more, you can check out this article.

According to the article that I linked above, Braun's representatives say: "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate that there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident that he will ultimately be exonerated."

Braun himself told USA Today "It's BS."

That may be true, Ryan, but as we all know in today's world of social media and reporters' wanting to all be first to report something, it seems that the days of "innocent until proven guilty" are long gone.  The reason that the positive result hadn't been made public was because of the appeal process.  I'm trying my best to not rush to judgement on him as well, but as far as I or anyone else knows, no one has ever successfully appealed a positive PED test result.

Also, saying that you didn't knowingly take steroids (Barry Bonds) or blaming former teammates for tainted B-12 injections (Rafael Palmeiro) or taking them because they taste like candy (Manny Ramirez) {ok, I made that last reason up} won't lessen the public outcry for your head.

Even if Braun wins his appeal, what will this do for the actual drug testing program for MLB?  As much as I would like to see Braun exonerated, if this in fact does happen (and that is a slim if), then the validity of the whole drug testing program comes under suspicion.  So, I sure hope there is a good and valid reason as to why he had a failed test.  If not, then he is just like Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield, Canseco, McGwire, etc... 

Matt Kemp must really know how Mike Greenwell feels now, huh?  It would be unprecedented if the BBWAA stripped Braun of his NL MVP award and awarded it to Kemp.  They haven't taken Bonds' 7 awards away. 

My older brother texted me last night all fired up about "MLB knew about the failed test, but went ahead and gave him the award anyway...  I hate baseball..."  This is coming from a huge NFL, College Football and UFC fan.  I love my brother and you have to realize that he gets really fired up, but with all those sports he is fond of...  pot, meet kettle.

I can imagine how Braun felt, apparently being notified of the failed test in October, but yet fielding questions about and eventually accepting the MVP award.  It reminds me of Rafael Palmeiro getting his 3,000th hit but knowing of his failed test weeks before.  Uncomfortable!

Anyway, I'd like to wait to see the resolution of his appeal before I cast Braun into the fold of the known abusers, but it doesn't look like it is an easy road ahead for him.  Again, to my knowledge, no one has won an appeal yet.  It just doesn't make sense for someone like Braun, who has been tested throughout his whole career.  He was tested in the minors and all through his MLB career.  He is very in tune with his 'brand', which is why he signed the contract he signed with the Brewers back in April.  Also, what are the 'unusual circumstances' that his representatives were speaking of?

Blehhh, what a mess you've stepped in, Ryan.  Good luck to you, but it's going to be an uphill climb.

Examining Rafael Palmeiro's HOF Candidacy

It's that time of year again, when we look at the list of newly eligible players up for election to the most prestigious hall of fame in sports, the Baseball Hall of Fame. This year will be a true indicator of exactly how the PED use of the 90's to 00's will affect future candidates. This is because former Cubs, Orioles and Rangers slugger Rafael Palmeiro is up for election for the first time.

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On the surface, Palmeiro appears as a shoe-in. 3,000+ hits and 550+ home runs. He also had 1,835 RBIs and a .288 average. He was a model of consistency, hitting more than 37 home runs 10 times in his career. He never hit more than 47 home runs in a season and had one of the most beautiful left-handed swings that anyone has ever seen.

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On March 17, 2005, Palmeiro wagged his finger in defiance in front of a congressional panel and stated "Let me start by telling you this - I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never."

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On August 1, 2005, Palmeiro was suspended for a positive steroid test. He had appealed the positive test before finally serving his 10-game suspension on August 1. He had tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol, which is considered a major steroid.

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Palmeiro said upon announcement of his suspension "I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period. Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body, the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program" Palmeiro later told a congressional panel that he believed the positive test result came from tainted B-12 injections from two unnamed teammates and Miguel Tejada. Congress collected B-12 samples from the 3 players and, although they did not find traces of steroids in any of the samples, they noted substantial inconsistencies between Tejada's accounts and the accounts of the other two players. Tejada said that he had gotten his B-12 shots from a supplier in the Domician Republic. He, himself would later be fingered in the Mitchell Report for steroid use and ultimately would be found guilty of perjury by lying to congress. Reportedly, all of Palmeiro's previous tests over the past two years and up to his failed 2005 test and a subsequent test just three weeks after his failed test all came up negative.

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So, what do we know? In my mind, the failed test of 2005 is still a little murky for me to completely ban Palmeiro from the Hall of Fame. I'm not happy by his virtual silence in the years that have followed the 2005 season, but I'm not 100% sure we know all the facts surrounding his relationship with Tejada and I surely do not trust anything Tejada says. A congressional committee was unable to find enough proof to pursue perjury charges against Palmeiro, yet they were able to get a conviction on Tejada and have proceeded with cases against Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Many people overlook this fact when they are considering Palmeiro's worthiness for induction to the hall. He even reportedly passed a polygraph test in which he was not asked whether or not he used steroids, but he did state again that he unknowingly ingested them with a tainted B-12 shot. Palmeiro was named in the 2007 Mitchell report, but it did not identify any new information. It only rehashed Jose Canseco's allegations in his book, Palmeiro's appearance before congress and subsequent failed test. It also went into detail on a conversation between Palmeiro and former Oriole Larry Bigbie where Bigbie says that Palmeiro had asked him about his source of steroids and HGH and how the substances made him feel. Bigbie also stated that during those conversations Palmeiro denied having ever taken performance enhancing substances himself. In December 2007, Palmeiro was named by former Oriole Jason Grimsley as having used amphetamines before their ban by MLB.

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Palmeiro had some detractors even before his failed steroid test. He never appeared in the World Series and may have been considered 'un-clutch'. yet, the numbers do speak for themselves, he is only one of four major leaguers who have hit more than 3,000 hits and more than 500 home runs. The other three? Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray.

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My opinion, not that it really matters, is that Rafael Palmeiro will eventually gain entry to the Hall of Fame. I sincerely doubt he will be elected this year, but will get in as the years go by. His numbers themselves show that he was an elite player during his time, whether he took steroids or not. It is unfortunate that the conversation is even out there as far as steroids, but when seemingly the entire league is taking them, one must feel a great amount of pressure to 'keep up.' I don't know what Palmeiro had been thinking and I don't know whether he definitively took steroids throughout his career, but the failed test is there. The fact that he passed numerous tests before and a test soon after, I don't know that I would bet my life 100% on the validity of the failure. I know that this entry will generate a lot of hard feelings and create a bit of debate, but I was and still am a fan of Rafael Palmeiro. I personally hope he gains entry to the hall. I also realize that if he is to be elected, then a player whom I really can't stand should get in as well, and that is Barry Bonds. Yes, Bonds should get in. So should Clemens. These guys were the greatest players of their generation. I believe they will be inducted, sooner or later. We shall see.

Being Let Down

I've learned in my close to 30 year existence some very important things. One of the most important things that I have learned is that no matter how highly you regard someone, it is human nature for them to let you down. Your friends, your family and obviously, your sports heroes.

People make mistakes every day. I sure do. If I weren't able to forgive, then I sure would be a lonely person. No one is perfect.
It has been 5 years since Rafael Palmeiro was caught using performance enhancing drugs. The circumstances surrounding these events is still clouded in mystery. I still don't know how to feel about it. I sure wish I could unlearn what I have learned, but you can't go back and change the past.

Maybe you can read between the lines and see the underlying message. Rafael Palmeiro is just an anecdote. A fable, if you will. Life will let you down. Its up to you to forgive and move on. Life is way too short...

Roid Rage?

I didn't want to, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to weigh in on the whole steroid issue.

Was I surprised A-Rod was busted for steroids? Absolutely not. You pretty much have to assume that most, if not all of the players who played during the 'Steroid Era' had at least tried steroids. I'm not really buying his excuse, but really, what do I care about why he did it? He did it, pure and simple. Do I forgive him? Absolutely.

Steroids are illegal. Pure and simple. So is smoking pot. It was hilarious to me that Michael Phelps was caught hitting a bong drunk out of his mind, forgetting (which pot makes you do, I'm told) that EVERYONE has a camera phone nowadays. Speeding is illegal. Hiring illegal aliens is illegal. Speeding while buying pot from a roided up illegal alien is illegal. These are all things that we as Americans do. I would be a liar and a hypocrite if I said that I never broke a law (if you know me well enough, you know that I have done so and what was done...).

Now, anyone that knows me well enough, knows that I have a great disdain for Barry Bonds. I think he is a douche sandwich. Always have, always will. I do not like to recognize that he is the home run king, but, sadly, he is. He was one of the greatest players of his 'Era'. Like it or not. Same goes for A-Rod.

We all know that A-Rod doing steroids was stupid and he had the best natural talent since an uninjured Ken Griffey, Jr. We all should also realize that baseball players are very afraid of the next big thing to come along and take their job.

Everyone knows that my favorite current player is Brian Roberts. It is because of him that I cannot crucify Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, A-Rod, etc... Roberts admitted to steriod use last year when his name was mentioned in the Mitchell report. It broke my heart then because all of my friends who did not like baseball saw his name in there and said 'wait, isn't that... yeah... what do you think?' I believe his confession and will as long as he stays clean. How do we know that? We don't.

Roberts was in a position battle for the 2nd base job for the 2003 Orioles with Jerry Hairston (one of his close friends) who was also named in the Mitchell report. Larry Bigbie (also named in the report) was also a close friend of Roberts, he even roomed with him at David Segui's (named in the Mitchell report) house. Now, if I were working my ass off and were trying to make a team, where if I make it, my family can potentially be set up for life, and if I don't make it, I'm most likely flipping burgers or selling used cars, etc. and I see that the guy who I am in a position battle with is doing something that is making him better stronger faster... then you know that I'm going to work harder to keep up. There comes a point in time when the human body functioning on its own natual processes cannot keep up with the latest greatest thing out there, and you break down and either 1. give up, or 2. you keep up.

I'm not saying this is the right mentality, but it makes perfect sense. Do I blame Roberts? Hell no. Ok, well, then who is to blame? I am.

I am to blame for the whole thing. It was me, your honor, the one who was vehemently cursing Jeffrey Maier when he pulled the ball out of Tony Tarasco's glove. Me who fell in love with the game because a guy named Cal was so good at what he did that he never took a day off for 16 years. Me who was just as guilty as the rest of us for being captivated by the behemoth sluggers who brought the game back from the brink of disaster in 1998. My passion as a fan is what drove these guys to do whatever it took to stay on that field for one more season. For one more day in the sun. So they could be posters on some kid's wall.

I understand what would drive someone to do such a thing. I understand A-Rod. I'm not happy about it, but I'll get over it. I forgave Brian Roberts a long time ago. I forgive you too.

Competitive advantage is such a crock. I remember seeing a commercial with Don Mattingly when i was a kid saying that the most difficult thing to do is hit a round ball with a round bat while it is coming 90+ miles an hour at maybe your head...

To put up 500+ home runs, you still have to HIT the ball. Ask my brothers... I was a shitty ball player. What I wouldn't give though to be able to play. As much as I dislike Barry Bonds, I respect him for all that he has been able to do in hs career. He hit the ball 2,900+ times. Steroids or not, thats difficult to do. Ok, so, maybe the steroids made maybe 150 of his doubles into home runs... Maybe, you can't prove it. Maybe his homeruns, instead of being 440 feet went 460 because of roids. I don't know that either. You still have to have talent to play the game.

Take any 'clean' ball player today. They have all these fancy diets, high tech training equipment, supplements, B-12 injections (don't borrow one from Miguel Tejada though), etc. Now, rewind back to the 1920's and you have a guy whose parents had the bright idea to name their kid George Herman... are you kidding me? Anyway, you can't tell me that Joe Ballplayer, hell, Joe the Plumber even, would have a competitive advantage over George. He fat, drunk, smokes a lot... Comparing Barry Bonds' numbers to babe Ruth's numbers just doesnt work. Its all nice and pretty to line 714 up to 762 and say OOH Barry hit more, blah blah blah. If Babe Ruth had the same technology, a better diet, no booze... he probably would have hit 1,200 home runs. Especially in the band boxes the players play in today.

Anyway, there is no escaping the steroid era no more than there is escaping the dead ball era or the pitching era (pre 1968). Players have to be judged on the eras they played in. Palmeiro (who HAS to come out of hiding), Sosa, Bonds and yes ARod need to be in the Hall of Fame. No matter what. You can't take their records away. As much as we would like to, we can't. Had Babe Ruth not been gift wrapped a ball that jumped off of a bat, he would have probably 98 career homeruns. People forget that. People forget that Ty Cobb (who was a classy individual in his own right...) hated Ruth and thought his records were crap because of the type of ball being used. 'Any idiot can hit a home run' is a quote I remember reading from him.

In the end, when I look back on this era 20 years from now, it will have settled its way into baseball history. Just like the cocaine controversy (many a player named in that little scandal are in the Hall) it will be accepted in time. We don't have to like it, that just part of the game. By then, we'll be arguing about Player X who had been genetically engineered in the womb should be banned, and it will all start over again.