Braun’s Suspension Overturned
February 23rd, 2012 | by Ray Flowers |
This is the official release from Major League Baseball in regards to the 50-game suspension that was given to Ryan Braun which has been overturned – i.e. Braun will not serve a single game of the 50 game suspension that was originally handed down.
Milwaukee Brewers OF and NL MVP Ryan Braun has won his appeal and won’t be suspended.
MLB issued this statement disagreeing with the decision made by the arbitrator:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STATEMENT
Major League Baseball Executive Vice President for Labor Relations Rob Manfred issued the following statement today:
“Major League Baseball considers the obligations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program essential to the integrity of our game, our Clubs and all of the players who take the field. It has always been Major League Baseball’s position that no matter who tests positive, we will exhaust all avenues in pursuit of the appropriate discipline. We have been true to that position in every instance, because baseball fans deserve nothing less.
“As a part of our drug testing program, the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association agreed to a neutral third party review for instances that are under dispute. While we have always respected that process, Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today by arbitrator Shyam Das.”
Here is a link to a report about the whole situation at ESPN.
FANTASY TAKE
With the removal of the specter of suspension, Braun leaps up draftboards. After his effort last season, and the last few years for that matter, I don’t see how anyone can look at Braun and not think he deserves to be a top-5 overall option. I believe he’s a top-2 option along with Matt Kemp, and I’m in favor of Braun going first off the board.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Brewers, Matt Kemp, PED, Ryan Braun, Steroids
By Dennis on Feb 23, 2012
MLB should be ashamed:
1) MLB leaked the results contrary to proper procedures
2) MLB rep (the pee carrier) did not follow proper procedures – brought it HOME!
3) the player followed proper procedure – peed, retested and appealed
4) the mediator followed procedure – weighed the evidence and foudn reasonable doubt
5) MLB “vehemently disagrees” with the end result of the proper procedures when they never followed the proper procedure from the beginning.
Additional thoughts:
Most people seem to think it was steroids when the leak (which was right about the results) said “high levels of testosterone”. that doesn’t have to mean roids. It may or it may not.
The levels have been described as “highest ever seen” which certainly makes it questionable as to the accuracy of the test and/or the viability of the sample. How many of the people claiming Braun “cheated and got away with it” would accept a similar situation if it was applied to themselves. The specimen was improperly handled which makes it inadmissible evidence. Wouldn’t be right to impose a penalty without clear and properly handled evidence
By vinnie papandrea on Feb 23, 2012
I am not a big Braun fan and do not have him in any league, but this guy deserved to get off. You couldn’t of said it better. MLB should be ashamed of how they handled this and continue to handle it.Ridiculous
By Ray Flowers on Feb 24, 2012
Dennis – a very rational and reasoned reply… and you are right. MLB should be emberassed about how this whole thing was handled from start to finish.
By Ray Flowers on Feb 24, 2012
Vinne P – Seeing the inner workings of how MLB handled this you really have to wonder about their entire system, don’t you?
By Pee Knuckle on Feb 24, 2012
in a 10-team keeper league, was offered King Felix for Hosmer. I think I’ll take it even though i lose a 4th round draft pick if i accept felix (as opposed to a 22 round pick for hosmer). i already have Hamels, but I’m deep at 1B with Prince and Miggy.
You like this trade?
Thanks!
By Ray Flowers on Feb 24, 2012
Pee Knuckle – So you give up Hosmer/4th rd to get King Felix, and you already have Hamels?
With Miggy looking like a 3b option, would give you a killer 1b/3b/ci group.
All depends how many players you keep. If you keep like 6 or more guys, a 4th round pick becomes a 10th or whatever. Dont mind too much given that up.
By Pee Knuckle on Feb 24, 2012
ray – i’m also keeping Beltre (as a 13th round pick!), so part of the reason i want to make the trade is to free up my Utility slot (or else Hosmer will be stuck in it all year).
Yeah, we all keep 8 players, so a 4th round pick really isn’t worth that much.
thanks!
By Bangs on Feb 25, 2012
To me there are three keys bits of information:
First, that Braun’s side didn’t argue that the sample was tampered with or even taht the results were wrong … all they argued was that policy was not followed.
Second, that both tests showed synthetic testosterone in his urine.
Third all indications and reports are that the seals on the sample were still perfectly in place … and remember these are sealed vials, placed in a sealed bag, placed in a a seal box. All of the seals were in place. There was no evidence of tampering with the sample and he had no explanation for why synthetic testosterone was found in his urnine. He was caught cheating simple as that.
Further, the collectors have taken these samples home before, so long as the chain of custody is preserved, akin to a police officer being allowed (which they are) to take evidence home or other locations, so long as a strict chain of custody is maintained.
I don’t see how the sample could be different from sitting at the collecor’s home for the weekend instead of sitting at a Fed Ex wearhouse for the weekend, where nobody would be keeping an eye on it.
In law school, students are taught (1) if the law is on your side argue it, (2) if the facts are on your side, but the law is not, argue the facts and (3) if neither the law nor the facts are on your side, find something to yell and scream about … and that is what Braun’s side did here. They did not challenge the result of the test, they did not even allege the sample was tampered with, they only challenged the procedure. Their sole arguement is that the sample sitting at the colector’s home, as opposed to sitting at at Fed Ex facility, invalidates the sample.
By Eric on Feb 25, 2012
I agree with Bangs. Braun was dirty just found a loop hole since it was handled so poorly. It will be interesting to see if his production continues at such a high level.
By Ray Flowers on Feb 25, 2012
Bangs – Hear me talking about the outlook of Ryan Braun: http://ow.ly/9hTxh
As for your arguments, I can’t honestly disagree with any of your major points.
By Ray Flowers on Feb 25, 2012
Eric – Thought you might be interested. Hear me talking about the outlook of Ryan Braun: http://ow.ly/9hTxh
By Bangs on Feb 25, 2012
Ray – thanks for the link, but I already listened to it on XM
By Matt T on Feb 29, 2012
I believe that his production will continue to be at a very high level as usual. He has been consistant for years and it would be suprising if he fails to put up the numbers he usually does.
By fantasysportedge.com on Feb 29, 2012
After what Braun has said about the testing process, the collector of the sample and the MLB you better believe that are going to be gunning for him. I wouldn’t be surprised that sometime this week they issue him another test.
I think he is to much of a risk right now to take that high. Nate Ravitz on the fantas focus tuesday said he would “rather have someone he didn’t have any concern about over someone he had even the slightest concern about” and I have concern about Braun still.
By Bangs on Mar 4, 2012
Now, with the news that the leak came from somebody in Braun’s camp it looks like those that think Braun was set up lost another pillar of their arguement and Braun’s people are now changing their tune about a set-up.
“MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner told Haudricourt that the leak in Ryan Braun’s positive drug test was an isolated, case-specific incident and that the process doesn’t have a confidentiality problem” – MLBtraderumors.com
On a more relative point for a fantasy baseball site, for what it is worth I agree with Ray’s outlook on Braun.