ESPN OTL: Braun & A-Rod to be suspended

I don't think he needs to say anything or will say anything. The bashing he is getting from the media, players and "fans" of baseball is beyond comprehension.

Braun opening up and admitting anything could be horrendous. Don't think he wants to spend any time in jail.

Jail?

OW, you are on fire today!

more details...

 

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com...ied-to-summer-of-11/

Well, MLB is an absolute and utter joke.  The Drug Testing program is an absolute and utter joke.

 

Braun has been railroaded, suspended, and the subject of a witch hunt without failing a drug test, simply because he beat the system and pointed out the errors of the process.

 

 

Meant jcc.

This

Slow day for silo break-ins.

 

We really don't know if he failed a test, right? Other than the one that got tossed by Shazzam. 

 

 

My understanding is the one that got appealed and what he is suspended for now are two separate incidents.

Braun’s relationship with Tony Bosch and Biogenesis began during the summer of 2011, several months before the October drug test which would trigger Braun’s long battle with MLB. Quinn said via Twitter that his sources allege Braun “was on a performance-enhancing drug regimen for high-end clients”  and posted an image of a note, allegedly in Bosch’s own handwriting, detailing one such regimen, including mint- or cherry-flavored lozenges containing testosterone that a user would place under his tongue.

 

In July of that year, Braun was dealing with a left calf strain suffered on an eighth inning groundout at Minnesota on July 2. The next morning, Braun was named a starting outfielder on the National League All-Star team — the league’s leading vote-getter — but he would miss the Midsummer Classic because of his injury.

 

Braun rejoined the Brewers’ lineup on July 14 but continued to battle calf pain (he missed a July 22 start because of the issue). He batted .346 in his final 67 regular season games with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs, then hit.405 with nine extra-base hits in the postseason, including a 3-for-4 performance in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It was after that game that Braun submitted the urine sample that allegedly showed elevated levels of synthetic testosterone, triggering a 50-game suspension which Braun successfully appealed by questioning the chain of custody of his sample.

 

Details emerge...

 

So more then likely what he's going to claim is his taking PED's was to speed the healing of this injury and not to enhance his performance. Then he'll say it was a stupid mistake and he's learned from it but in no way did he take PED's to hit more HR's, hit's, etc.

 

Only problem is no one will be buying that.

 

 

 

 

Of course PEDs are taken to speed up the recovery process. One could argue that may be the main reason many take them.

I've been shot up with steroids.

While MLB isn't beyond reproach, to paint Braun as a victim here is way overcompensating. He's the one that cheated and he's the one that continually lied about it to teammates, friends, and fans. MLB didn't force him to do that. To paraphrase Mike McCarthy, Braun is nobodies victim.

 

From a MLB perspective, the obvious question is why are they trying so hard to show the world how toothless their drug policy is. Every other sport makes a good faith effort to stop cheaters, but doesn't go out of their way beyond the process that is set-up. I think the answer lies in Bud Selig. By all objective measures, Selig has been a great commissioner for baseball. Yet his reputation was perhaps forever tarnished by the steroids scandal of a decade ago -- people still hold him responsible. Based on that experience, I think Selig just decided that he would never again sit silently on the sidelines and let the process handle things -- his mission seems to be to do everything in his power to eliminate cheating. We can quibble over whether that's wise or appropriate. But it's far nobler than what Braun did.

If Braun wanted to be the saint he portrayed himself to be last year, it seems to me he SHOULD have said he has been juicing and he beat the rap on a technicality.

 

Instead, he takes advantage of a technicality that though rightly beating him from a rap, DOES NOT rightfully license his use of it to make it sound like he is lily white from the perspective of PED use.

 

I think Braun ought to get thrown under some bus.

If only he was like Pinocchio.

Braun appealed his drug test.  Just like MLB agreed to allow.

Braun won his appeal.  Just like the MLB agreed to allow.

If MLB wanted to not allow appeals, they could have forced that into the agreement.  They didn't.

 

The results of tests prior to appeal process closing are supposed to be private.  Just as MLB agreed to. 

If MLB wanted to publicly hang players before the process was complete, they should have argued for that in the agreement.  They didn't. 

 

What did they do then?  They fired the arbitrator that dared based a decision on facts instead of stepping in line with what they wanted.  (love that all the sanctimonious talking heads ignore that altogether while creating a sob story for the poor poor collector). 

 

MLB's drug testing program, just like every drug testing agency, hates it when people dare highlight when the agreed to process wasn't and isn't followed.  It undermines the whole program.  If this collector screwed up the process, what's the chance that others are screwing it up.  If the process was allowed to continue even after not following the guidelines, what's the chance that they allow other tests that don't follow the guidelines?  Drug testers don't like when you turn the lights on, as it were, on their process.  Everything can be questioned at that point.  Like, a dictatorship, drug testers rely exclusively on tamping down any and all questions to their methods and their process. 

 

This is what they do.  They form lynch mobs.  They over react.  They make it their mission to castigate those that dared shine a mirror on the realities.  They create Jihad's to go after individuals instead of relying on their supposed infallible tests.   Travis Tygart, Dick Pound, and now MLB.  Things are personal with these folks. 

 

MLB is NOT to be commended for this behavior.  They completely skirted the actual process they established.  Multiple times.  They are not able to produce a failed test for these Biogenesis guys, which of course puts into question the entire program, how can you claim such a great program, but you are required to coerce and pay a known drug dealer in order to manufacture the evidence you are looking for. 

 

Maybe Braun did take PEDs.  Maybe he didn't. I don't know.  He probably did.  I do know that he hasn't failed a drug test.  If he did, why isn't MLB pointing that out?  Why did MLB have to alter the boilerplate suspension press release by leading with "Basic Agreement" language?  Why did they have to pay for and coerce a drug dealer? 

 

I mean, other than their tests couldn't provide the narrative they wanted so so badly.  So, they did anything they could to create that narrative and get their guy, process, agreements, and facts be damned. 

 

As for Braun - he had little option at this point. MLB's jihad was going to get him regardless.  They had ESPN as their PR arm telling the stories they wanted out there.  They had the "words" of a known drug dealer looking for a deal from the feds.  They had the "basic agreement" that they could point to.  Braun's likely only option was to take the rest of the year vs MLB capriciously making whatever decision they wanted.  150 games?  Why not?  2 years?  Who cares!  Lifetime?  Sure! 

 

Braun was fighting a losing battle the second he dared fight the flawed process in 2011 instead of rolling over and saying "yes boss". 

Sigh. 

 

It is not a technicality.  The integrity of any system of drug testing is entirely reliant on letter-perfect adherence to technical procedure.  This is part and parcel, it is fundamental to the credibility of drug testing programs. 

 

A technicality is the collector spelled his name Brown, not Braun.   The proper handling of his speciman is the end all be all of the drug testing program's credibility. 

Braun has had every opportunity to defend himself or to stand up for his innocence by rejecting a suspension.  Would really like someone on this forum (even Chickenboy), that is defending him, to explain in their own words why they feel he is zipped shut and not battling the suspension. 

 

Feel like I am breaking the news that Santa Claus isn't real.

Let me guess, you think Kevin Love broke his hand doing knuckle push-ups.

Because Braun isn't being suspended via the drug testing program.  Are you really telling me you don't understand that at this point?

 

MLB has a process and program in place for drug testing violations.

 

1st positive - 50 games

2nd - 100

3rd - lifetime

 

There is no failed drug test.  If there was one failed test, he'd be suspended 50 games.  If 2, 100, etc.  That is what happens.  No deals, no negotiation.  50 for 1st, 100 for 2nd, etc.  That's the ONLY options for failed drug tests.  There's no "65 game" option.  There's no "150 game" option.  There's no "lets' make a deal" option.  There are 3 and only 3 options for failed drug tests.  50.  100.  Life.  Period.  Full Stop. 

 

MLB is obviously using their "just cause" langauge with Braun.  One would imagine that under this "just cause" MLB can do whatever the hell they want.  My guess is they are threatening 150, year(s) or maybe even a lifetime ban, etc. 

 

The reason Braun accepted the deal was MLB can do whatever they want under "just cause", they have a cheerleading PR arm in ESPN, and 65 games was the best option for him vs him continuing to fight and MLB doing whatever they want under "just cause" anyway and suspending him for life or a full year. 

 

It's shocking that you still think this a failed drug test he's being suspended for.  But, when you simply regurgitate what Buster Olney and Jeff Passan and ESPN tell you to do, I guess that's what happens.

everything's a conspiracy to you huh?

 

as far as defending Braun goes, not sure that i am. i think he did 'em. i just think the facts aren't correct out there as far as the bashing goes.

CAPackFan,

 

Don't you find it highly unlikely that:

 

1) A botched drug test tested positive (but was rightfully rejected as we know).

 

2) Documents link Braun to Biogenesis

 

-and-

 

3) Braun had not been taking PED's?

So, what are the correct facts then?

No conspiracies Chick, it's called a hand into a wall at the Carlyle.

If you can prove this to me, I will STFU.

MLB testing is a joke because Selig is a joke.  He wants it both ways.  He sold his soul to the devil to make baseball popular (looking the other way with steroids) and now he's all about integrity -  good one.  He's like the guy that found religion only after getting busted for doing a crime.  Good luck with your legacy Bud.

Tell me more...

A botched drug test is a botched drug test.  Because it was botched, means the results are not valid.  Hence, it was not a positive test. 

 

"Documents"  All I've seen is handwriting scribble from a known drug dealer that was coerced by MLB and paid for his "documents" in the hope that MLB can "put a good word in for him".  Are there more documents?  God I hope so, because if handwritten "Braun - 15-20" is all they have, holy crap.

 

I think it's very likely Braun bought and used PEDs.

 

But, Braun has not failed a single test.  If he failed one, there would be a 50 game suspension with no negotiation.  Period.

 

My issue is not "BRAUN DIDN'T DO IT" My issue is that this is MLB going outside the drug testing program on a witch hunt because Braun fought the system, and they are using their "just cause" garbage to do whatever the hell they want, and they continue to promote the narrative of failed drug tests, and technicalities, and and and.  MLB's testing is clearly a joke.  It doesn't find people that take PEDs, they have hired agencies and collectors that don't adhere to the process.  This scares them, so they are doing everything to protect themselves.  They have shown that they are not out there simply to catch cheaters, but to vindictively target whomever they desire.  What's to stop them from targeting any other player under the guise of "just cause". 

 

That's my issue. 

 

 

It is the agreed to (MLB and Player Assoc) punishment, why wouldn't that be the only thing that happens for a failed test?

 

 

 

The suspension was not for 65 games, but the rest of the season. Had Braun decided to accept the suspension before or after when he did the # of games would have been more or less than 65. That does not sound like it is related to a failed drug test. there was no "deal". He was told he was going to be suspended for the rest of the season and had to decide if he would accept of fight that.

Also, I think CAPackFan95 is right on with the "MLB is obviously using their "just cause" langauge with Braun."  Like Goodell has done with Player/League Conduct MLB is using the just cause, and that gives the League latitude/discretion for the penalty. "Just cause" is because they are pissed his test was tossed and he was/is associated with the BioG cartel.

He took PEDs. There's really no reasonable doubt on that matter. Sure, MLB was aggressive in their pursuit. But if Braun were truly innocent, he has the financial resources and the union to fight it, just like he did in Round 1 of their battle. Again, Braun is not a victim here -- this isn't a kid on the street getting bullied by the system. He did it.

 

I also think the "no failed drug test" defense is a slippery slope. That's the exact same global defense (not CBA defense) of Sosa, Bonds, Clemens, and Armstrong. Are those guys all victims too? Is there any reasonable remaining question on their guilt? The reality is it's very difficult to get a failed a drug test...testing is too infrequent and there are too many ways to mask the presence. In Braun's case, he actually did fail a drug test; but because it didn't follow CBA protocol, the test was correctly thrown out. But that's closer than they ever got to Armstrong or Bonds.

 

There are different ways to establish guilt, which is why the commissioner included the just cause language in the first place. While the drug test didn't stick, the evidence and testimony from a known steroid dealer provided a strong enough tie to PEDs...just like it did with Bonds, Armstrong, and others.

 

We can debate whether it's in MLBs interest or not to pursue this so aggressively. I think it's more than they need to do, but then again, my legacy wasn't dragged through the mud during the last steroid era. 

What shouldn't be debatable, though, is Braun's guilt. He's not a victim -- he did the crime, he deliberately lied about it (which was more galling than the first offense, IMO), and this is the consequence.

The Brewers season is a lost cause anyway so he might as well just get it over with. MLB certainly isn't going to let go of it

Positive Test 1:

 

The process was faulty and the test was dismissed as it should have been. The arbitrator ruled in his favor so due process was implemented. The 14-year arbitrator was dismissed by MLB. Shame on MLB.

 

Braun got up and said to the world he never used. He lied. Shame on him.

 

The media (Cowherd for example) states that Braun got the courier fired. He didn't. The courier didn't follow protocol and should be called on that. Shame on the media.

 

Positive Test 2:

 

MLB got him and Braun settled. Braun got a lesser suspension but a majorly tarnished reputation. MLB got it's poster child for it's strict PED policy. Shame on no one. 

If you aren't aware that those are the guidelines in the drug testing program, honestly, there is no point responding or reading anything you write anymore.

 

****in case you want to "ZOMG WIKIPEDIA****

 

Here's a link to the actual MLB document.

 

Page 24. 

Section 7

Sub Section a

 

 

Also exact same wording From Wikipedia. 

Positive steroid test results

• First positive test result: 50 game suspension
• Second positive test result: 100 game suspension
• Third positive test result: lifetime ban from MLB

All suspensions are without pay. In addition, a suspended player can be replaced on the active roster by another player. If a player is on the disabled list, the suspension is served while on the disabled list.

Where is the 2nd positive?

There is not 2 positive tests.  There isn't even 1 positive test.

 

If there was one - it would be 50 games.  PERIOD.  No Negotiation.

If there was two - it would be 100 games.  PERIOD. No Negotiation. 

 

There is no positive drug test.  This is "just cause" based on documents from Bosch that Braun was buying them, but there is no positive drug test.  This isn't that difficult to comprehend. 

Well, OK. Let's put it this way:

 

Incident 1:

I think it's OK to assume it was positive and the process was faulty so "case dismissed." So I guess it is technically correct that there wasn't a "positive" test.

 

Incident 2:

Evidence was there to bust him and he settled. Don't think he would have settled if he was clean. I will stand corrected that there wasn't a second positive (at least that we know of).

 

EDIT: ...or any official "positive."