MLB 2013 Season Thread: TEFLON BRAUN Episode V: The Selig Strikes Back

[Dimmauk]

wut

jesus, people just make the same mistakes over and over and over

(but yeah not super likely on that dude)

When you said people, did you mean Ryan Braun?

[Viq]

When you said people, did you mean Ryan Braun?

[pohibaba]

Griffey

Bagwell and Thomas were both better hitters. Edgar Martinez put up nearly identical career numbers to Bags, though.

[Melena]

Bagwell and Thomas were both better hitters. Edgar Martinez put up nearly identical career numbers to Bags, though.

The knock on Edgar though was that he was all but a career DH. So he didn't have to do any fielding. Guy could rake though.

[Bregor]

Fielding is also why Griffey is better than Bags/Big Hurt, dude was a monster CF.

[archibaldcrane]

Damn, from 2004 to 2010, Griffey Jr. put up all of -0.3 fWAR combined - a guy who once had back to back 9.0+ fWAR seasons, which is insane.

[Melena]

Yup, his body completely fell apart after the trade to Cinci.

[archibaldcrane]

Yup, his body completely fell apart after the trade to Cinci.

which makes it pretty funny that everyone points to him as the totally clean example to be followed

huge production (including prodigous power - 7 40+ HR seasons) followed by his body completely falling apart, but somehow everyone "knows" he's clean?

I get that it's because he wasn't jacked like Sosa/Bonds/McGuire...

he was built more like, um, Ryan Braun.

[archibaldcrane]

Some more details: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mil&c_id=mil

Citing anonymous sources, ESPN.com investigative reporter T.J. Quinn reported that 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," including mint- or cherry-flavored lozenges containing testosterone that a user would place under his tongue.

Throughout 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 and batted .346 in his final 67 regular-season games, with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. He 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.

When Yahoo! Sports published excerpts of Bosch's notebook in February connecting Braun to Biogenesis, Braun said his lawyers only used Bosch as a consultant during his appeal.

On Monday, Braun was suspended for the remainder of 2013 for unspecified violations of the Joint Drug Agreement. Braun said in a statement released by MLB, "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions."

He has not come forward since that announcement to answer any additional questions, and it remained unclear Wednesday morning whether he would.

Wonder if he bailed on an old supplier and moved onto Biogenesis after the calf injury in the summer of 2011, or if that was his first time using - and wonder if he stopped after getting popped or not. Biogenesis timeline there suggests he was only using their shit for half a season, but obviously who knows outside of that.

[Mertron]

which makes it pretty funny that everyone points to him as the totally clean example to be followed

huge production (including prodigous power - 7 40+ HR seasons) followed by his body completely falling apart, but somehow everyone "knows" he's clean?

I get that it's because he wasn't jacked like Sosa/Bonds/McGuire...

he was built more like, um, Ryan Braun.

or his body fell apart because he wasn't on anything. lots of people busted (including McGwire) said reduction in rehab time/ability to play through pain was another factor in using, so with Griffey constantly hurt it could also be because he wasn't on anything

also because chicks dig the long ball

[Boyiee]

Griffey and now Jeter are looked at as the pure club. Jeter is so shitty at short its believable.

[archibaldcrane]

Still, he lead the league in hits at age 38 last year. He could very well be the Bartolo Colon of position players.

[Mertron]

honestly the only player i would be crushed to learn was on anything is mariano

[Mertron]

he might be, just don't let me hear about it

[aurik]

So what's the story on the Yankees basically trying everything they can to keep A-rod off the field? Are they just distancing because they want to minimize embarassment if/when he gets banned for his PED use?

[archibaldcrane]

Maybe they're just leaving him in AAA until he pisses hot down there with their extensive testing so he can get banned for life and they can be out from under his contract for good.

Shit they should start spiking his drinks. God I'm a genius, cut me in for 1% of the savings and I'll do it myself.

[Ishido]

A-Rod is owed another eighty-six million dollars?

Jesus

[Boyiee]

If he remains on DL for too long then they get out of some of the money for this season I believe. Either way he's facing a 100 game suspension if not worse when he gets back, so there is speculation we'll never see him in a Yankee, or any, MLB uniform again. His contract is amazing from his standpoint, they can't let him go or trade him without paying him unless he lets them.

[aurik]

Right now there's a perverse incentive for teams to quietly abet doping because it makes the team better. I mean, let's face it, the Brewers can't be too sad about not having to pay out Braun's contract this year, given that they're totally out of the race. Just like I'm sure the Yankees would be thrilled to see A-rod get the banhammer now that they've already gotten what they wanted out of him in past years and now he's already been replaced.

What I would like to see is some penalties against teams that have players banned for PEDs. Something like they have to donate x% of the banned player's salary to anti-doping research, etc. I was super unthrilled when the Giants gave Bonds a platform to asterisk his way to the career HR record, similarly when Tor picked up Melky at a discount due to his tarnished record. There should be a disincentive to reward players like that.

[Headspace]

Yo Rhino, I met Ricketts today