2011 was a huge year for Ryan Braun. The 28-year-old star left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers was coming off a spectacular season, one in which he had helped lead the Brewers to their first division title since 1982 and ultimately culminated in his winning the National League Most Valuable Player award. Ultimately, Braun finished the 2011 campaign with a .332 batting average, 33 home runs, 111 RBI, 33 stolen bases, a .994 OPS, and WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 7.7.

Those should have been good days.

Instead, news leaked on December 12, 2011 that Braun had tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance during the post season, about a month before the Baseball Writers Assocation would name his MVP. The positive test showed that Braun had a great than 20-1 testostrone level and a second test indicated that the extra testosterone was synthetic in nature. Immediately, Braun's team went into damage control, announcing that Braun had appealed the positive test to an abritrator, which prevented Major League Baseball from suspending him until the arbitrator ruled.

Ultimately, Braun would win his appeal, as the independent arbitrator ruled that the collection specialist mishandled the sample by storing it in his home over the weekend. The technicality that such a storage procedure was not allowed under the joint bargaining agreement basically allowed Braun to walk away without a suspension.

However, Ryan Braun did not walk away from the ordeal unscathed. Throughout the winter, into Spring Training, and then into the regular season, Braun was followed by the dark cloud of doubt and suspicion. After all, he only disputed the handling of the test in his defense, not the positive test itself.

So, despite MLB kicking and screaming (and ultimately firing the arbitrator), Braun was allowed to move on with his baseball career.

After an offseason where the Brewers lost their other big slugger (Prince Fielder), Milwaukee has not enjoyed the same level of success as they did in 2012. However, Braun's season has shown no signs of the struggles he went through during the winter.

Entering play on Thursday night, Ryan Braun was making a run for a second consecutive MVP award, challenging the Pirates's Andrew McCutchen for the honor. Comparing the two, it is easy to see Braun could easily have an argument in the case:

Batting Average

Braun - .311 (6th in National League)

McCutchen - .344 (2nd in National League)

Runs Scored

Braun - 88 (2nd in NL)

McCutchen - 90 (1st in NL)

Hits

Braun - 147 (8th in NL)

McCutchen - 165 (1st in NL)

Home Runs

Braun - 36 (1st in NL)

McCutchen - 24 (8th in NL)

RBI

Braun - 92 (1st in NL)

McCutchen - 79 (12th in NL)

OPS

Braun - .999 (1st in NL)

McCutchen - .975 (2nd in NL)

WAR

Braun - 6.6 (1st in NL)

McCutchen - 6.2 (2nd in NL)

Needless to say, technicality or not, Braun has played under intense scrutiny in 2012. Despite that, he has shown little to no affect by the added pressure of proving his performance wasn't aided by PEDs. In fact, his batting average and stolen bases are the two categories that have shown any ill affects and both are still more than respectable.

While I will stop short of saying that his performance has fully vindicated him in his claims of innocence, it is interesting to note that Braun has performed this well knowing that he would likely be tested more often and that the media and fans, still skeptical of his arbitration victory, would be looking for him to fail.

You have to commend a guy for carrying that weight on his shoulders and excelling under that pressure. But will it result in another MVP?

That's when you'll truly see how the BBWAA viewed his situation from a year ago.

Something happened on facebook these past two weeks...

My niece voiced her frustration over her school work...

She’s frustrated with the hoops she has to jump through...

“...I hate school...”

A little more than a year after high school graduation...

She was ready to pack it in...

“Don’t quit,” I encouraged her...

Those two simple words...

“Don’t quit...”

Sometimes we need to hear that...

Especially when we haven’t accomplished what we’ve set out to accomplish...

Then again Wednesday night...

I find myself reading about my student’s frustration with school...

Just two years into college...

And if you knew what I know about him...

You would be amazed...

He's an inspiration to me...

“Don’t quit,” I said...

He won’t...

He’s not like that...

And he assured me he wouldn’t...

Just frustrated...

I understand...

Having gone back to college at age fifty for my credential...

But this is not about me...

It’s about them...

And every other young person who’s discouraged...

So I got to thinking...

Then I got to writing on my facebook page...

Young people. Don't quit. Don't give up your dream. There may come a time when you have to make some adjustments or go to Plan B. That's the way it is in life. Get as many experiences as you can because you never know what will happen thirty or forty years down the road. Doors may open that you never dreamed would open. Be vigilant and keep going forward. You won't regret it. Yes, you may find yourself temporarily doing things that seem irrelevant. Do them anyways and eventually you will be thankful you didn't stop... and that you didn't quit... when it was so easy to do so...

I was the biggest goof off in my eighth grade Science class...

Forty years later I found myself teaching Science...

You just never know...

Make your decisions based on the future...

Not on the here and now...

Quitting is all about the here and now...

I guess that’s what I love about athletes...

In most cases, they don’t have the quitter’s mentality...

Injuries won’t keep them down...

Granted...

Sometimes they don’t quit when they should...

But it’s understandable...

Because it runs contrary to their nature...

I quit my first job in a huff...

I regretted it...

As a matter of fact...

Every time I quit...

I regretted it...

There’s a difference between quitting and resigning...

Sometimes it’s time to move on...

That decision is made with the head based on facts...

The action of quitting is made with pure emotion...

Because we just don’t feel like it any more...

Keep your feelings out of it...

Feelings can change in a flash...

Finish the job...

You won’t regret it...

Don’t turn to the left or the right...

Keep going...

You won’t regret it...

Don’t give up...

Don’t quit...

dvt

http://www.mlmwahmblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/network-marketing-tip-dont-quit.jpg

Once again and the Boston Red Sox season got a little sweeter over the weekend and young Ben Cherington who has worked for the Red Sox before Theo Epstein.  Ben made his mark as an aggressive general manager this week. He literally cleaned up Theo’s salary mess while cleaning out the Red Sox biggest malcontent Josh Beckett.

I don’t have to go into details about the deal we all read about it we all know who went where and in some eyes the Red Sox got some practice balls and a batting tee for three all-stars and Nick Punto. Essentially Cherrington got the Dodgers to take a boat load of salary which is the most amazing part of it.

The other thing the deal did was gave the Red Sox a new beginning far sooner than they would have had otherwise. This give them some spending cash to sign someone out of a poor free agent class with the exception of Josh Hamilton. I’m not sure if the Red Sox go after another big name free agent in the immediate future,

Jerry Jones kicked some Cowboy ass this week as well ok not the Cowboys a Cowboy. Old Jerry has put Dez on a short lease. He has handlers for everything now to keep Dez out of trouble. I can’t blame Jerry for trying to keep a talented kid out of trouble but at some point old Dez needs to take responsibility for his actions and if there is consequences maybe he will learn from them.

Hey how about those Jets unable to score a touchdown in the preseason . No Sanchise , no prayer  from Tebow no endzone. The Jets  haven’t scored a touchdown in three preseason games. Now before we get all giddy and call for Rex;s head, no mater what the NFL sells them as games preseason games , it’s practice don’t put to much stock into it,

Saturday Night I got to see the Portland Sea Dogs take on the Binghamton Mets. It’s always an adventure at Hadlock Field in Portland Maine was up for the week in yhe great North Country. Anyway there was this lady who had to be eighty at the game, She would scream out “ GO Sea Dogs”. The Sea dogs are losing 5-1 and some guy sitting a few rows behind us with Yankee Hat on would try to get the old lady going by yelling strikeout.  In the bottom of the 9yh theres a close play at first and the Sea Dog batter is called safe. The old girl stands up and starts making a safe sign than she yells” we don’t give and it ain’t over to the fat lady sings and I’m not about to sing”. The funny is part is she is sitting with her husband who just looked like a typical Maine farmer type right down to the mesh back hat sitting on top of his head so you could see the crown. He didn’t say boo the whole time he just smiled at the old girl and went back to keeping score. Only at a minor league game you get sucj entertainment.

I also couldn’t believe they sell Yankee hats at the Sea Dogs, which pro shop is 99% Red Sox and Sea Dog stuff. After allk the Sea dogs are the Red Soz AA affiliate. I asked the lady was funny she said that they get a lot of New Yorkers on vacation going to Sea Dog games then she said she hasn’t sold one in a week,

I was out for a run this morning (it’s football season even officials need to try to stay in some sort of shape ) I was watching the dogs play on the beach and I’m thinking they have a great life they eat, sleep and get all excited to chase a ballk and even go for a swim no worries. What a life.

An American Icon passes away, a video of inside the Boston Subway, NCAA and more in this weeks edition of…

Man I'm tired….

A true American Hero passed away Saturday, August 25, 2012. Neil Armstrong the first person to walk on the moon died at the age of 82.

Armstrong commanded the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon July 20, 1969, capping the most daring of the 20th century's scientific expeditions. His first words after becoming the first person to set foot on the surface are etched in history books and the memories of those who heard them in a live broadcast.

“That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

His family asked to "Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink."

You ever notice that they say “It doesn’t matter if you win, or lose, its how you play the game” is never said by the team that wins. It is always said by a person on the losing team.

How come the NCAA does not punish the coach, or the player involved, for all teams not just a few teams, when there is illegal recruiting involved? It doesn’t seem right to punish the school.

Come to think of it, How powerful is the NCAA? They can create new criteria for deciding the number one team in the country, they can punish schools for non-football activities, they can punish schools for not meeting graduation guidelines for athletes, they can punish schools for recruiting violations, BUT, they can’t stop schools from transferring to another conference???

All schools who want to transfer to another conference should be approved by the NCAA.

Cabrera and Colon are just another two you have been caught taking a banned substance. The minor leagues of full of players who have been suspended this year. Which means that MLB has a successful drug policy in place.

I am one of the few who think that all qualified baseball players who are eligible for the Hall of Fame should be allowed in regardless of PED’s, Steroids, etc.

Bob Nightengale wrote:

“Hey, it’s OK to admit racists, criminals, drunks and recreational drug abusers, but let’s not tarnish the sacredness of the Hall of Fame.”

“The Baseball Hall of Fame, after all, is a historical museum and not a cathedral.”

My Fantasy Football League was this past Sunday. I had the 5^th pick and it was a snake draft. You had to take 2 Quarterbacks, 4 Running Backs, 5 Wide Receivers or Tight Ends, 2 Kickers and 2 Defenses. This is my roster in the order in which I selected them:

5. Calvin Johnson WR DET

16. Michael Turner RB ATL

25. Wes Welker WR NE

36. Roddy White WR ATL

45. Matt Ryan QB ATL

56. Stevan Ridley RB NE

65. Justin Blackmon WR JAX

76. Stephen Gostkowski K NE

85. Giants Defense

96. Jermichael Finley TE GB

105. Andrew Luck QB IND

116. David Wilson RB NYG

125. Jason Hanson K DET

136. Cincinnati Defense

145. Mark Ingram RB NO

Interesting trends in the draft. Eli (4^th round) went before his brother Peyton (9^th round). With all the receivers the 49ers have, Alex Smith was taken in the last round. No one from the Cleveland Browns was taken. Mendenhall went in the last round.

Following players still available:

Quarterbacks

Josh Freeman

Carson Palmer

Any Jet Quarterback

Running Backs

Beanie Wells

DeAngelo Williams

Peyton Hillis

Wide Receivers

Santonio Holmes

Doug Baldwin

College football finally begins. It is refreshing to know that at this point all teams are equal, with the same won-lost record and all have the notion they will be the national champ at the end of the year. But only a few have a real chance. I wish that one team that is not ranked, sneak in and bust the party for the SEC, Big12, etc.

My team, Syracuse Orange has a rough non-conference schedule and may not finish at .500. But I will keep a stiff upper lip and support them no matter what.

This happened in the Boston last Wednesday (August 22^nd):

Til next time

Scott

The Major League Baseball waiver process is meant to be confidential. However, like everything else in the information age, nothing is truly confidential and naturally everyone knows about it.

All you need is a "major-league source".

So it was of little surprise that the entire state of Minnesota went into a panic when reports started to come out that golden boy Joe Mauer had been placed on, and later cleared, revocable waivers. Fans are worried that after clearing waivers, the often fiscally-minded Twins would now have the ability to trade the man making an average of $23.5 million over the course of the next six seasons. By clearing waivers, the Twins can now shop him to any team out there, rather than simply a single team who won a waiver claim.

But Minnesota fans can relax a bit. While the Twins are right to feel out the market and see what is out there in terms of offers, they are unlikely to find a similar deal to the one made between the Dodgers and Red Sox a week earlier. That is not to say that it isn't out of the realm of possibility, but there are several factors that would likely prevent any such deal from involving Mauer:

1.) While Mauer is a tremendous hitter,especially for a catcher, his power has never developed to the point where his contract makes sense. That is especially true when you consider that his current career path, despite his fielding abilities at the catcher position, are taking him out from behind the plate. His body just won't continue to hold up as a catcher and he is better served to play at first or designated hitter. That is where the lack of power hurts him.

2.) Mauer has spent his entire life in Minnesota, which is part of the reason the Twins chose to splurge when extending his contract. He is marketable there as the hometown kid done good. You take him out of Minnesota, and he's just another quiet leader, but not a star.

3.) Mauer has a full no-trade clause in his contract, meaning that he can veto any trade to any team. With a limited amount of teams who will be able to not only take on his contract, but also trade the pieces to entice the Twins to make the deal, it is even more prohibitive knowing that the player could not only veto your trade, but also stifle any chances of moving him in the future. Want a reason why this is a big issue, see item #2.

None of these items has stopped the media from openly speculating how the suddenly salary free Boston Red Sox could make a run at Mauer, and make him the new face of the franchise. While it is a test of Ben Cherington's resolve to not handcuff the team again, it is made easier by knowing that Mauer doesn't truly fit with Boston either.

Case in point, the Red Sox just traded a high-priced first baseman who was not contributing the power numbers expected of him in Fenway Park. When you slot another, similar player into the position, at roughly the same salary, it just does not make any further sense. Oh, and the Red Sox do not do full no-trade clauses.

Maybe the suddenly free spending Dodgers could make a run. But then again, Mauer's salary, on top of Crawford's and Gonzalez's, plus the inability to slot him into any other position other than catcher kills that thought. Oh, and did I mention they traded away a good portion of their farm system to Boston?

No, in all likelihood, Minnesota is just doing its due diligence and feeling out the market. The Twins are unlikely to pull the trigger on any deal involving Mauer for the time being. They may re-enter conversations during the winter, but even that seems like a long-shot.

Nope, Joe Mauer will likely be a Twin for a very long time. But at least he's a fuzzy pair of handcuffs.