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.

Bud Selig may not have the nerve that Roger Goodell has, but he certainly has something that the NFL sheriff does not, and that is a working relationship with the Players’ Union. Major League Baseball has enjoyed a fine run of labor peace and has parlayed that into the ability to work together to get things done quickly and for the betterment of the game.

Such has been the case with the way the two have interacted in regards to steroid testing and the appropriate punishments. Sure, it can easily be pointed out that the two parties only truly came together once pushed by Congress to do so, but since that time, they have acted swiftly to make sure that everything is in order to keep the game fair.

On Thursday, MLB and the MLB Player’s Association  announce they had reached agreement on some revisions to the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The following are the changes and my personal reactions to each piece.

• Adding HGH blood testing during spring training, during the off-season, and for reasonable cause. The parties also agreed to study expanding HGH testing to the regular season.

Frag’s Take – HGH was the hot button issue during these meetings and the two sides came to an agreement, and I like that they wrote it into the program. I am curious as to what would justify “reasonable cause”, as it is somewhat vague and I can’t see suspicion of use falling under that term, but it at least gives the league and option during the regular season. While this is a step forward, it still feels like they are testing the waters and seeing how rampant usage is before they expand more into the regular season.

• Increasing the number of random tests during the season and off-season.

Frag’s Take – I love the fact that they want to test more often and on surprise visit both during the regular season and off-season. I’ve always thought that the off-season testing was the key here, as to me, this is the opportune time for a player to lapse and “ramp up”.

• Modifying the collection procedures of the program to clarify when collectors must deliver specimens to the courier, and how specimens should be stored prior to delivery to the courier.

Frag’s Take – This is important in the wake of the Ryan Braun fiasco. Having a clear set of steps, including approved methods of deviation are key to both protecting the player and also dotting all the “I’s” along the way.

• Modifying the appeals procedures of the program, including the circumstances under which procedural deviations will result in the invalidation of test results.

Frag’s Take – Hello Mr. Braun, can you say loophole closed? Nothing draws the commissioner’s ire more than having his judgment overturned and Braun’s winning appeal did just that. The independent arbitrator was fired and the commissioner’s office was pissed. You cannot tell me that this was not the first item discussed during these meetings.

• Creating an expert panel of recognized ADD/ADHD experts to advise the Independent Program Administrator on therapeutic use exemption applications for ADD/ADHD medications, and another expert panel of medical professionals to advise the IPA on TUE applications for other medications.

Frag’s Take – Another loophole closed. One excuse player’s were using when positive tests arose is that ADHD meds were responsible for the positive test. This panel will be responsible for not only making sure that the player fits the needs for said medications, but that said medications in turn would trigger a false positive.

• Strengthening the protocols for addressing use by players of drugs of abuse.

Frag’s Take – Substances of abuse have always been an open book type of situation for the commissioner’s office and as such, became a sticky situation with dealing with the players’ union once a suspension was levied. By defining what the commissioner can and cannot do, it opens the doors for a cleaner way of dealing with players once a punishment is in order, putting everyone on notice that these items won’t be tolerated either.

• Permitting public announcement of the specific substance that resulted in a player’s positive test result or discipline.

Frag’s Take – Finally! Sure, it truly has no bearing on the suspension itself whether the player got busted with human growth hormone, testosterone, etc. However, if you are going to dance with the devil, and then you should have to wear the scarlet letter to go along with it. The players put themselves into the situation and should wear that badge of shame.

• Making players who are suspended for violating the Program prior to the All-Star Break (including during spring training and the preceding off-season) ineligible to be elected or selected for the All-Star Game.

Frag’s Take – This does not really have any bearing the on the players themselves as much as it does their wallets. Most players have bonuses written into their contracts that rewards them for selection to the All-Star Game, so by taking it away from them, the penalty stiffens when combined with the loss of paycheck from the 50-game suspension. Then there is the added bonus that the money gets paid out to a clean player that truly deserves the honor.

• Establishing a protocol for evaluating and treating players who may suffer from an alcohol use problem or who have engaged in off-field violent conduct.

Frag’s Take – Now in all honesty, this is the one piece I was happiest to see. Baseball has had some major issues over the last decade or so (or perhaps longer and it just hasn’t been in our faces like it is now) in regards to players and driving under the influence. Now, not all of these players have an issue, but fostering an environment where they can freely get help would be beneficial in curbing the issue. I’d like to see baseball set up a peer network with some of the past players that are willing to help a young guy also.

So what do you think of the new additions and changes to the MLB steroid policies? Do they strengthen the program? Are they enough?

Please forgive me, Ryan...

At the time I did it...

I didn’t realize it would cause such a stir...

But...

It has...

And I know you are embarrassed by it...

My decision was hasty...

I should have thought it over...

But...

I did what I did...

I know ...

Your mom agreed with me at the time...

And I’m sure...

She’s sari, too...

But...

I will take the blame...

It’s all my fault...

The buck stops here...

I know it’s not easy for you...

Being called...

A fine “specimen” of a young man...

Followed by...

Laughter...

Or hearing...

“Urine good company, Ryan...”

Followed by...

More laughter...

And then asking you...

“If your middle initial is...”

“Peeeeeeeeeeeeee???”

Laughing hysterically now...

Yes, Ryan...

Being named Ryan isn’t easy these days...

You meet people and introduce yourself...

“Brian?” They ask...

“No, Ryan,” you reply...

“Oh, Rrrrrrrrrrrryan”...

“Like Ryan Braun, right???”

Ouch...

Sorry, Ryan...

I know...

Probably should have picked a different name...

Like George...

Or Henry...

Or Barack...

Any name but...

Ryan...

It’s too bad...

'Cus people will judge you by your name...

And think you break the rules, too...

Getting off with a...

"Technicality..."

Just a “sample” of what you’ll hear...

Right, Ryan???

I’m sorry...

So sorry...

Please accept my...

Apology...

And just remember this, son...

It’s always better...

Always better...

To take your lumps...

Admit you’re wrong...

When you're wrong...

And say you are sorry...

Than to fight it...

Twist it...

And win the battle...

But lose the war...

Even if you get off on a technicality, Ryan...

Yes, Ryan Braun...

Technically you won...

But in reality...

And especially with the fans...

You lost...

dvt

http://www.zwani.com/graphics/sorry/images/344.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEMjeYPfqSg

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_355/123234515876eQyI.jpg

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001570/has0063lbs.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEMjeYPfqSg

Pujols is all right by me?? Braun beat his rap, yeah!! NBA All-star game all this, and more, in this edition of

It looks like the Los Angeles Angels have stopped the “El Hombre” campaign being used for Albert Pujols.

Out of respect for Ted Williams, Albert never wanted to be referred to as “The Man” in any language.

It's an emotional issue for Pujols because he became acquainted with 90-year-old Musial in his 11 seasons playing in St. Louis. In 2010, Pujols asked St. Louis media and fans not to call him "El Hombre."

"I still have the same respect for him as I had, not just for what he's done in baseball but for what he did for his country," Pujols said. "That's something you have to appreciate."

Musial served in the Navy during World War II and has worked extensively with the United Service Organizations, as well as several other groups and charities. Last year, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Okay so Ryan Braun’s suspension was overturned. No big deal. I guess the arbitrator, Shyam Das, saw something that most people have overlooked. Maybe, just maybe Dino Laurenzi Jr, didn’t follow the proper procedures. I believe he took the sample the proper way, he may have even stored them the proper way. But according to the rules, you have to send it out immediately via Fedex. No that is where the problem is. Laurenzi says there was none open at the time where as Braun’s attorney claims there were 5 FedEx locations within five miles open until at least 9 PM and one in which is open 24 hours. That’s is how Braun won his case. In fact more ballplayers could end up winning their cases because Dino has mentioned this isn’t the first time he has taken samples home until the next day.

Baseball is considering suing to reverse the decision. Wow. Shyam Das is highly respected by MLB for how he handles his arbitration cases, I guess until he actually went against MLB.

It was easy to get off. Braun was lucky while others were not. What got him off was proper procedures were not followed as per the collective bargaining agreement. All the others were hear-say, I didn't take it versus the samples that said they did. If the proper procedures were used on Braun he would have had to do his 50 game suspension.

In the I didn’t know this was a rule folder…..

During the local broadcast of the Florida/Georgia basketball game, the announcer mentioned a rule that I would imagine a lot of people don’t know about. This rule concerns team warm-ups before the game. It states that no dunking during pre-game warm-ups. If a team does so, a technical is called, and will be enforced before tip-off.

It is in Section 6. Class B technical infractions, Article 1e, A team member dunking or attempting to dunk a deal ball before or during the game, or during any intermission.

For some reason I did not enjoy the NBA all-star game. For some reason, call me old school, but were was the defense. How about making an attempt to play like it meant something.

I also didn’t like the fact that Wade fouled Kobe in the face. Busted his nose and now he has a concussion. 

Just purchase 6 tickets to see the United States Soccer Team play Scotland in a World Cup friendly on May 26^th at 8pm. I am excited as this will be my first World Cup event.

Til Next Time

Scott

The following is an excerpt from the statement released by Dino Laurenzi, Jr. Mr. Laurenzi was the MLB appointed test collector that administered, transported, and shipped Ryan Braun's drug test.

As a baseball fan, and someone who, in my opinion, has kept a fairly open mind to the matter, I find the recent spectacle that Ryan Braun put on at Spring Training the other day a bit disheartening. Yes, had he not defended himself, we would have condemned him further. Still, he stood up on the podium and tossed around rhetoric that only denied any wrongdoing on his part, but also insinuated that the handling of the sample was suspicious.

After reading the following statement, it would seem illogical to me that the samples were tampered with in any fashion, as they would have been red-flagged at the testing facility immediately. 

But you can form your own opinions after reading the statement below.

I am a 1983 graduate of the University of Wisconsin and have received Master Degrees from the University of North Carolina and Loyola University of Chicago. My full-time job is the director of rehabilitation services at a health care facility. In the past, I have worked as a teacher and an athletic trainer, including performing volunteer work with Olympic athletes. I am a member of both the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association.

I have been a drug collector for Comprehensive Drug Testing since 2005 and have been performing collections for Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program since that time. I have performed over 600 collections for MLB and also have performed collections for other professional sports leagues. I have performed postseason collections for MLB in four separate seasons involving five different clubs.

On October 1, 2011, I collected samples from Mr. Braun and two other players. The CDT collection team for that day, in addition to me, included three chaperones and a CDT coordinator. One of the chaperones was my son, Anthony. Chaperones do not have any role in the actual collection process, but rather escort the player to the collection area.

I followed the same procedure in collecting Mr. Braun’s sample as I did in the hundreds of other samples I collected under the Program. I sealed the bottles containing Mr. Braun’s A and B samples with specially-numbered, tamper-resistant seals, and Mr. Braun signed a form certifying, among other things, that the specimens were capped and sealed in his presence and that the specimen identification numbers on the top of the form matched those on the seals. I placed the two bottles containing Mr. Braun’s samples in a plastic bag and sealed the bag. I then placed the sealed bag in a standard cardboard Specimen Box which I also sealed with a tamper-resistant, correspondingly-numbered seal placed over the box opening. I then placed Mr. Braun’s Specimen Box, and the Specimen Boxes containing the samples of the two other players, in a Federal Express Clinic Pack. None of the sealed Specimen Boxes identified the players. I completed my collections at Miller Park at approximately 5:00 p.m.

Given the lateness of the hour that I completed my collections, there was no FedEx office located within 50 miles of Miller Park that would ship packages that day or Sunday. Therefore, the earliest that the specimens could be shipped was Monday, October 3. In that circumstance, CDT has instructed collectors since I began in 2005 that they should safeguard the samples in their homes until FedEx is able to immediately ship the sample to the laboratory, rather than having the samples sit for one day or more at a local FedEx office. The protocol has been in place since 2005 when I started with CDT and there have been other occasions when I have had to store samples in my home for at least one day, all without incident.

The FedEx Clinic Pack containing Mr. Braun’s samples never left my custody. Consistent with CDT’s instructions, I brought the FedEx Clinic Pack containing the samples to my home. Immediately upon arriving home, I placed the FedEx Clinic Pack in a Rubbermaid container in my office which is located in my basement. My basement office is sufficiently cool to store urine samples. No one other than my wife was in my home during the period in which the samples were stored. The sealed Specimen Boxes were not removed from the FedEx Clinic Pack during the entire period in which they were in my home. On Monday, October 3, I delivered the FedEx Clinic Pack containing Mr. Braun’s Specimen Box to a FedEx office for delivery to the laboratory on Tuesday, October 4. At no point did I tamper in any way with the samples. It is my understanding that the samples were received at the laboratory with all tamper-resistant seals intact.

This situation has caused great emotional distress for me and my family. I have worked hard my entire life, have performed my job duties with integrity and professionalism, and have done so with respect to this matter and all other collections in which I have participated.

Neither I nor members of my family will make any further public comments on this matter. I request that members of the media, and baseball fans, whatever their views on this matter, respect our privacy. And I would like to sincerely thank my family and friends for their overwhelming support through this difficult time. Any future inquiries should be directed to my attorney Boyd Johnson of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.