Braun tests positive for PEDs.

[Bellsprout]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I don't disagree, but it's not unreasonable for people to cast doubt on his innocence given the way the whole thing went down. You yourself said it, maybe he did take something.

I get that. Frankly I don't think we know anything more about this today than we did a week ago, other than that he won't be suspended.

It's still completely up in the air whether or not he took something, and I'm not sure we'll ever know the full story. Braun claims in his statement today that he's an "open book", and I suppose we'll see just how open his book is tomorrow.

[bkrich83]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I get that. Frankly I don't think we know anything more about this today than we did a week ago, other than that he won't be suspended.

It's still completely up in the air whether or not he took something, and I'm not sure we'll ever know the full story. Braun claims in his statement today that he's an "open book", and I suppose we'll see just how open his book is tomorrow.

Agreed. I am not going to pretend to know what happened, or even speculate on it, because I like everyone else here, have not one clue as to what went down.

For my money, him doing this, just doesn't add up. There's really nothing that would lead me to believe he went down this path. But I'd be lying if I said I knew one way or the other with any confidence.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

@roadman

Definitely not trying to say he is guilty, at all, and in the media today, outside of the WSJ, the NYT might be one of the last reputable sources left, and when the anti-doping agency is commenting, which these tests are their specialty, I'm definitely going to take it into consideration.

Especially when there are a lot of holes in the story that still don't explain where the synthetic testosterone came from. Like I said, time will definitely tell. For his sake, and baseball, I hope he hits .340 and drops 40 bombs next year getting tested everyday lol

Agreed, unless Braun comes out tomorrow and quiets the critics, there are still unanswered questions and reasonable doubt.

Should be interesting how he handles tomorrow.

[1Rose]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

One of the problems is, from what I understand, the testing isn't really the exact science the doping agencies, sports leagues would have you believe.

My understanding was there was some chain of custody issues. Which by default puts the results in to question. There's no way around that. If there are questions on the validity of the tests, then the questions about where the synthetic testosterone came from automatically become moot.

Which is totally true. I guess I was just trying to say that I would rather hear about what is acceptable protocol for testing urine from the people who do it for a living, rather than the people that just pay for the tests determining whether it was right or wrong. You know?

Before this situation occured, I bet you there was never questions on the validity of negative tests when the transporting was handled this way. I definitely see what you are saying though.

[bkrich83]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Before this situation occured, I bet you there was never questions on the validity of negative tests when the transporting was handled this way. I definitely see what you are saying though.

I am sure you're right, but negative tests are never appealed.

[1Rose]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Yea, of course. So again, we will never really get a clear answer. Too bad. Really wish he would have been exonerated for some other reason, so this light grayish cloud wouldn't be floating over him all season.

I can speculate that the pressure is amplified x100 now to perform, because if he doesn't, the cloud of doubt about him will continue to swell.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

@roadman

Definitely not trying to say he is guilty, at all, and in the media today, outside of the WSJ, the NYT might be one of the last reputable sources left, and when the anti-doping agency is commenting, which these tests are their specialty, I'm definitely going to take it into consideration.

Especially when there are a lot of holes in the story that still don't explain where the synthetic testosterone came from. Like I said, time will definitely tell. For his sake, and baseball, I hope he hits .340 and drops 40 bombs next year getting tested everyday lol


I really like this quote, because I think we all understand the appeal process has been proven to be pretty impossible, so kudos to his team for finding a way to exonerate Braun, and it definitely didn't prove that he did it. They were a desperate party, going to desperate measures to save face, and I can respect that. I wouldn't want to be found guilty for something like this either, but because of the way he got out of it, that doubt will continue to remain.

Rose, one of the reasons why I said something about the Times, several years ago, the NYT was considered borderline National Enquirer ish and that same article you quoted brought in the conspiracy theory of Selig being a former owner of the Brewers.

I know that was going to come up at some point and I should have guessed which media outlet would start that.

Rose, stay tuned for tomorrow. He reports tomorrow and I'm sure he will be hounded with questions. I don't know how revealing he will be.

[1Rose]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I see where you're coming from with Times thing. I can see in parts there they were doing too much speculating and not enough reporting. Unfortunately, there aren't many media outlets left that haven't turned into full blown editorials.

Im definitely going to watch tomorrow, because I'm interested to see how he handles the questions and his demeanor. I really hope he opens up as much as he says he's going to.

[SidVish]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I wonder if the reaction would be better for Braun if he was just to accept his 50 game suspension rather than getting his suspension overturned on a technicality.

I'm sure he's going to say that he's 100% innocent but we still only have a failed drug test to go on. That part was not overturned. It was just the time involved in shipping the specimen that is in question.

This whole thing just stinks and is very strange.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I get that Braun got off on a technicality, and that's... well that's probably not right (not that I'm not happy), but that doesn't mean for sure that he knowingly took PEDs in an effort to cheat.

His lawyers are smart. They know there's no chance to win the appeal if they walk in and try to say how he took something by mistake, they must have messed up the test, whatever. That's a fruitless argument, since the drug program punishes ignorance like it would punish intent to cheat. So they found something else to argue, and it worked. He has a hell of a legal team, I guess.

Do I think he took something? Maybe. But I don't think them using the loophole to get out of the suspension proves that he did.

Sid, this is Dayman's post from #264.

It was just easier from the Braun team to attack the process angle than try to prove the result angle.

I agree a lot with Dayman's post.

As BK said, the Braun team proved that the process is flawed and leaves reasonable doubt if it was tainted.

[SidVish]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I'm just wondering if he's still going to be viewed as a cheater since nothing was done to overturn his urine sample. He may have gotten off on a technicality but I think the court of public opinion is still going to view him in a negative light. I'm not sure if that's right or wrong.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I'm just wondering if he's still going to be viewed as a cheater since nothing was done to overturn his urine sample. He may have gotten off on a technicality but I think the court of public opinion is still going to view him in a negative light. I'm not sure if that's right or wrong.

Well, I tell you what. If he continues to hit like he has the last 5 yrs, bit lower numbers without Prince around, selected to All-Star games, and has been clean like the 25 times he's tested before, I would think it would be a blip on the radar screen.

I'm sure there will be a group of people who would still have their doubts.

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

I'm Skeptical of that it was "Easier for him to attack the process angle. I think that was his only real option. But We'll never truly know. So Credit to him.

And Best of luck to him going forward.

[roadman]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Our paper is showing some Tweets from MLB players he contacted prior to the announcement. Looks like he told them he was innocent from the get-go.

Anyway, news conference 11:00 a.m central time.

I'm sure there will still be skeptics after the news conference.

[55]

Re: Braun tests positive for PEDs.

Looks like he told them he was innocent from the get-go.

As opposed to saying what? "I'm guilty but maybe I'll get off on a technicality. Fingers crossed!"