Ryan Braun revisited

What a difference a year makes. Or maybe not. Baseball fans know that Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers was the National League's MVP last year. Then the bottom fell out -- sort of.

Long after the 2011 season was over, Braun was informed that a urine sample he had provided weeks before had come back positive for elevated levels of testosterone. It was not only elevated, but "insanely high", according to a source at the time. More than twice as high as any other sample previously tested -- EVER. (It should be noted that no steroids of any kind were detected -- just testosterone). Red flags went up and Braun was looking at a 50 game suspension in line with Major League Baseball's new "get tough" drug policy.

While Braun professed his innocence, saying some sort of mistake must have occurred, the court of public opinion quickly turned on him. "Fine him. Suspend him. Ban him. Throw da bum out", they howled.  It seems nowadays that as soon as a person is accused of something -- everybody turns into a prosecutor. He/she got accused of it -- must be guilty. Nevermind the only things they base their conclusions on might not have any basis in fact whatsover. All that matters to the hordes of knee-jerkers is the gospel of the boob tube, the internet, newspaper columnists, and maybe what Bubba at the bar thinks about it. Most times they collectively don't know diddly either, but are merely trying to draw attention to themselves. In their typical rush to judgement, getting it right doesn't matter as much as ratings, hits, readers, and street cred. It happens every time there's a "juicy" story. Even if they totally botch it, another "nugget" will come along soon enough, and everybody will forget. They don't care. No skin off their noses.

But in the meantime, they've stirred up the colossal hornet's nest of idiots. "Warm up the tar and start plucking the chickens. We want justice -- dammit." No doubt the real prosecutors love it, but that doesn't make it right. In fact, it's scary. If you were wrongly accused of something, would you want to be facing the same firestorm? I don't think so. Arm-chair quarterbacking is easy. It takes on a whole new meaning when you're the one on the field getting hammered.

As the Braun saga raged on, it became all about how his urine sample was handled, chain of custody, whether it could have been tampered with, etc. In the end, whether or not Braun got suspended for 50 games, and his reputation even further tarnished, came down to three people. A representative from Major League Baseball (the prosecutor), a representative from the Players' Union (the defense attorney), and an impartial arbiter (the judge).  After all the hoopla, it was basically reduced to a bench trial. No jury. The judge decides.

She did, in favor of Braun. Howls of protest went up. "He's dirty and got off on a technicality", they cried. "Just wait and see what happens to him next year when he has to play clean", they gloated.

Well, let's see. In 2011, Braun played in 150 games. 187 hits, 33 home runs, 111 RBIs, a batting average of .332 and a slugging % of .597.

So far this year, he's played in about 100 games, is batting .316, 119 hits, 29 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a slugging % of .609. Just like last year, Braun's amongst the leaders in the NL in most offensive statistical categories. And does anyone doubt he's being tested often, and for every substance imaginable?

In Braun's roughly 5 and a half years in the big leagues, he's hit over 30 home runs every year but one (2010, when he had a measly 25), only once had less than 100 RBIs (his rookie season when he got a mere 97), and has a career batting average of .312.

I see a pattern here. The dude can flat-out hit.

But still, in the minds of many, that supposedly testosterone laden urine sample will always be a thorn of contention.

Thing is, in their misguided blood-lust to tie Ryan Braun to the whipping post last year, the hypsters conveniently overlooked one small detail.

Turns out, when Braun's back-up, or "B sample" was finally tested -- it came back totally normal. Clean as a whistle.

Funny how that little tidbit was never sensationalized like the original accusation was. Of course, by then, the hounds were on the scent of Roger Clemens, or whatever other quarry they could prey upon. Hounds are good at what they do -- but they have short memories -- and no consciences. Hounds don't apologize when they get carried away and maim an innocent animal. A couple minutes later, they're ready for another hunt.

Ryan Braun is certainly in the hunt for another MVP award this year. If he keeps hitting like he always has, it's a very real possibility.

I hope he gets it. After the meat grinder he's been through, and so many wanting to see him fall flat on his face this year -- it would truly be justice served the way it should be. Cold.