OT- Braun First Player Suspended in Biogenesis Scandal
only came up in one document, unless they found more compelling evidence that it would be pretty ridiculous to suspend him since that doesn't qualify as substantial evidence. The word of a slimeball like Bosch is not significant evidence to me either, assuming he gave MLB a list of names.
It does however look like the evidence was more overwhelming against Braun, and he simply decided that was no point in appealing given the fact that his team is in last place. However, guys like Peralta with less evidence against them would definatly appeal and I would be surprised if the players union didn't fight on the behalf on the guys with less evidence against them.
But don't worry guys. Now that we've [started testing for steroids; spring training screenings; broken up BALCO; increased suspension length], we've FINALLY ended steroid use in baseball. Pinky Swear.
I have this funny feeling that, 30 years from now, we're going to see Jim Thome as the best hitter of the generation. Albert Pujols, too, as long as he stays publicly clean.
be squarely in the discussion, assuming he stays publicly clean as well and continues to be highly productive. I would be suprised if by the time both Pujols and Cabrera retire they aren't considered the best hitters of this generation.
Also I know you probally meant it jokingly, but that is no chance in hell Jim Thome would be considered the best hitter of the generation, there are several clean guys who are or were better overall hitters than Jim. Cabrera and Pujols when he was in St.Louis are a notch or two above Thome.
Regarding Miggy:
I absolutely refuse to accuse a guy with a clean record of any sort of PED use. However, I don't have the same kind of rock-solid confidence that he isn't/wasn't juicing as I do about, say, "My Wife Is My Rock" Jim Thome. I think that's why Thome seems so outstanding to me. Thome, unlike Miggy and even Pujols, played for 3/4 of his career in an environment where there was absolutely no deterrant at all to steroid use.
Thinking about it further, I'm not even sure that Thome belongs in the same era as the best hitters of the mid-late 2000s. By time Pujols and Miggy were in their mid-20s, Thome was past his prime. That being said, Cabrera and Pujols are both excellent hitters for average, which does set them apart from hitters like Jimmy.
does not touch Miggy's and Pujols' numbers in their prime. Thome is a good hitter but not on the level of Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera.
anybody though. Thome always seemed like a honest and stand-up type of guy to me, and certainly not the type of guy you would suspect of steriod use, but given the era he played in you can't be 100% sure about him either.
I also can't be 100% sure Brady Hoke isn't using his position as a Michigan head coach to run an elaborate money-laundering scheme, but let's be serious here.
The day Jim Thome gets a not-laughable steroids accusation against him is the day I buy everyone in this thread a steak dinner. By the way, StraightDave still owes us all.
clearly more improbable than the other. My point is there is no more reason to suspect Cabrera or Pujols in comparison to Thome, given the fact that there is no evidence to suspect any of them.
Griffey Jr or Frank Thomas probably has a better case than Thome.
Brewer fan here. Born and raised. We haven't had a lot to cheer about as far as baseball goes in this city. 26 year playoff drought between 1982 and 2008. Then going to NLCS in 2011. These are moments that I'll never forget. That 2011 season may be the furthest i ever see them advance in my lifetime (i was 3 when they went to the world series in 82 so i don't really count that).
Now as I reminisce on all that, I'm left to wonder... would I trade that success for a clean, honest and respectable face of our franchise? That is a question I am not yet capable of answering. I want to say I'm a good enough person with sound enough morales to say unequivocaly "yes" in answer to that question, but I'm not sure I can. This makes me feel "dirty" to even admit as much.
I paid over $150 for his jersey his rookie year. I proclaimed to all that would listen when he was brought up from the minors that he would be the greatest Brewer since Yount (in this town, that means a lot). No, I won't be burning that jersey (many people on local talk radio have made claims of burning jerseys and busting bobble heads). But I don't know that I'll ever be wearing it again either. It will hang right where it has hung since first hearing of all this 2 years ago, collecting dust, being "hidden" as much out of embarrassment as pure disappointment. My 15 month old son has a Ryan Braun onesie. My 11 year old daughter has a Braun shirt-jersey. My wife is pregnant with our 3rd, and if Braun plays out the remainder of his contract in Milwaukee even he/she will be old enough to remember having seen dad cheer for "Brauny". I just don't know what I think about that.
When Ryan Braun is announced on opening day in 2014, I will not boo, and I will not clap. I certainly will not be donning his jersey as I have on all past opening days (prior to all allegations). I will fervently cheer each of his 8 teammates when they are announced. When he hits a double off the wall to score the winning run, I will cheer like mad, as I always have. And when the cheers grow fainter and die down after the play, I will have mixed emotions no doubt. No longer a Ryan Braun fan, but still a loyal fan of my team.
Many questions remain and I'm not sure how I'll end up truly handling this when it's all said and done. I know this isn't a board filled with brewer fans so let me apologize for this diatribe. If nothing else it has helped me by getting it off my chest.
I will never expect sports figures to be heroes or role models for my children. It's my job to be that. I only know that now after having been let down by heroes and role models that i've had throughout my upbringing that aren't my mother, grandfather, or the men and women who lead and serve this country.
Ryan Braun is no hero, and he is no role model. He is an entertainer, as are all professional sports stars. I only wish I could've understood this sooner. Maybe that's what makes me love college sports so much.