And thanks for the video link.

After watching it through, I was understanding the points raised in Braun’s own defense – that he hadn’t gained a pound or increased he speed at all and that his tests prior to these were OK.

Will admit I was looking for things to pounce on like an amateur detective or armchair psychiatrist so what I also picked up was his not using the word “didn’t” when taking anything but rather than he “believes in his heart” that no substance had “entered” his body. That’s not like Rafael Palmero pointing directly at a House Committee and saying he did not take anything so the wording he used has me suspicious. Also, he said his level was three times higher than anything ever recorded for any athlete which, according to some sources, was not true.

Also, he talked about one urine specimen while two were taken. Were both taken and handed to the individual responsible for the collection at the same time? This I do not know but would like to find out.

Of course, he mentioned how the collection procedure not adhered to could be open to question, including keeping the sample refrigerated properly and documented. That is very important no doubt, but he did not touch upon any general conditions (i.e., temperature ranges, amount of time kept refrigerated or un-refrigerated, etc.) which could cause such a mis-reading due to unintentional but neglect nevertheless by the collector.

Instead he openly stated that being undocumented, there is the possibility that his specimen was tampered with (which is different from neglect). Again, he did not mention any possible circumstances in terms of neglectful medical conditions but rather intentional tampering, implying it could be done if somebody wanted to and the one individual who could do it was the collector.

Under those circumstances, I wonder if he has set himself open to a libel case by the one who collected the specimen – not by inferring neglect due to taking his or her time getting to a FedEx drop off station, keeping it refrigerated on his or her own instead of by FedEx or the testing company, etc. – but by inferring actual intent to tamper with the results. Am sure there are many lawyers who would gladly take that case on that individual’s behalf.

That’s why I think Braun did take those drugs – his defense is based on an deviation from the usual delivery process which he did not link to anything medical or scientific regarding test results.

My question is now that he publicly called into question the integrity of the man charged with his collection is that man still employed by MLB or has he been dismissed? Also will the man accused of not doing his job properly ever make a public statement about how he handled Braun’s sample?

If you have yet to watch it here is the link.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7611600/2012-spring-training-ryan-braun-milwaukee-brewers-says-test-system-failed

Sounds no different from any other player’s denial – shallow.

Did Braun mention anything about the sample being opened before it got into the hands? Otherwise, what proof can he provide to show it was tampered. Does refrigeration cause something? Does a two day wait alter the results?

I agree with you, his response probably re-inforced one’s belief he did something wrong than anything else and that’s something that will follow him the rest of of his playing days and beyond.

Probably did not help Jeff Bagwell’s chances of going into the Hall of Fame, either – not with the controversy now clouding the game once more.

Braun is basically saying that the guy who took his sample back on Oct 1st tampered with his sample and not the other 2 players sample that he took that day. He said the guy had multiple locations to drop how the sample that day and didn’t do so and the guy delivered the sample the next day around 1:30 i believe rather than when they opened at 7:30.

He said there were things they found out about the collector that they didn’t like. What that is I don’t know or even if it has any effect on what happened now. I mean is he saying the guy has a criminal record?

He goes on to say that he asked scientists how easy would it be to tamper and they said if they are extremely motivated it would be easy. So the collector for a reason no one has yet to say was extremely motivated to tamper with his test? Why? Is he saying the guy got paid for it? Is it cause the guy is a Cubs fan?

I don’t know but I’ve seen players adamantly proclaim their innocence before like Clemens to name one and I think Braun’s people would best be served to move on from this and stop with the considering legal actions angle or risk this story blowing up in his face.

“i will not say anything out of respect for Joe D, but you’re the biggest DB that this site has”

When you see the word BUT, you always know whats coming next hahaha.

Alex instead of getting all riled up, maybe take the fact that everyone disagrees with you on this racism claim as a good thing. If others aren’t seeing it, maybe it’s not a factor and maybe you can rest a little better. Our country is so intertwined with racism and we as a country are very sensitive to these issues. None of us are seeing it, and that is a good thing.

McGwire kind of hung himself with the andro in his locker and Grimsley got caught red handed. Clemens was implicated by a teammate and a trainer. Pettite came clean on his own, Bonds by a criminal investigation, Giambi, Stanton and Knoblauch in an investigation, Sosa I can’t remember but I think it’s more fair to say that overall the Latin American player was outed more along the lines of leaks than the American player. Not totally as in Palmeiro/Tejada (although that was an investigation as well) or with Braun being leaked but just overall.

That and people giving Braun the benefit of the doubt and not one of our own guys with the batting title on the line can be interpreted differently by different people.

Not saying that the right conclusion was derived, maybe, maybe not. Just that it’s at the very least understandable that one could wonder and even IF wrong cannot be considered a case of crying wolf.

No one.

I’ve heard that he offered to give a DNA sample to prove the specimen wasn’t his, when MLB said OK he retracted the offer. If that’s true I just don’t see how he can proclaimed himself vindicated.

Thanks to the Sports Illustrated article you posted I am now convinced either MLB did not do it’s job defending itself from the innuendos made by Braun’s lawyer or that the arbitrator took it upon himself to interpret the meaning of the agreement. As stated in that article:

“The Joint Drug Agreement between the league and players’ association specifies, “Absent unusual circumstances, the specimens should be sent by FedEx to the Laboratory on the same day they are collected.”

The word used is “should” not “must” and the clause specifies “absent unusual circumstances” – and having taken the test on a Saturday, which is valid in terms of a player not given prior warning as to when he would be tested – is enough to where the arbitrator didn’t have to feel he had no choice due to the wording of the agreement. He could have easily adhered to the rules of the agreement and demand substantial circumstantial evidence to back-up their claims of possible tampering.

Nothing that proves innocence (or even discredits guilt), simply a technical violation.

anyway, good for him to skate the suspension, but guaranteed he is considered guilty in the court of public opinion, and will always be considered a cheater now.

and goodbye HOF chances!

We need to know why MLB refused to go along with Braun’s volunteering of a DNA sample. Is it that DNA could cause more confusion than clairity or give false readings in favor of the player? Is it that by the time the test was conducted Braun would have had enough time to have the drug cleared from his system. MLB needs to answer these questions and if the answers deal only with more technicalities than the results of scientific evidence they would be just as guilty in the use of a loophole used for it’s defense.

Or was it a ploy on the part of Braun’s lawyer, knowing MLB would not go along with it. If so, again why not?

There might be a way to find out – just let CNN or any other reputable news organization (not ESPN which has a vested interest in MLB) sort it out with a panel of experts discussing the scientific evidence on hand (which includes whether or not the lid had been unsealed) and not the legalities.

Also, was the collection procedure as stated in the agreement written in stone that it must be followed by the letter or

If anything, MLB would want to make sure Braun’s suspension was up held so they could prove their policy was working. The game is bigger than any one player. So, if they were to sway the panel, it would have been against Braun.