Say it ain’t so, Ryan

Yeah, I know. It’s not exactly an original opening, but the sentiment is apt so…

Is there any way to put a good spin on the news that Braun, the first Jewish MVP in almost 50 years, rested positive for a substance banned by Major league Baseball?

There are several factors which conflict me, not the least of which is that Braun seems to be well-liked (as opposed to Alex Rodriguez who found himself is a similar situation a few years ago), a fine, upstanding citizen, and a role model to all young fans, not just Jews. (It’s funny how quickly some Jewish sources are to point out that according to Jewish law, Braun is technically not Jewish since his mother is Christian.) I’ve never read anything negative about Braun from a credible source (the recent dust-up between the New York Post’s Phil Mushnick and WFAN’s Mike Francesa notwithstanding; more on that in another post), so I really want to believe that he will be exonerated.

However…

Let’s give Braun and his representatives the benefit of the doubt when they say something along the lines of “the positive test was not the result of taking a performance-enhancing drug. “He did not take performance-enhancing drugs,” Cornwell told the [New York] Daily News on Sunday [Dec. 11], “and anyone who writes that is wrong.”

If the positive was indeed technically not a performance-enhancing drug, what was it the result of? Perhaps it was an ingredient for a prescription Braun was taking. Should that matter? Intent vs. outcome? Look at all the Olympic swimmers whose medals and records were expunged from the books because the legitimately prescribed medications they were taking for asthma and other ailments contained banned substances.

How often have we heard players proclaim their innocence, only to be proven otherwise? Roger Clemens is still nattering on, as was Barry Bonds. But they’re retired; Braun is still active and facing a 590-game suspension. At least former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte manned up about his use of Human Growth Hormone. Should we differentiate between “performance-enhancing” drugs and those that are used to help recover from an injury?

The “other hand” doesn’t offer much in the way of comfort, either.

These tests are supposed to be confidential, yet the media is quick to jump on information supplied by anonymous sources.

First, shame on these sources for breaching the confidentiality agreement. What can be their motivation? I doubt they receive financial remuneration, and since they need to rename anonymous, it can’t be fame or recognition for breaking the story. What does that leave? Envy? Some sports pundits are already clamoring for Braun’s MVP to be stripped and awarded to runner-up Matt Kemp.

Second, shame on the media for abetting these sources by rushing to tell before the facts are. In so many cases, stories of alleged crimes scream across the page in dramatic headlines; but too often, when those stories are proven false, there’s little in the way of commensuration. Apologies (which are rarely if ever expressed using that word) or revisions seems to be buried in much smaller stories deep inside the publication.

Of course, any confidentiality agreement between MLB and the Players Association would not alter the fact that a player did use the substance.

Let’s hope this matter is quickly brought to a conclusion. Hopefully, Braun will offer a plausible reason for the results of the test that will at the very least prove there was no attempt to deceive the fans or circumvent the rules.

More on Braun:

From ESPN
A thoughtful piece by Al Yellon on SBNation. “Despite the fact that I am a Cubs fan, I will neither gloat nor pass judgment on the ESPN.com report that stated that Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun had tested positive for PEDs. In fact, I’m going to caution anyone from rushing to judgment on this issue.” Thank you, Al.
Kevin Kernan, NY Post, says “Braun should pay if guilty.” Believe me, I know that columnists make a living for being controversial (and there is that “if” in there, so he can hedge his bets), and the need to weigh in supercedes etiquette. maybe I’m just too sensitive for this business.
A couple of stories from the NY Times: one on Braun’s uphill battle to win his appeal and another by Tyler Kepner: “I am completely innocent,” Braun told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a text message Sunday, and if you love baseball, you hope that is true.”
They were even talking about Braun at the Packers’ game yesterday.
Another Jewish perspective, from Tablet magazine.
And, of course, you’ve got those geeks who are worried about how Braun’s possible suspension will affect their fantasy baseball teams.
Finally, here’s a sabermetric look from Baseball Prospectus.