Braun Suspended for Balance of the 2013 Season

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by David R

I would love to see all the facts but Braun wouldn't want that. What I think would be refreshing is if Braun came clean and told the truth instead of insulting our intelligence by denying he ever used PEDs. The sad thing is he has profited handsomely from his artificially pumped up performance even with the suspension.

Again, you're making an assumption that he used PEDs, that his numbers were the result of using drugs. He was one of the best high school baseball players in America, and All American at Miami, and a star in the minors. So, when did he start using?

I posted this on another forum. Miguel Cabrera is widely considered the best hitter in baseball. But compare his numbers to those of Ryan Brauns. Keep in mind Cabrera is in his 11th season, and Braun his 7th:

Cabrera per 162 games: 104 runs, 195 hits, 41 doubles, 1 triple, 35 HR, 123 RBI, 4 SB, .321 AVG/.398 OBP/.568 SLG/.966 OPS
Braun per 162 games: 111 runs, 198 hits, 41 doubles, 5 triples, 36 HR, 117 RBI, 22 SB, .312 AVG/.374 OBP/.564 SLG/.938 OPS

Does Ryan Braun look like a guy to you that needs steroids? Have you ever watched him hit? He's got one of the most beautiful swings I've ever seen. He generates incredible bat speed with pretty much perfect swing mechanics. Great twitch. A lot of power from his legs. Steroids don't make somebody a lifetime .312 hitter.

Braun set a MLB record for highest rookie slugging pct. Was he using steroids in 2007? How did he pass all those tests in the minors, and his first five seasons then? Either baseball's testing is not all it's cracked up to be, or it was the first time Braun used a banned substance, and he got caught. After he won his appeal, don't you think that Braun was being tested as much as MLB could get away with it? With all that pressure, with all that additional testing, with fans from other cities booing him, he had an even better year than he did when he won the MVP.

Hmm.