Ryan Braun Wins Appeal

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I bet there are thousands of broads in the 6 county area that would be happy to collect brauny's sample...

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Well, he's not a Cubs fan so there goes that theory.

OK. Then what was the collector's motivation?

Quote ... ?

That's what I thought, thanks. Hope those Cubbie colored glasses treat you well this season.

[4everwarriors]

I bet there are thousands of broads in the 6 county area that would be happy to collect brauny's sample...

Do they have a proper receptacle, though?

[Benny B]

Well, he's not a Cubs fan so there goes that theory.

OK. Then what was the collector's motivation?

http://brewcrewcentral.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/if-you-said-dino-laurenzi-was-a-cubs-fan/

Not saying it's relevant... just saying he is a Cubs fan.

[MUMac]

OK. Then what was the collector's motivation?

I was only correcting a common error that I continually see.

[LON]

Does this look like someone that should be trusted to keep something safe?

[Benny B]

OK. Then what was the collector's motivation?

Dino Laurenzi's statement was quite clear... he did not tamper with the sample.  I believe him.  However, I do raise a small yellow flag in the fact that he omitted an exculpatory detail.... what he should have said is "I did not tamper with the sample and there's no way anyone else could have tampered with the sample while it was in my custody."  Instead, all he said was that he did tamper, period.

Meethinks everyone is too focused on the collector.  It would seem to me that if my son was the only other person in the world who knew that Braun's sample was in my basement, not only would I issue a statement insisting upon my innocence, I would also include a statement insisting upon my son's innocence as well (instinctively, as a parent, I would want to protect my child) -- unless I had doubts about whether my son was innocent... then I would say exactly what Dino said.

[MerrittsMustache]

http://brewcrewcentral.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/if-you-said-dino-laurenzi-was-a-cubs-fan/

Not saying it's relevant... just saying he is a Cubs fan.

Not according to someone who knows him. I'll take her word over a wordpress Brewers blog. Who's to say that the FB screenshot wasn't tampered with? 

[MerrittsMustache]

Dino Laurenzi's statement was quite clear... he did not tamper with the sample.  I believe him.  However, I do raise a small yellow flag in the fact that he omitted an exculpatory detail.... what he should have said is "I did not tamper with the sample and there's no way anyone else could have tampered with the sample while it was in my custody."  Instead, all he said was that he did tamper, period.

Meethinks everyone is too focused on the collector.  It would seem to me that if my son was the only other person in the world who knew that Braun's sample was in my basement, not only would I issue a statement insisting upon my innocence, I would also include a statement insisting upon my son's innocence as well (instinctively, as a parent, I would want to protect my child) -- unless I had doubts about whether my son was innocent... then I would say exactly what Dino said.

Similarly, Braun said that he and his people learned a lot of concerning things about the process and the collector. However, he never actually elaborated on what those things were. Why not? What would he have to lose by further making his case of innocence as opposed to just getting off on a technicality? He was getting absolutely CRUSHED for this by B&B on The Score yesterday. It was an interesting point that I haven't really heard much about.

FWIW, MLB players aren't very happy with the ruling...
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=7633132&_slug_=ryan-braun-successful-appeal-highlighted-change-how-players-view-baseball-drug-testing-policies-mlb&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d7633132%26_slug_%3dryan-braun-successful-appeal-highlighted-change-how-players-view-baseball-drug-testing-policies-mlb

[jmayer1]

He was getting absolutely CRUSHED for this by B&B on The Score yesterday.

That actually makes me believe Braun is innocent then. Those two are awful.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Not according to someone who knows him. I'll take her word over a wordpress Brewers blog. Who's to say that the FB screenshot wasn't tampered with? 

Wow, well, I know a nameless woman who states that he is a lifelong season ticket holder to the Cubs.

My anonymous, made up source can beat up your anonymous, made up source.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Do they have a proper receptacle, though?

Living Social had a deal for Brazilian waxes in Milwaukee today.  $32 for a nice polish.

[MerrittsMustache]

Wow, well, I know a nameless woman who states that he is a lifelong season ticket holder to the Cubs.

My anonymous, made up source can beat up your anonymous, made up source.

You don't have to believe me. I couldn't care less. That doesn't change the fact that the best player on your favorite team is a cheater.

[Spotcheck Billy]

alleged cheater

[Benny B]

Not according to someone who knows him. I'll take her word over a wordpress Brewers blog. Who's to say that the FB screenshot wasn't tampered with? 

Good point.  I saw multiple references to his supposed FB page from different websites, but upon further review, they all point to the same source.  It could easily be a hoax.  But I don't care if he's a Cubs fan or not; I don't think it makes any difference at all.

[Sir Lawrence]

If this has already been discussed, I apologize. 

Does the collector have supplies of the collection materials?  In other words, could the collector, or someone with access to the collectors supplies, break all the seals, and then reseal the sample with what would appear to be original seals?  Or is the collector just supplied with what he needs for X number of samples?

[cheebs09]

I read each player must have 3 choices as to which cup and supplies they use. Since there would be 3 players that were tested, that means he walked in with five sets of supplies so that the last person had a choice of 3. So based on that, I think he would have two extra set of supplies.

I read this on the brewerfan.net board. It was posted by someone who read through the Joint Drug Agreement.

[TallTitan34]

I have a few problems with Braun's press conference which everyone said he won:

1)  He said that his testosterone level "was three times higher than any number in the history of drug testing".  This is not true.  His 20:1 levels were the highest for baseball, but drug tests in other sports such as track and football have been as high as 70:1.

2) When it came to the collect dropping the samples off at FedEx, Braun said, "There were at least five FedEx locations within five miles of the stadium that were open until 9 p.m. and an additional FedEx location that was open for 24 hours. There were upwards of 18 or 19 FedEx locations that were open between the ballpark and his house that he could have dropped the samples off at".  He failed to mention in his press conference that all of these locations had stopped delievery at 5:00 when his test was taken.

3) Had the sample been delievered to FedEx, Braun said, "it would have been stored in a temperature-controlled environment".  This isn't true.  Several FedEx employees have confirmed that they have no temperature controled enviroment.  The box gets placed with all of the others.

All Braun quotes are from the transcript below:
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/140333483.html

[BrewCity83]

I have a few problems with Braun's press conference which everyone said he won:

2) When it came to the collect dropping the samples off at FedEx, Braun said, "There were at least five FedEx locations within five miles of the stadium that were open until 9 p.m. and an additional FedEx location that was open for 24 hours. There were upwards of 18 or 19 FedEx locations that were open between the ballpark and his house that he could have dropped the samples off at".  He failed to mention in his press conference that all of these locations had stopped delievery at 5:00 when his test was taken.
3) Had the sample been delievered to FedEx, Braun said, "it would have been stored in a temperature-controlled environment".  This isn't true.  Several FedEx employees have confirmed that they have no temperature controled enviroment.  The box gets placed with all of the others.

All Braun quotes are from the transcript below:
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/140333483.html

You're missing the point about why they need to be taken to FedEx as soon as possible.  Even though Braun's name does not appear on the sample, the collector knows whose sample he has.  Once the samples are dropped off at FedEx, the samples are only identified by a number or code, so nobody would be tempted to tamper with them (since they don't know whose they are).  When they are sitting in the collector's house for 48 hours, the collector and his son, and whoever they choose to share that information with, could have access to the sample knowing whose samples they are.

[🏀]

 

You're missing the point about why they need to be taken to FedEx as soon as possible.  Even though Braun's name does not appear on the sample, the collector knows whose sample he has.  Once the samples are dropped off at FedEx, the samples are only identified by a number or code, so nobody would be tempted to tamper with them (since they don't know whose they are).  When they are sitting in the collector's house for 48 hours, the collector and his son, and whoever they choose to share that information with, could have access to the sample knowing whose samples they are.

Incorrect.

As the Joint Drug Agreement states, if FedEx cannot ship the samples that day, the Collector is to retain custody to the next shipping day.

[jmayer1]

Incorrect.

As the Joint Drug Agreement states, if FedEx cannot ship the samples that day, the Collector is to retain custody to the next shipping day.

Why was the suspension overturned then? Seems like a pretty open and shut case from several pepole's point of view here, but it obviously isn't.

[🏀]

Why was the suspension overturned then? Seems like a pretty open and shut case from several pepole's point of view here, but it obviously isn't.

The arbitration determined a difference in language between the Joint Drug Agreement and the procedures. What it was exactly is unknown unless the aribtrator finally releases a statement. Many speculation it was the lack of documentation.

Either way, MLB will be forcing upon the MLBPA a fast change to close this loophole.

[wadesworld]

Incorrect.

As the Joint Drug Agreement states, if FedEx cannot ship the samples that day, the Collector is to retain custody to the next shipping day.

Why was the suspension overturned then? Seems like a pretty open and shut case from several pepole's point of view here, but it obviously isn't.

No kidding.  The independent arbitrator didn't decide to overturn Braun's suspension because everything was done correctly.  We can sit here and argue whether Braun juiced or whether the sample was tampered, whether the sample was his, or whether Braun simply got off on a technicality, but you're grasping at air if you say the collector followed the correct protocol.  He didn't.  That is the only fact that we have about this case.  The chain of custody was broken by the collector and that is why Braun's 50 game suspension was overturned.  That is the only fact that is out there for the public.  If it wasn't, there would be absolutely no possible way to have overturned the suspension.  Unless you think the science is messed up and everyone who has spoken is just lying and saying it was chain of custody when it was the science, which Cubs fans here have made fairly clear they don't think the science was messed up.

By saying the proper protocol was followed, you are admitting there is way more to the story than the 44 hour period the sample was undocumented.  Otherwise why will Ryan Braun be playing on Opening Day?

[MerrittsMustache]

No kidding.  The independent arbitrator didn't decide to overturn Braun's suspension because everything was done correctly.  We can sit here and argue whether Braun juiced or whether the sample was tampered, whether the sample was his, or whether Braun simply got off on a technicality, but you're grasping at air if you say the collector followed the correct protocol.  He didn't.  That is the only fact that we have about this case.  The chain of custody was broken by the collector and that is why Braun's 50 game suspension was overturned.  That is the only fact that is out there for the public.  If it wasn't, there would be absolutely no possible way to have overturned the suspension.  Unless you think the science is messed up and everyone who has spoken is just lying and saying it was chain of custody when it was the science, which Cubs fans here have made fairly clear they don't think the science was messed up.

By saying the proper protocol was followed, you are admitting there is way more to the story than the 44 hour period the sample was undocumented.  Otherwise why will Ryan Braun be playing on Opening Day?

We also have the fact that Ryan Braun tested positive for a banned substance.

[🏀]

No kidding.  The independent arbitrator didn't decide to overturn Braun's suspension because everything was done correctly.  We can sit here and argue whether Braun juiced or whether the sample was tampered, whether the sample was his, or whether Braun simply got off on a technicality, but you're grasping at air if you say the collector followed the correct protocol.  He didn't.  That is the only fact that we have about this case.  The chain of custody was broken by the collector and that is why Braun's 50 game suspension was overturned.  That is the only fact that is out there for the public.  If it wasn't, there would be absolutely no possible way to have overturned the suspension.  Unless you think the science is messed up and everyone who has spoken is just lying and saying it was chain of custody when it was the science, which Cubs fans here have made fairly clear they don't think the science was messed up.

By saying the proper protocol was followed, you are admitting there is way more to the story than the 44 hour period the sample was undocumented.  Otherwise why will Ryan Braun be playing on Opening Day?

Loose use of the term correct.

He did exactly what his company has trained him to do.

He did exactly what the World Anti-Doping Agency requires.

He did more than the NFL requires.

Here's the quote from the World Anti-Doping Agency:

Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, thought the collector made the correct decision.

"You have to ask yourself how ridiculous the argument is – particularly because athletes would much prefer to have their sample kept with the trained professional, hired by your union to maintain it and keep it secure rather than it being dropped off overnight at some random Mailbox Inc., in a strip mall waiting to be shipped out with a bunch of Christmas presents," Tygart said.



The sample was said not to have been tampered with.

"The very experienced laboratory director in Montreal gave evidence that the sample had not been compromised nor tampered with," Howman said. "Accordingly, no damage occurred to the sample before analysis."



He got off an a technicality. It's not that difficult to see. If he would have acted like a professional, this whole thing would have been over with. Instead, he attacked  a widely respected MLB collector making this out to be more than what it actually is. His press conference was laughable at best with the factual errors in his argument.