Ryan Braun tests positive

[Fman99]

All this talk of urine and getting off is making me randy.

[Edgy MD]

There are reasons (warning: SBNation link), and his teammates know.

And if his teammates know, it's just a matter of time before one of his teammates is no longer a teammate and feels less beholden to the circle of silence.

[Ceetar]

There are reasons (warning: SBNation link), and his teammates know. And if his teammates know, it's just a matter of time before one of his teammates is no longer a teammate and feels less beholden to the circle of silence.

I thought the 'reason' he first went with was Herpes? or what that an unsubstantiated rumor?

[Edgy MD]

The public reason seems to be the failure of the process and the processors. The private reason is perhaps different and seems to be related to the his body chemistry and the sample he actually produced.

[Vic Sage]

Braun hired lawyers to get the suspension overturned. They argued whatever evidence was available to them to make their case. And in doing so, they prevailed. But now he's got a problem. The technical argument, while successful before a judge, was unpersuasive to both the fans (which he may or may not really care about) and the media (who will be the ultimate arbiters of both the historical record and the HOF voting -- which he certainly cares about).

So now begins a PR counter-offensive that will eventually cover the waterfront with rationales -- the test was tainted; the procedure was tainted; the result was false; he's an innocent fall guy for a hypocritical system; he tested positive, but its not what you think! It'll be like that classic scene with Belushi in BLUES BROTHERS, where Carrie Fisher is about to blow him away for being a two-timing cad and he comes up with every excuse in the book, ultimately winning her over with his adorable eyebrows. And even if none of the excuses stick, he'll always be able to point to the overturning of the suspension as the anti-smoking gun... "you can't keep me out, i was found not guilty!", so he can't be thrown into the same box as those guys who DID test positive or who admitted it. And who knows... by the time his candidacy is evaluated, other PEDguys may have been voted in already, so the informal ban may be lifted by then.

[metirish]

Lucroy in the Sports Nation piece really doesn't help Braun here.....

Lucroy said there was more to the situation than Braun has said publicly, and his explanation to teammates, Lucroy said, has been convincing. "I�m not going to get into the details, but if you knew what we knew, people would be like, �Wow,� " Lucroy said, adding that he understood why Braun has elaborated only in private. "You�ve got to do that because it�s his prerogative. It�s up to him, it�s his choice. And honestly, if some of the things came out, it would be a lot more negative than positive. There are reasons."