FanPost

July 22 2013

I mention this date specifically because I think that it will go down as one of those days in baseball where it'll become a watershed moment. Braun was busted for steroid use after having denied that he had used them. This is nothing new. Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire, even Alex Rodriguez have admitted to doing them. However, when was the last time that you saw a big time star actually receive real punishment for doing them?

Ryan Braun, as we know now, was linked to the Biogenesis and finally admitted to doing steroids. He'll miss the last 65 games this season without pay. I'm guessing that he might lose some sponsors (but since he admitted it and is taking his punishment, maybe not). The watershed moment to me, though, is that the player's union is supporting MLB in this punishment by not appealing the suspension on Braun's behalf. Granted, Braun has stated that he was not going to appeal himself, and asked the union not to, but often the union has gone against what the player wants in the interest of the union. Perhaps this means that the union sees more good in having a few players take their punishments, no matter how severe, rather than losing prestige or negotiating power.

Finally, I don't think that we've even come close to seeing the last of this. Rodriguez seems a lock to be suspended, although it seems that he might be done for the season anyway with the injuries that he continues to have. There are others. I just hope that any current Braves aren't tied up in this mess (which, at last check of the supposed list, it seems that the team's clean).

What do y'all think? Do you think that the punishment of Braun is severe, just right, or not enough? How do you think that this will affect his standing as a superstar? Or against his possibility for the Hall of Fame?

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Battery Power.