I'm cynical

Hard not to be a little cynical.  Write this year off, get the suspension over with and come back next year ready to compete in the division. 

You laid out the strategy precisely.  The problem I have is Braun is not suspended until it most favors the Brewers.  They will tell you its just a coincidence but it seems like a logical business decision for the Brewers.  The problem is that Selig is supposed looking out for the best interests of baseball not just one team.  The appearance of impropriety here ought to be enough to find a new commissioner.

 

Putting it in another way, and of course I can't prove this, I doubt Braun is suspended right now if the Brewers were in first place.

You make a lot of good points, but I don't think so.  I think Selig wants to make a legacy for himself as the guy who cleaned up baseball. I don't think he would care who it was or what the timing was.  

That could be true as well - I don't know frankly.  None of us knows.  My real point is that the fact that someone can even raise these questions about the commissioner ought to be reason enough to find another guy.  I could be completely wrong, but I do think there is at least the appearance of impropriety here.

CD,

 

I share your cynicism on this.  There is no such thing as coincidence when a guy gets off on a PED process technicality and still collects the MVP.    That is going to stick in my craw for quite a while.  Fool me once, shame on you.   Fool me twice, shame on me.  It is interesting to see some MLB players, and other athletes turn a cold shoulder on Braun too.

 

Selig has too much power with regard to MLB business, his business (the Brewers) and punishing players. I don't like it.   There needs to be a separation of power that is not reporting to the commissioner.

Braun embarrassed Selig (who has an interest in Brewers) with getting off on a technicality last season. He and MLB were out to get him sooner rather than later. I think that everyone just wanted him gone, I would imagine it wasn't a fun clubhouse with all of the speculation going on all season.

 

What bothers me is that they haven't taken his MVP award away.

 

I think a deal was struck, between union, Braun and Brewers/ MLB.  I am not sure what else they could actually do.  He got off once, he could again and they were not going to let that happen.  My opinion was he was threatened with a lifetime suspension and advised to to fight it, therefore he would get less time in suspension.  Not fighting the charges assumes he is guilty, but I am sure that Braun supporters will say he was forced into accepting the suspension.

 

Will be interesting to see how they handle AROD, everyone knows that MLB and the Yankees want him to go away.

 

I do understand your cynicism.

 

JMO

 

 

 

For those who think MLB in any way protected Braun after his failed test, I recommend reading this article, or any of several others published at the time MLB fired Shyam Das.  He was for 13 years the independent arbitrator of the three person panel, and nearly always the swing vote in any decision.  Both the union and MLB select one arbitrator, and have to agree on the identity of the third.

 

I was taking a night class ("The Business of Baseball") at Stanford at the time the decision regarding overturning Braun's suspension, and one of the guest speakers was the union's head counsel.  The possibility that Selig had wanted to protect Braun was raised as a question.  The head counsel said that Das would be officially fired by MLB as soon as any other arbitrations that had already completed depositions were decided.  Negotiations on who would be named as the next independent arbitrator were already underway.  He said that all of MLB, including Selig were outraged by Das' decision.

 

Now, since Braun was legally exonerated of his failed test, he strictly speaking was only due a 50 game suspension for the Biogenesis affair, even though it is obvious to all that he should have been suspended originally.  MLB needed one domino to fall without appeal, and they got it with Braun.  It will be very interesting to see what other players will do, given this precedent.  

 

I hate Selig, so anything I say will be colored by that.

 

With that disclaimer in mind, Braun should've been suspended the first time around. His argument wasn't based in fact.

as far as taking his mvp award away there is no precedent and you would go down a slippery slope. Do you take away the 2003 Marlin world series because Pudge was on the 2003 list? Do you take away Giants because of Melkey?  I don't think so. At the same time maybe some of the people up for that award were also getting 'help'. Maybe pitchers he was hitting against were getting 'help'.  IMHO the best way to stop this is, if one was serious, to hit them severely in the wallet. Fail a test? Contract is null and void, next two years of any contract is at minimum. Done.The way it is set up now roll the dice, get paid and serve the time. Come back to big fat contract. Remember, money is a primary motivation for this usage.

Years ago my son played in a showcase at the Red Sox spring complex in Ft. Myers, Florida. In a bath room,  over the urinal, was this sign:

 

          "Bud Selig Memorial Fountain"

Interesting article 3fingered glove.  Thanks for sharing.  The article brings up some good points, and a new perspective I wasn't aware of.   BTW....what a crappy job when you are hired by two sides as an arbitrator, but either side can vote you out.  He must have been very good and very well respected to last 14 years.  But, one bad day or one bad decisions and you're done.   Wow. 

 

hokieone - I'm sure there are at least 29 other replica Bud Selig Memorial fountains across the country. 

Remember when Selig wanted to dissolve the Twins which would have expanded the Brewers market?

Just as a point of fact, MVPs Cy Youngs, etc. awards are voted on by Baseball Writers of America, or other groups.  There is no "official" connection to MLB, so it is their rules that cover the awards.  I can't think of a more "diverse" group that would have trouble agreeing to do something MLB wanted done.  "I'm not going to do it, you can't make me." 

CD.  Left you a pm