Let me get this out of the way first in case you've never read my blog before: I'm a Cubs fan. Have been 95% of my life.
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, it's time to move onto the press conference from earlier today given my Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun. In December, ESPN reported that Braun has tested positive during the postseason in October of having an elevated level of testosterone during a drug test. The results were leaked to ESPN from a source and Braun immediately disputed and appealed the results. Braun also submitted a second test that showed normal testosterone levels. His appeal was heard in January and on February 23rd, 2012, and arbitration panel overturned the suspension.
Things since the ruling was issued has bordered between weird and weirder. First, it was reported that the collector took the sample home and stored it in his fridge all weekend because the sample was taken on a Saturday and he assumed FedEx was closed at the time. There hasn't been any reports on where it was stored, but I would hope it wasn't near the apple juice.
Then a report followed that stated that the sample was not refrigerator but actually stored in a Tupperware container on a desk for two days. Not sure why the second container was needed.
So, here's where we stand. Braun takes a test, in Milwaukee on Oct. 1st along with two other players. Sample was either stored in the collectors fridge or on a desk until Monday, then sent to the lab for testing at 1:30pm. On October 19th, Braun has been told that he produced a test with either 2 times more testosterone or 3 times more testosterone than any test before. Which makes Ryan twice the man I am. At some point, he submits a retest which comes back normal. You know, after his team is eliminated from the playoffs. He appeals in January 2012, finds out he wins on February 23rd, 2012. Here's what I don't understand...
If the man took 3 samples that day, did he take the other two samples home as well? Or did he just want Braun's to sit at home on his mantle for a weekend? The man only wanted to tamper with Braun's sample? Braun also said "If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I'd be the first to step up." Well Ryan, if it was unintentional, how would you step up? You said you "never gained a pound, never got faster." So how would you it be possible for you to unintentionally done something then? By the way, your career high in stolen bases before 2011 was 20 and you stole 33 last year. Oh and ladies of Wisconsin, Braun declared himself free of STD's so rest easy tonight.
Mr. Braun didn't prove himself innocent, he proved the negligence of someone else. It's not exactly the same thing.
Showing posts with label Brewers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brewers. Show all posts
Friday, February 24, 2012
Monday, July 7, 2008
The AL Central Just Got Weaker and the NL Central Just Got Stronger
With the Milwaukee Brewers on the verge of acquiring C.C. Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians for prospects, the NL Central just got a bit tougher for the Chicago Cubs to win.
Most Cubs fans were hoping that they would be in on the bidding for Sabathia, but the Cubs just didn't have the top-level prospects to compete with the Brewers. And as a whole, the Cubs farm system can't compete with most teams in baseball anyway. So what's next for the Cubs?
The Chicago Sum-Times is reporting that the Cubs are interested in Oakland A's pitcher Rich Harden. Harden is a top of the line rotation pitcher, which I said last week is what the Cubs needed. The problem is that Harden hasn't pitched a full season in the Majors since 2004 and that was when he was 22. Numerous injuries have slowed any chance of him becoming the dominant pitcher that his stuff leads all of us to believe he can become. As a matter of fact, he has made 13 starts this year, which is as many as he had combined in 2006 and 2007. And he's already had a stint on the disabled list this year. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Harden will be injured, again, before the trading deadline this season and that, along with A's GM Billy Beane's wild shopping list will prevent any deal for Harden to take place.
Two other options for the Cubs top of the rotation hunt is Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners and A.J Burnett from the Toronto Blue Jays. Bedard was the Mariners big offseason move, giving up top prospect AdamJones to the Baltimore Orioles, along with a few other players, in the hopes of picking up Bedard would help them make a run at the playoffs. But as of this posting, the Mariners are currently 18 games out of first and will be looking to sell some pieces off to help facilitate a rebuilding process. And shedding Bedard and what's left of the 7 million he is owed this year and whatever he might make through the arbitration process next year, along with some prospects, might help get the Mariners on the right move back into contention. Right now though, Bedard complained of shoulder stiffness after his last start on Friday and has not thrown more than 99 pitches since May 28th. Now for a young arm, the fewer the pitches thrown, the less stress on the arm. But the most pitches Bedard has thrown all season is 110 and in fact has only gone over the 100 pitch mark in 6 of his 15 starts. He has thrown 28 innings in his last 6 starts and something tells me that the problem in his shoulder may end up preventing the Mariners from moving him.
Burnett on the other hand has been the complete opposite, only pitching under a 100 pitches once since May 12th. Burnett has had injury problems in the past and is someone that would be a concern to have on your staff. In fact, during his 10 years in the majors, Burnett has only gone over 200 IP twice, neither of them since signing with the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2005 offseason, when he signed a 5 year, 12 million dollar per year deal. The Blue Jays would probably be welcoming any team to offer them enough to give them Burnett, but any trade for Burnett would have to give Hendry a bit of cause for concern as Burnett can opt of his deal at the end of this season to become a free agent. I don't see the Cubs making a move for him, more likely the New York Yankees in the hopes that Burnett might be able to help them right the ship towards the playoffs.
What options are left? We're looking at 2nd tier starters like Randy Wolf and Gred Maddux, both from the San Diego Padres. Wolf and Maddux have been awful away from Petco Park, the Padres home ballpark and would be cause for concern for Cubs fans. We already have seen what Maddux is like the second time he was with the Cubs and unfortunately, I would expect more of the same. Wolf is a soft tossing lefty in the Jamie Moyer mold and someone who doesn't throw hard in Wrigley Field when the wind is blowing out? Yikes. That being said, one of those two would be the guy I would expect Hendry to accquire, with Maddux being the most likely. Blah.
Most Cubs fans were hoping that they would be in on the bidding for Sabathia, but the Cubs just didn't have the top-level prospects to compete with the Brewers. And as a whole, the Cubs farm system can't compete with most teams in baseball anyway. So what's next for the Cubs?
The Chicago Sum-Times is reporting that the Cubs are interested in Oakland A's pitcher Rich Harden. Harden is a top of the line rotation pitcher, which I said last week is what the Cubs needed. The problem is that Harden hasn't pitched a full season in the Majors since 2004 and that was when he was 22. Numerous injuries have slowed any chance of him becoming the dominant pitcher that his stuff leads all of us to believe he can become. As a matter of fact, he has made 13 starts this year, which is as many as he had combined in 2006 and 2007. And he's already had a stint on the disabled list this year. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Harden will be injured, again, before the trading deadline this season and that, along with A's GM Billy Beane's wild shopping list will prevent any deal for Harden to take place.
Two other options for the Cubs top of the rotation hunt is Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners and A.J Burnett from the Toronto Blue Jays. Bedard was the Mariners big offseason move, giving up top prospect AdamJones to the Baltimore Orioles, along with a few other players, in the hopes of picking up Bedard would help them make a run at the playoffs. But as of this posting, the Mariners are currently 18 games out of first and will be looking to sell some pieces off to help facilitate a rebuilding process. And shedding Bedard and what's left of the 7 million he is owed this year and whatever he might make through the arbitration process next year, along with some prospects, might help get the Mariners on the right move back into contention. Right now though, Bedard complained of shoulder stiffness after his last start on Friday and has not thrown more than 99 pitches since May 28th. Now for a young arm, the fewer the pitches thrown, the less stress on the arm. But the most pitches Bedard has thrown all season is 110 and in fact has only gone over the 100 pitch mark in 6 of his 15 starts. He has thrown 28 innings in his last 6 starts and something tells me that the problem in his shoulder may end up preventing the Mariners from moving him.
Burnett on the other hand has been the complete opposite, only pitching under a 100 pitches once since May 12th. Burnett has had injury problems in the past and is someone that would be a concern to have on your staff. In fact, during his 10 years in the majors, Burnett has only gone over 200 IP twice, neither of them since signing with the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2005 offseason, when he signed a 5 year, 12 million dollar per year deal. The Blue Jays would probably be welcoming any team to offer them enough to give them Burnett, but any trade for Burnett would have to give Hendry a bit of cause for concern as Burnett can opt of his deal at the end of this season to become a free agent. I don't see the Cubs making a move for him, more likely the New York Yankees in the hopes that Burnett might be able to help them right the ship towards the playoffs.
What options are left? We're looking at 2nd tier starters like Randy Wolf and Gred Maddux, both from the San Diego Padres. Wolf and Maddux have been awful away from Petco Park, the Padres home ballpark and would be cause for concern for Cubs fans. We already have seen what Maddux is like the second time he was with the Cubs and unfortunately, I would expect more of the same. Wolf is a soft tossing lefty in the Jamie Moyer mold and someone who doesn't throw hard in Wrigley Field when the wind is blowing out? Yikes. That being said, one of those two would be the guy I would expect Hendry to accquire, with Maddux being the most likely. Blah.
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