I haven't followed this at all, wtf is going on?

Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun just released this statement:


“During the course of preparing for my successful appeal last year, my attorneys, who were previously familiar with Tony Bosch, used him as a consultant. More specifically, he answered questions about T/E ratio and possibilities of tampering with samples.


“There was a dispute over compensation for Bosch’s work, which is why my lawyer and I are listed under ‘moneys owed’ and not on any other list.


“I have nothing to hide and have never had any other relationship with Bosch.


“I will fully cooperate with any inquiry into this matter.”


http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/2013/...n-statement-2/




Needless to say, as a lifelong Brewers fan and huge Braun fan, this whole thing does not make me feel good. At the same time, I am a bit encouraged by Braun's statement, as it's actually a reasonable, logical explanation and not just some generic denial.


We'll see, I suppose. We'll see. At this point, I don't even know if I'd be surprised to hear Craig Counsell was juicing.

lol after the last ordeal it's pretty obvious the likelihood of Braun using PED is 95%+, he just got super lucky they didn't process his sample correctly so he got away with it.

2-outer on the river FTW?

FWIW Craig Counsell always looked like a juicer to me.

Braun's denial is plausible so I doubt anything happens to him. I believe everyone else will get hit with a suspension. Melky and Grandal may be fine as they've already served (or are currently serving) a 50-gamer. Just seems like there is enough evidence here to take a strong stance if you are MLB.

Nationals will probably sign Lohse this week.

Seems like if his explanation is true, it should be pretty easy to prove. I figure that seeing his lawyer's name on the list is a good sign because a) it makes sense when combined with Braun's explanation, and b) it would be nuts for his lawyer to be involved in PEDs or getting Braun PEDs.

As always, who knows. David Eckstein is probably next. He likely got his grit from horse testicle flakes or something.

I don't think it's a good sign at all his lawyer knows the PED guys so well.

Heyman just provided a decent nugget of individual thought for once in his life on Twitter:

@JonHeymanCBS: braun & cervelli statements at least seem to confirm biogensis logbook obtained by miami new times isnt all bogus

So someone is definitely full of it. ARod's defense was that all the records were made up, right? Now Braun says the records make sense given the consulting work the clinic did for him.

Seems fishy, though, for Braun to coincidentally get consulting work from the clinic that all ex-The U players were buying PEDs. Even sicker parlay is Gio Gonzalez's dad also using the clinic for anti-aging without having any clue this was going on!

MLB about to come down HARD IMO. They have to at this point.

Wow. Being a die hard 49ers and Brewers fan... this could the worst 3 days of my life sports wise.

Obv Braun got away with it before. Hopefully MLB doesn't have any other evidence. #FreeBraun

I suppose you can look at it in a couple different ways. On the one hand, yeah, it's fishy. Where's there's smoke, there's fire sort of thing. On the other hand, it makes sense that he would be made aware of the clinic at some point since guys from his college team, associated with the team, or with some connection to Miami know about it or have been clients, even if he was never a client himself.

If Braun's explanation is true (still a big IF), I'd be curious to know how much he or his lawyer knew about what Bosch did. Did they know that he was really a PED peddler and were just stupid to think it was a good idea to pay for his expertise in Braun's case or did they think he was a doctor or something and that he would legitimately be a good consultant?

At least this gives Brewers fans something to talk about in a slow off-season. The most interesting reading before this were John Axford's Facebook updates on his RV trip from Canada to Arizona for spring training.

FYP

Drawing slim at being enshrined into the jewish sports hall of fame now.

I don't know anything about Braun but is he a smart guy? I think any reasonably intelligent person w/ access to money/lawyers and **** could come up w/ legit excuses as to why their name might pop up. This is his 2nd convincing argument as to why his name has popped up when it comes to PED's. Switch a guy like Braun w/ A-Rod and A-Rod would just deny everything. Braun is on the offensive w/ arguments that make sense.

I feel like this is bait to get somebody to say something about Jewish people that might be construed as racist, so I'm not going to say that thing, but it's the answer to your question.

The first argument of "maybe it's a giant conspiracy!!" was convincing??

His first argument made no sense at all. It was basically just arguing on a technicality.

I mean his argument now about hiring this guy for consulting is his only plausible denial given he was on a "monies owed" list.

Whether it's the truth or not who knows, but if any group of smart guys looked at this situation and had to figure out some way to deny it they'd probably choose this same story.

I think the big question is how appeals are handled with respect to failed drug tests in MLB. If it's just the player and his representation handling the appeal then I might buy his story. If, however, the team or player's union is involved in helping the player appeal then I would think that his story doesn't hold much weight. Why would the Brewers seek out a guy running an anti-aging clinic in Miami for consultation? Why would the player's union use a guy who was already under suspicion and investigation? Makes no sense.

Now Jesus Montero name involved.

Apparently there are 9 other names that may come out.

I predict the next name to fall will be one of the Weeks brothers.

lolol, never seen that. just eating clen and trening hard!

^^^^^ DYEB?