Thursday 22 August 2013

PED's and Baseball


Earlier today, recently suspended Ryan Braun released a statement apologizing for his steroid use during the 2011 season.


"Here is what happened. During the latter part of the 2011 season, I was dealing with a nagging injury and I turned to products for a short period of time that I shouldn't have used. The products were a cream and a lozenge which I was told could help expedite my rehabilitation. It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately."


Does this make much of a difference as far as the situation of PED's in baseball? Not in the least. It's good to see an athlete come out an apologize for making a mistake, but what difference does it make at this point? Braun burned his own bridges with many other teammates, friends, and those at the MLB offices, and it's up to him to build them back, as he points out in his statement. At this point, who really cares about whether the products were for an injury or whether he was trying to enhance his playing ability? The damage has been done, and there isn't much more you can say.


As far as the situation of PED's go, not much feels different despite thirteen players being suspended for their involvement in the Biogenesis case. This is a big move by Major League Baseball, as they continue to move towards PED-free baseball. The impact of the suspensions definitely there, it just doesn't seem like enough. Fifty games for a suspension may seem like a lot, but in reality it isn't even a third of the season. If the MLB really wants to make people realize how serious they are on the topic, it should be through Alex Rodriguez.


Smaller suspensions like fifty games aren't enough to stop players from juicing, as players continue to get caught despite suspensions. Larger suspensions need to be handed out to show the severity of cheating, and by winning an appeal over Rodriguez is a good place to start. Suspending through to the end of 2014 is good, but to really make a splash, something like a lifetime ban would really turn people's heads. Is it possible they would overcompensate with something like that? Possibly. But A-Roid is 38, and nearing the end of his career. What difference would it make anyways?


What do you think about the Braun statement and the state of steroids in the game?