This weekend, it was made public that 2011 NL MVP tested positive for a performance enhancing drug. He calls the test result "ridiculous" and claims that it can be explained. But hey, so does everyone else. I am happy that the MLB is sticking to its word and is testing their players routinely. Braun is the second big name in the last few years to test positive. Manny Ramirez had the last two.
What bothers me is that Braun's test results came after the season. I am not familiar with the way steroids work, if they are more beneficial in the months before the season or during, but one thing is for sure. Ryan Braun, or any other player for that matter, would not just start using steroids at the height of the era in which there is a 'crackdown'. So that would most likely mean that this use has been going on for some time. If so, why hasn't Braun been caught prior to December 2011?
I am sure that there will be much debate over whether or not Braun should be stripped of his MVP crown. I would believe that it would be fair to do so. Nothing can be gratifying than to win such a prestigious award. However, nothing can be more demoralizing than taking it away. In my opinion, once a player, especially at a young age, is finished with his suspension, he will move on with his life and continue right where he left off. I think that suspensions are only incentives to do a better job of not getting caught. Stripping someone of their MVP, has much more value and sets a precedent for all to learn from.
Matt Kemp, who I believe should have won the MVP in the first place, is my 2011 NL/AL/All League
MVP. Time will tell if he will be officially crowned.
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