tanker27 wrote:Needs his MVP removed.
Seriously if Charlie Hustle can get a lifetime ban for gambling the same should be said about these guys who are caught with PEDs.
If you remove Braun's MVP then you must remove those of the other winners who have been caught, which is quite a number. As well you need to remove the Cy Young awards from pitchers who have been caught. Should also Golden Gloves and Silver Sluggers be removed? How about All-Star nods, do those go? How about all the records too? Do we remove Pennants won by teams who had cheaters? Fairly soon you'll have a disappearing history.
What do we do about those who haven't been caught which we know there are numerous? Do we only punish the cheaters we know about? What is accomplished about punishing just the cheaters we know about? Do fans feel better about baseball?
I see little point in rewriting the history books. The use of illegal substances to improve performance has always been an aspect of professional sports. The methods are far more advanced and likely much more effective now than 20+ years ago. But there were cheaters then too, likely in far greater numbers than most want to admit. Removing the cheaters we have caught does not make the history books "clean."
I fully support harsh penalties for those who are caught, when they are caught. I believe Braun had a positive sample previously but I also think it was mishandled. I think this punishment is fair. I'm more surprised that Braun is not fighting it than anything, but this year was becoming a lost year for him anyway.