FINALLY!!

You know that feeling of pure frustration when you spend what seems like an eternity trying to explain something to someone, but no matter how many different ways to you try to explain it, no matter how many different angles you take, no matter how loud you get or how big your arm motions become, they just do not see what you see? Then- the feeling of absolute victory and vindication in the exact moment their eyes light up and they utter the phrase “Ohhh, yeah!!”?! No two feelings could sum more perfectly my emotions toward PED use in MLB and, more specifically, the reactions of the players to the admitted and the outed cheaters. Finally.

Finally the players, the clean players, are starting to get fed up. Finally they’re coming forward to publicly and vocally express their anger and feelings of betrayal. WHAT took them so long? I refuse, absolutely refuse, to believe that everyone in the League is dirty. No shot. So, why now? What about this situation, and this cheater, in particular has those who play the game purely so outraged that they’re breaking their silence and speaking out? Two words- The Code.

The tales of use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Major League Baseball, in all of its levels, are just about as old as time. I truly find it difficult to remember a time when steroids were not a part of the MLB storyline. I can name more admitted and rumored PED cheaters off the top of my head, than I can U.S. Presidents. Bonds, McGuire, Giambi, Palmeiro, Ramirez, Cabrera, Canseco, Clemens, Rodriquez, and on and on and on. Oh, yeah, and Ryan Braun, too. Yet, not until this Braun character did the fraternity comprised of current and former Major League players seem to really notice, let alone care. The difference is that Ryan Braun made it personal. Rafael Palmeiro may have wagged his finger in the face of Congress while adamantly maintaining his innocence; Braun wagged his in the face of his brothers. Can you say “no, no”?

Braun pranced through the league like The Pied Piper of clean play, piping his song of innocence and injustice, recruiting and gathering followers and supporters along the way. Braun’s tune was so sweet that even the weariest seemed to buy the story his lyrics told. I have come to peace with the fact that I will never understand why; the flaw in the sample transporting process that his overpriced team of attorneys found and turned into a loophole and upheld appeal didn’t also miraculously turn the sample from positive to negative.  Alas, I digress. Braun led his army of believers and together they stormed the Capital, err Commissioner’s Office, fighting for the wrongly accused. There was just one problem; the Emperor wasn’t wearing any clothes.

I may be mixing my childhood fables, but the facts remain- Ryan Braun played everyone. Curt Schilling “feels betrayed”. Matt Kemp, who came in second to Braun in the NL MVP voting in 2011, is “disappointed” and “considered [Braun] a friend”, and also believes his MVP award should be taken away. Aaron Rodgers, who shares the Wisconsin stage with Braun, is partnered with him in a restaurant, and considers him his “best athlete friend”, wagered his entire 2013 salary via Twitter that his bestie was clean. Here’s a pretty solid rule to live by, guys- don’t leverage your character on someone unless you’re absolutely sure of theirs. Lesson learned. Time to right the wrong.

Braun had one thing right- there are those who deserve a voice, who deserve a chance. The players in farm systems across the country, playing in front of no one and living on Ramen noodles to survive while they work as hard as they possibly can, and harder, to realize their dream of making it to The Bigs. Not to mention, the players who have made it, who are realizing their dream, thanks to hard work and dedication, without taking short cuts, who are being robbed of stats, of awards, of their legacy.  

The Institution of Baseball has a fighting chance to get clean if the players police themselves. Nobody likes a rat, and The Code, though unwritten, explicitly states that tattle telling is a clear violation, but the betrayal of your brothers is a much, much worse offense. It’s time. Finally.

C

P.S. Special shout out to Brett Pill (@PillzRgood) who is a first baseman playing for the San Francisco Giants’ AAA affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies. And who also happens to be my new hero. If I ever create a Twitter handle, he will undoubtedly be my first follow.