To the delight of all Milwaukee Brewers fans, yet simultaneously to the dismay of baseball purists, Friday brought news that Brewers left fielder and reigning National League MVP Ryan Braun had won his appeal against the 50 game suspension that Major League Baseball was poised to hand him following his failing of a performance enhancing drug test in October of 2011.

“Today is for everybody who has ever been wrongly accused,” said Braun at a news conference held at the Brewers training facility shortly after. “The simple truth is that I’m innocent. The truth is always relevant, and the truth prevailed.”

Braun, whose test results uncovered elevated levels of testosterone in his system that were made public in a December episode of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” became the first player in baseball history to successfully appeal a drug-related sentencing. Braun vehemently denied ever taking any sort of performance enhancer from the beginning of this entire process and continued to echo that same sentiment on Friday.

“If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I’d be the first one to step up and say I did it,” Braun said. “I would bet my life this substance never entered my body.”

MLB officials were livid with the arbitrator’s ruling, considering that Braun’s winning case argued against the fashion in which the procedure was handled, as opposed to claiming wrongful tampering took place or that the test was simply incorrect. Two unnamed sources vouched for Braun, stating that the urine sample that he provided on October 1was not delivered by the collector to FedEx until two days later.

MLB’s drug testing policy requires that all samples make their way to FedEx the very same day. The sources identified the collector as Dino Laurenzi, Jr. and testified that he left Miller Park with the sample at 5 P.M. on Saturday, October 1. It was said to be in a triple-seal container.

Laurenzi, Jr. then allegedly decided to take the sample home and not deliver it to Fed Ex until 1:30 P.M. on October 3, feeling that it would not be sent out to the lab in Montreal until Monday anyway. He supposedly placed it in a cool, dry area during that time period, and the lab chief told ESPN’s Lester Munson that the sample had not been tainted in any way and that the positive test result was indeed valid.

However, Braun still focused on the delay of the process, referring to it as “fatally flawed,” and questioned what could have happened to the sample during the 44-hour window between pickup and delivery.

“Our program is not fatally flawed,” said MLB Executive Vice President Rob Manfred in a statement. “Changes will be made promptly to clarify the instructions provided to collectors regarding when samples should be delivered to FedEx based on the arbitrator’s decision.

Neither Mr. Braun nor the MLBPA contended in the grievance that his sample had been tampered with or produced any evidence of tampering.” Because MLB did not follow protocol the way that they should have, there was not enough sufficient evidence to rule Braun guilty.

“I’ve lived this nightmare every day for the last four months,” Braun said. “At the end of the day, the truth prevailed. I’m the victim of a process that completely broke down.”

Sources are now saying that MLB may look to appeal the ruling in federal court.

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It is a shame to admit, but the Baseball Writers’ Association of America must revoke Ryan Braun’s MVP Award, following reports that he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in October. The BBWAA’s awareness of that sentiment is exactly why they claimed just a few days later that they would not be taking such action. Voters are hoping that the situation will simply go away on its own – but this is not the case at all. Allowing Braun to maintain the award would first do a major disservice to Major League Baseball and the recent progression it has made in diminishing steroid use within the game.

A few years ago, when Commissioner Selig implemented extremely severe suspensions for policy violators, it was clearly a statement that cheating would not be tolerated even one bit. Well if it is that serious, then it would make no sense for the BBWAA to let Braun keep the game’s highest annual individual honor knowing that he was not 100 percent clean.

Even if Braun is being truthful and the synthetic testosterone found in his system did not come from an illegal performance enhancing drug, it should not make a difference. The fact would still remain that he took something that gave him an unfair competitive advantage. Doing so unknowingly really does not change much.

Another case to make against Braun involves the current struggles of former players like Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGuire. These two have obviously not been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the last few years because of their connections to steroid use. Now, the NL MVP may not be as prestigious as a spot in Cooperstown, but there is still one undeniable similarity between the honors. Just like getting into the Hall of Fame, winning the MVP of the league means that a player will always have their own special place in baseball history that will allow their name to live on forever.

That whole idea is very powerful when looked at closely. The circumstances may differ immensely when it comes to McGuire and Palmeiro, but the focal point is still the same. If they are being punished for cheating, then there should be no exception made for Braun. The baseball writers need to set a strict precedent so players will be more aware of both their actions and the consequences that will ensue.

We also definitely cannot forget about Matt Kemp. The Dodgers center fielder had the year of his life in 2011 and finished a close second behind Braun in the voting. He hit 0.324, stole 40 bases, scored 115 runs, had 195 hits, smacked 39 homers, and drove in 115 runs. Now, although Braun only beat him out in one of those categories with a 0.332 average, the award was still considered well-deserved. After all, he did play an intricate role in the Brewers winning 96 games and their first ever National League Central title.

Kemp’s Dodgers, on the other hand, only won 82 games. Suddenly, however, Kemp appears to be much more deserving. As far as we know, he was able to eclipse all of those numbers without the aid of a performance enhancer.

Meanwhile, the baseball writers should ask themselves a few interesting questions after news of Braun testing positive. Would Braun’s numbers have come close enough to Kemp’s without the synthetic testosterone? Would Milwaukee still have won the division? Would that even be a determining factor if Kemp’s numbers were substantially higher in comparison?

The BBWAA has to take all of these morals and possibilities into consideration and take the award back. Major League Baseball and its fans will be thankful in the long run.

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The NL Central has been one of the most surprising and competitive divisions in the Major Leagues this season. Surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Pirates are the leaders of the pack, but St. Louis, Cincinnati and Milwaukee all have very reasonable chances of taking the division.

Although all of these teams are playing very good baseball and are determined to make it back to the playoffs, there is only one team that seems as though they could be legitimate contenders in the National League.

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin has put together a balanced team that seems to be one of the few serious contenders to take down the Philadelphia Phillies, who are of course the strong frontrunner to make the World Series.

Though the standings don’t reflect it at the moment, this roster undoubtedly has the talent and camaraderie to make a late summer push.The one thing this Brewers squad has that past one’s didn’t? A reliable rotation.In the playoffs, teams need their aces to go out there and shut down some of the most power packed lineups in the game. This rotation has a few guys that can do that.

The addition of former Royals ace Zack Greinke has made all the difference. Though his ERA is a bit high, sitting up over five this season, all of the rest of the numbers are there. With a low WHIP, high strikeout to walk ratio, and the ability to go deep into games, Greinke has finally snatched the opportunity to be a playoff ace. The post season experience is non-existent for him, but anyone with that good of stuff is bound to find some success.

In adding Greinke at the top of the rotation, Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum are able to move to the two and three spots and face some easier competition on the mound. Both pitchers also have low WHIP’s, comparable to the Brewers ace, and have the ability to rack up strikeouts in key situations.

Even Randy Wolf, the veteran journeyman is having a pretty successful season and is able to give Milwaukee some good starts to keep the rest of the starters fresh on a week-to-week basis.

Although Trevor Hoffman, the all-time major league saves leader, is a indeed a tough arm to replace in the bullpen, John Axford has done an admirable job in following up the future hall of fame pitcher. He has quickly become one of the better closers in the National League, and possesses both a cannon for an arm and a curveball which will leave hitters spinning themselves into the ground late in games.

Up until recently this season, Milwaukee’s biggest problem was finding someone to bridge the cap from the starters to the young gun in the ninth. Now, after acquiring Francisco Rodriguez from the New York Mets, they’ve got that too.

“K-Rod” was not too long ago the most feared closer in the game. In 2008 he set the single season saves record for Anaheim with a whopping 62. After a few up and down years with the Mets, and a gigantic contract, he began to become somewhat of an unnecessary piece for New York, allowing them to move him. Though the Brewers were forced to pay a hefty contract and give up two future prospects, they made a great move for the present, and it could land them atop their division at the end of the year.

The funny thing about how good Milwaukee’s pitching is, is that it’s probably not even the best attribute of their team. For a National League lineup, the Brewers pack a serious punch.

Led by first baseman Prince Fielder, a perennial 40 home-run, 100 RBI guy (at least) and one of the best outfielders in the game, Ryan Braun, the middle of this lineup is sure to wreak havoc on any opposing pitcher.The team had always struggled to put solid role players around these two in the past few years, but as their young talent grows, as does their wins total.

Corey Hart, Nyjer Moragn, and first-time all star Rickie Weeks have provided sparks for Ron Roenicke’s ball-club that he probably didn’t even expect.The biggest problems for these Brewers is their struggles on the road early on in the season, and their uncanny ability to go on long streaks for both wins and losses. Fortunately, their manager has confidence that as the team gel’s and the season comes toward its end, these guys will figure it out.

“They expect to win every day,” Roenicke said, “and that’s really what I appreciate from them.”

That attitude creates the kind of team that makes it deep into the playoffs. Look for a late season win streak from Milwaukee and some serious contention in the National League.

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