Former National League MVP Ryan Braun was suspended Monday without pay for the rest of the season and the postseason for violating league policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Some of the reaction from around baseball:
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“As much as you want to try and clean up the game and this and that, I’ve said it before the last time something like this happened, it’s just another black eye for baseball. We’ll get through it, but still, you play baseball, it still hurts.” – Seattle Mariners outfielder Jason Bay.
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“They played his apology from spring training that year when he did the whole thing and it was very heartfelt, and basically it just kills all the credibility of anybody.” – Bay.
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“For these guys still to be involved with this stuff just baffles me. The education’s there and everybody knows what you can and can’t take. It baffles me that this continues to be a black cloud over the game. I know Major League Baseball’s done a great job of cleaning up the game and the testing policy and all that. And it’s working. But at the same time, too, it seems like we’ll go through a lull and then, bam, here comes another guy that gets suspended. It’s got to stop.” – Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond.
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“I guess this gives an example to the kids what not to do. Last time it kind of made it sound like it was something to do to gain an advantage. Now I think it’s come to fruition that it’s giving you a big disadvantage. Because some of the guys were making a lot of money by doing it and some of the good guys were sort of feeling maybe (they had) to do the bad things to keep up. Evidently, it didn’t stop.” – Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker.
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“You hate to see it happen. But we thought it was over the last time with the investigation. Perhaps this is the end of it, hopefully we never see this again. It’s time to move ahead. It’s a sad situation. It’s at least come to the end for Ryan. I don’t know, are there going to be others they say?” – Baker.
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“It hurts baseball for sure. Then again, there’s going to be somebody who’s going to take his spot for the remainder of the year and hopefully get the attention off of him. There’s still more on that list, there’s still more guys that have a case they have to try to go after. You never know, some guys might get off, some guys might get stiffer than that.” – Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake, the team’s union representative.
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“I think it’s important for the integrity of the game. With the kids who are coming up to play baseball, it’s an important message to them, the fans, and also the players that do it right.” – San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
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“There’s always a little surprise. You’d like to think with these guys getting tested, which they all do, we’ll stop seeing this. With that said, we’ve seen enough that have been caught, so I’m not surprised.” – Bochy.
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“If you look at the guys who have done stuff and just come out and admit it, a lot of guys don’t remember who those guys were. But the guys who run up and down and say, `No, no,’ and then it gets drug through the mud 10 times worse, it makes it tougher on themselves and the rest of us.” – Bay.
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“I’m somewhat happy this is over with so we can move forward. … He’s a Milwaukee Brewer. He’s wearing the uniform next year. His focus will be to get ready for next year.” – Brewers general manager Doug Melvin.
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“This has always been a cloud over the ballclub, not knowing what’s going to happen. A lot of speculation out there. You read about it. You hear about it. I didn’t have any idea what’s going on at any time. I only knew what I read in the paper the next day. So you move forward and you play each day as it comes. I am glad, and I think as an organization, we are happy that Ryan, the union and the commissioner’s office has all put their heads together and made a wise decision for baseball and for us, the organization.” – Melvin.
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“Nobody’s happy when someone else is suspended. But guys I think are glad to know that the process we have in place and the policy we have in place is working.” – Miami Marlins pitcher Kevin Slowey.
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“There are so many good people in this game, but our game is no different than life. Athletes aren’t exempt from mistakes. But I hope for our game’s sake we figure this out because I care about the game a lot and I know a lot of people do.” – Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona.
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“The PEDs in this game – they’re working hard obviously to make it clean. The policies they have in place have been effective, so at some point, it’ll be behind us.” – Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss.
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“As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed – all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love.” – Braun in a statement provided by MLB.
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“We commend Ryan Braun for taking responsibility for his past actions. We all agree that it is in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major League Baseball, both on and off the field.” – Rob Manfred, MLB executive vice president, economics and league affairs.
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“I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step. It vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work both on and off the field.” – Michael Weiner, MLB Players Association executive director.
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