Is Ryan Braun a Idol to look up to, or is he someone that should be banned from baseball for good?

Ryan Braun is Suspended for the rest of the year for the use of steriods!!!!!!

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun was suspended for the rest of the 2013 season for the use of steroids.  Braun who is signed by the Brewers until the 2020 season with an option for the 2021 season completely lost the respect from many people in the game and out of the game. He especially lost the respect from the fans that looked up to him as their favorite player. I don’t see how he gets only a suspension this season and not for the rest of his career. He had a lot of believing him when he first admitted the use of steroids a few years back but now with this story developing more and more it frustrates a lot of fans who thought he was a good player  now don’t how to react to this because this came out of nowhere. Reports are speculating that he reached an agreement with Major League Baseball for him to just get this 65 game suspension. There are many people who want him along with the other players to receive a longer suspension than what he received or a life time ban from the game. What I don’t understand is how Pete Rose one of the all-time great players gets a life time ban from baseball for gambling. It seems like it was a slap on the wrist for what he did many players who don’t use the steroids who work hard in training to be the best get less recognition than a player like Braun. Braun was the face of the Brewers franchise it seems like they just got a slap to the face. He cheated the game and doesn’t deserve a second chance because he thought he can get the edge by using illegal drugs. The one thing that bothers me is a few years back he addressed the media after he was cleared for the assumption of him using steroids back then as well. Braun was convincing and had a lot of people totally believing him. The 2011 and 2012 season had me thinking about how he is playing because of the numbers he was putting up.  The 2011 season he won the Most Valuable Player award which is for the best player in the national league along with another winner in the American League as well. His numbers were incredible he was batting 332, with an on base percentage of 372, and hit 33 homeruns, and hit 111 RBI’S.  The following year he was batting 319, with a 391 on base percentage, and hit 41 homeruns and had 112 RBI’S. The years before he had numbers increase but not that drastically which had people questioning him and what he did in changing his play on the baseball field.

My frustration that I have towards this is the history of the game and how players like Braun tarnish all the hard work they had put in. Also how do they just give him a 65 game suspension to me that is just a slap on the wrist and they are pushing this under the rug like he did nothing wrong. What I think they should do is include a full year suspension for next year to make a statement to the league that they aren’t playing around. This Biogenesis report has me wondering in who was part of this process of being injected with steroids along with Braun. I think he should be stripped of his Most Valuable Player Award from the 2011 season. He should be stripped and be given to Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers who finished second. He is one of the people kids should be looking up to if they want to play the game. Braun is very selfish and to me very ungrateful. He pulled a very cowardly move by not answering the media which he left his team high and dry. A lot of people want answers but he hasn’t been able to be contacted. He went hiding and will not been seen for a very long time probably not until next year’s training camp. This is very unfair to the Brewers organization where they will be forced to pay 120 million dollars of what is left of the contract. They won’t be able to get out of this deal which is sad and you feel bad for the ball club. I just hope that Braun will be getting a deeper suspension than what he has already. There has to be more to this story than what we are reading in the paper or seeing on the television.

What incredible way to honor a hall of famer closer at his final All Star Game..

The Baseball world said its thank you and showed its gratitude this past week to Mariano Rivera at this past weekends Summer Classic.

At the beginning of this season New York Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera announced his retirement at the end of this season. Most people understand why he is doing this but most don’t want him to go because they know there will never be a closer like him. He is one of the most respected players on and off the field for the contribution he gives to the league and to the communities in New York and to his home country of Panama.  His legacy is going to be remembered for years for having over 600 saves, a 15 time all-star, and is a 5 time World Series champion, who was also a World Series most valuable player for having the best earn run average, and was the best player during the 1999 World Series. He also has 42 saves in total from the postseason. The great thing about him is he thanks everyone and takes very little credit for the work he does. The reason is because of the appreciation he has for the game, and never takes it for granted for having the chance to play professionally. What is also incredible about his career he was voted as one of the top five postseason players in Major League Baseball history. Hall of Fame starter-turned-closer Dennis Eckersley called him "the best ever, no doubt"; while Trevor Hoffman said he "will go down as the best reliever in the game in history". I found a great quote from a current player on the Texas Rangers his name is Joe Nathan he quoted  by saying I look up to how he's handled himself on and off the field... You never see him show up anyone and he respects the game. I've always looked up to him and it's always a compliment to be just mentioned in the same sentence as him."

This past Tuesday was the annual Mid-Summer Classic All Star Game at Citi Field in Flushing Queens, NY. The fans had got to see the players they voted for to be in this special game. There are so many things for the fans to be a part of that you normally wouldn’t be able to get close to. Many Fans enjoy this incredible week because of the events they get to attend for example; Homerun Derby, Celebrity Softball Game, Futures Game, and especially the Fan fest that is held at the Javit Center. The event at the Javit Center is so incredible because they have Hall of Famers or current players come give baseball clinics or have an autograph session.  At the game everyone was anticipating Mariano to pitch either in the eighth inning or in the ninth. When he came in the eighth the crowd in attendance along with the players from the American League, and National League came out of both dugouts and applauded him for his contribution to the game and want to show his thanks. The cool thing about it the American League players never came on the field they stayed in the dugout. Mariano rarely shows any emotion but you can see him ready to cry and was taken it all in. At the end of the game he was voted for Most Valuable Player. The reason for this is because of the career he has had as well as he had a perfect inning when he had pitched.

It was an incredible scene to watch just because of the respect people showed to him and how Rivera was in total shock that they did this. For being a fan of the game basically all my life that is a scene I will never forget because it will never be like that again. He has so much respect for the players and the game. What is also incredible is he is the only player left to wear the number 42. The number 42 is retired throughout the whole game. The number is retired throughout the league since 1997. From the research I have done about him I haven’t found anything negative people had said about him all I read is something positive. Everyone needs to cherish these moments left in the season because this type of player will never been seen again. I think a lot of players want to be like him in being a dominant pitcher. He was going to retire last year but he suffered a horrific injury which made it easier for him to understand to not want to go out like that. For being a Yankee fan it is going to hurt me not seeing him pitch anymore. It has been an honor watching him pitch to bring the championships to the team like how he has done. From all the Yankees fans we just want to say thank you Mariano for the career you have had and the great games you have closed out.