2013 MLB Thread

[Mike Powers]

And in other news, my Phillies suck again

[GM Franchise]

Padres and Dodgers had a bench clearing brawl tonight.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9162800/san-diego-padres-los-angeles-dodgers-brawl-zack-greinke-hits-carlos-quentin-pitch

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130412&content_id=44548656&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[GM Franchise]

Zack Grienke suffered a broken left collarbone during the brawl. Wow.

[GM Franchise]

The MLB.com stories on the game. Also there was apparently a confrontation between Quentin and Kemp after the game as well as the Dodgers were heading to their team bus.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_11_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=la

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130412&content_id=44548656&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Justin]

As a diehard Braves fan, I'm glad to see them playing some great baseball.  10-1.

[Kirk]

It looks like the Blue Jays are going to suck again. I love them, but I wish they would put together a decent season a little more often.

[GM Franchise]

8 Dodgers and Diamondbacks suspended over brawl. Ian Kennedy suspended 10 games.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9387158/los-angeles-dodgers-arizona-diamondbacks-brawl-fallout-8-suspended-mlb

BRAWL: Diamondbacks@Dodgers HUGE Fight [FULL]

[GM Franchise]

MLB suspends Ryan Braun for rest of MLB season.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9500252/ryan-braun-milwaukee-brewers-suspended-remainder-2013-season

Major League Baseball has suspended Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun without pay for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Braun will not contest the suspension, which was meted out for "violations of the Basic Agreement and its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program," according to a statement released by MLB.

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"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in the statement. "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 ... 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."

The suspension includes the final 65 games of the Brewers' season and any potential postseason games this year. As a result, Braun will lose $3.25 million.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin addressed the media ahead of the team's Monday night game against the San Diego Padres.

"As a general manager, I'm somewhat happy that this is over with so we can move forward," Melvin said. "I talked to Ryan earlier on, I know he's addressed the players ... our focus will be on the field starting with tonight's game."

After MLB's original meeting with Braun on June 29, at which he refused to answer questions about Biogenesis, he requested a second meeting, a source familiar with the discussions told T.J. Quinn of ESPN's "Outside The Lines." Braun, after realizing the significance of the evidence against him from questions in the first meeting, decided to meet again to strike a deal that would limit his suspension to this season, according to the source.

It is because of that deal that Braun's suspension was announced Monday, the source told Quinn. The plan remains for the rest of the suspensions stemming from the investigation to be announced all at once.

Those suspensions will include injured New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, with the source saying the evidence against Rodriguez is "far beyond" what MLB had on Braun. The length of Rodriguez's suspension is expected to be affected by MLB's belief that he interfered with the investigation.

While MLB may now be focusing its attention to Rodriguez, the Texas Rangers say they have heard nothing involving their slugger tied to the Biogenesis investigation.

"There's nothing new on Nelson [Cruz]'s situation," Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan said Monday. "I have no insight to what the commissioner's office at MLB is doing."

Braun, the 2011 MVP, was commended by MLBPA association executive director Michael Weiner for accepting the punishment.

"I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step," Weiner said in a statement. "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."

Braun has been among the more than one dozen players under investigation for ties to Biogenesis, a closed anti-aging clinic in Florida linked with the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs. MLB officials have been interviewing players, who have been represented by the union and their own lawyers.

This is not the first time Braun has run afoul of the league's drug-testing policy -- the 29-year-old outfielder tested positive for elevated testosterone levels in 2012. However, he successfully appealed his 50-game suspension.

The penalty was overturned by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das after Braun argued that the collector of his urine samples in the fall of 2011 did not follow protocol. The case marked the first time a baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.

Braun has hit .298 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs this year for the Brewers, who entered play Monday with a 41-56 record. He missed most of June and a week in July because of an injured thumb and time on bereavement leave.

Information from T.J. Quinn of ESPN's "Outside The Lines," ESPN.com senior baseball writer Jerry Crasnick and ESPNDallas.com's Todd Wills was used in this report.

[Reya Serra]

That's just the first snowball running down the hill of what's about to become a total avalanche of suspensions.

[Jon]

I hope they remove his MVP award from 2011.

[Justin]

There is going to be a shit ton more suspensions.  Hopefully, once they are doled out, we as fans can get back to focusing on good quality baseball without the black cloud hanging over our heads.

[GM Franchise]

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best record in baseball right now. Any thoughts on this? Because with their recent history (meaning their long streak of losing seasons) I'm excited to see them doing well.

[Justin]

It's been a long time for Pirates fans, and even though I'm a die hard Braves fan, I'm glad to see them back on track.  Hopefully they can keep it going and actually make the playoffs.

[Justin]

It's been a long time for Pirates fans, and even though I'm a die hard Braves fan, I'm glad to see them back on track.  Hopefully they can keep it going and actually make the playoffs.

They did it!

[Black Death]

go Tigers ... That is all