Ryan Braun And The Five Stages Of Grief: Depression

by Kyle Lobner on Dec 15, 2011 2:00 PM CST in Ryan Braun

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 21: Ryan Braun #8 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after his out in the fourth inning against New York Mets at Citi Field on August 21, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Now that we're done with denial, anger and bargaining it's time to move on to this, probably the most difficult step.

No matter what comes of this positive test and the appeal, this franchise and its fans have suffered several wounds that will never heal:

Even if the BBWAA decides not to act regarding Braun's NL MVP (which would be the correct decision), the award will always be seen as somewhat tainted.
Even if Braun is cleared of all charges, we now know exactly what opposing fan trolls and other morons are going to use as ammunition against the Brewers for roughly the next decade.
Unless the best possible outcome takes place, the Brewers are probably going to play a significant portion of their 2012 schedule (less than a third, but probably more than an eighth) without their best player.

Frankly, if those are the only issues we have to deal with then we'll have hit the best possible outcome.

There's really nothing about this that doesn't suck. So, if you'd like to talk about how much things suck, this is the place.

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do things suck? absolutely

to what degree? ill let you know in a month when we find out…waiting sucks.

by evand on Dec 15, 2011 2:09 PM CST reply actions

I am back to denial.

I am going with the total BS rumors I have heard that are saying it was part of a herpes treatment. I have never so badly wanted someone to have herpes.

by Braunstalker on Dec 15, 2011 2:16 PM CST reply actions

Braun: "MAN I WISH I HAD HERPES!!!"

A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.

by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 15, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Remember: if you don't get help at BCB, please get help somewhere.

We pull our pants up and do our jobs here.

by Rubie Q on Dec 15, 2011 2:33 PM CST reply actions 7 recs

could never be a psychoanalyst. He’d be half way through a deeply important session where his client was finally beginning to make the links between his Oedipal feelings about his father and the fact that he always seemed to sabotage his own chances of promotion when Peterson would stride over wearing his jacket (despite the fact his office is always boiling) and break the spell by putting his hand on his client’s shoulder….

Saying that, they say Jaques Lacan had a mean splitter.

"I love it when any team called 'The Brew Crew' wins": Tad Kubler
"LOLOL I LOVE YUNI!!!!": ThroughBeingCool

by MrLeam on Dec 15, 2011 2:47 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I dunno ...

looks to me like Peterson learned from the best.

“It’s not your fault, Manny. IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT.”

We pull our pants up and do our jobs here.

by Rubie Q on Dec 15, 2011 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

That's not psychoanalysis

That’s bearded fondling. Despite their shared heritage due to Sigmund Freud’s alleged affair with his sister-in-law, the two are distinctly different…

"I love it when any team called 'The Brew Crew' wins": Tad Kubler
"LOLOL I LOVE YUNI!!!!": ThroughBeingCool

by MrLeam on Dec 15, 2011 2:53 PM CST up reply actions

I pretty much went straight to depression right off the bat.

Cheering for and repping one particular guy as hard as I did, and feeling like I won’t want to go to opposing teams ballparks (I live in LA) and scream “YOU’RE MY BOY BRAUN” anymore, fucking sucks.

And I just bought a house 1 mile from Dodgers Stadium too :(

by Archibaldcrane on Dec 15, 2011 2:39 PM CST reply actions

Zack Greinke is the Brewers' best player.

He missed significant time last season and the team did alright.

If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!

by SRB on Dec 15, 2011 3:10 PM CST reply actions

I'd agree that he's certainly got the highest upside

I don’t know if I’d take him over Braun for a single season, though.

by cwolf20 on Dec 15, 2011 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

Better numbers

If Plush had to pick Wearwolf or Vampire, I'm a Wearwolf!

by SRB on Dec 15, 2011 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

In what sense?

It’s really hard to compare “better numbers” when you play such completely different positions. I’ll tell you this:

Braun is more likely to put up a 6 WAR season
Greinke is more likely to put up a 7 WAR season

They average around the same, but I think I trust Braun to be more consistent, as much as I hate that term.

by cwolf20 on Dec 15, 2011 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

Hey BLAS, Ryan Braun tested positive for a "banned substance...."

That dog just won't hunt.

by Bush League All Star on Dec 15, 2011 4:34 PM CST reply actions 3 recs

It's so

sad

Mark Attanasio is the best.

by nullacct on Dec 15, 2011 5:41 PM CST reply actions

I'm less concerned with the suspension

If I’m convinced there was truly some innocent mistake, but he still gets the 50 game ban, I’m cool with that. If he cheated and got no suspension, I’d still be devastated.

I know some here have questioned the fandom of someone who won’t root for Braun if it turns out he cheated, but I’m not sure how I can. Perhaps I’m still antiquated, but I still believe the integrity and character of the competition is part of what makes baseball great.

The thought that depresses me the most is thinking about how many games I enjoyed with my son this year—and then remember that Field of Dreams quote where Ray Kinsella couldn’t respect his father because his hero was a cheater (paraphrased).

I will now go light myself on fire.

Steve
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com

by stigmo on Dec 15, 2011 5:53 PM CST reply actions

Ball players

have been taking PEDs imagined or otherwise for 100 years. Don’t pretend this is a new thing. IT makes me sad.

by Braunstalker on Dec 15, 2011 6:23 PM CST up reply actions

Cheating is a time-honored tradition in baseball.

The evolution of cheating in the game is actually a really fascinating subject.

by mpbMKE on Dec 16, 2011 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

Slavery was once a time-honored tradition in this country

Doesn’t mean we were wrong to stamp it out.

"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa

by mnbrewer on Dec 16, 2011 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

I see your false dichotomy and raise you a historian's fallacy!

Or, in other words, apples and oranges. To a pretty extreme level. Bringing slavery into an argument that doesn’t involve events on the same order of magnitude of slavery is a half-degree below comparing someone you don’t like to Hitler—it’s extremist, counterproductive, and a lazy argument.

It’s like if you have a leaky roof and saying “I know what a huricane victim feels like.” They have nothing to do with one another.

by mpbMKE on Dec 16, 2011 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Fair enough, that was pretty hyperbolic

My point was that “it’s always been like that!” is a pretty lousy argument.

"Our attitude is we look at ourselves and we grade ourselves. And even if we don’t like what’s happening on the other side, we don’t make a — it’s not our business" - Tony Larussa

by mnbrewer on Dec 16, 2011 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

The quote was

“Perhaps I’m still antiquated, but I still believe the integrity and character of the competition is part of what makes baseball great.”

The rejoinder is that this has never been the case. Cheating has always been part of the game. There’s an innocence here that is ficticious, some great lie we tell ourselves to justify the lessons we think sports teach us. It’s indignance based upon false precepts. Or, in other words, a lesson in futility.

So, in that sense, “it’s always been like that” is a valid argument. Players (in every sport) will always cheat, leagues will always find ways to prevent players from cheating, players will invent new ways to cheat, etc., etc.

by mpbMKE on Dec 16, 2011 3:32 PM CST up reply actions

Don't feel depressed today, so I'll just go with this.

Contributor on Brew Crew Ball, Commissioner of Prognostikeggers, Owner of a broken sarcasm detector

by -JP- on Dec 15, 2011 8:45 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Sigh

The only thing that can cure this depression is GRIZZLEBEE’S!.

REWIND YOURSELF!

by drezdn on Dec 15, 2011 10:47 PM CST reply actions

Good grief

I fail to understand why you think baseball fans for other teams should ignore the Ryan Braun. As if it’s your own insulated in-house problem and nobody dare have a right to pass judgment.

This is a VERY serious indictment on Braun. As bad as Jason Giambi, Raffy Palmiero, Roger Clemens being caught red-handed and facing severe criticism in the court of public opinion. Hell, in Chicago we had Sam-ME Steriod Sosa to content with. The worst kept secret in baseball was that Sosa was juiced to the max. And he rightfully had a very ugly exit from Chicago and will NEVER get elected into the Hall of Fame, as should be the case.

Way too much rationalization going on around here too. “Ah, he just had herpes and it was the medicine he was on.” Unless you guys are clinical physicians how in the hell do you know what you are talking about on that?!? Yes, innocent until proven guilty. But my goodness the circumstances don’t look good. Surely you have to understand that. And surely you have to understand if the rest of the baseball world is emotional about the guy. I’d expect the same if this was a Chicago Cub we were talking about.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Dec 15, 2011 10:54 PM CST reply actions

Well Captain Obvious is just banging on all cylinders tonight....

by zsxander567 on Dec 15, 2011 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

Good grief

I fail to understand why you think your unwanted opinion interests anyone here in any way. Go back to YOUR BCB, you petty twerp. I’m sorry that you franchise is pathetic and that we signed 1of the only 2 competent players you’ve had this decade, but your act has run its course.

Packers: Working on a dynasty.
Blackhawks: Taking care of business as usual.
Badgers:Back-to-back B1G Champions!
Brewers: Move along, nothin' to see here.

by Tepo6688 on Dec 15, 2011 11:17 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

I love that because you don't understand something

You feel you’re correct in dismissing its validity.

by cwolf20 on Dec 16, 2011 12:17 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs

hey BLou

“blou” me, jackass.

by Tristram28 on Dec 16, 2011 12:24 AM CST up reply actions

Facepalm

post fail

"Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer."

by 1080p on Dec 16, 2011 12:35 AM CST up reply actions

Everyone here would be fine with having a rational conversation with you,

… and you started out by being a dick. So you’re probably gonna have to lighten up a ~~bit~~ lot if you want anyone to talk to you besides calling you a troll. Fair? Fair.

A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.

by TwoShoesMcGooze on Dec 16, 2011 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I do understand that

and don’t call me shirley

It is what it is.

by coolig on Dec 16, 2011 10:24 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I'm still not depressed.

I have faith this will work out justly, and that, regardless of outcome, Braun will handle it with class, dignity, and accountability. It’s all we can ask of him right now, and there’s nothing in his public life that would suggest he’d act any differently.

by mpbMKE on Dec 16, 2011 12:10 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

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	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Cincinnati Red Reporter	25	20	.555	0	Lost 1
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