Ryan Braun on suspension “All I can do is move on”

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun spoke out for the first time Wednesday morning, where he was swarmed with questions from pressing reporters. Braun, who was suspended 65-games for using PED’s and involvement in the Miami Biogenesis Clinic Scandal, says he is remorseful and said he made a “huge mistake”.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers befriended Braun sometime in the 2011 season. Among the accusations of Braun possibly doping, Rodgers stood behind his friend. When word came out he failed a drug test, Rodgers said he was “shocked”, even stating Braun told him he would “never do anything like that”.

But this wasn’t the first time Braun told a white lie, as after winning the MVP, he released to the entire MLB organization that he didn’t take PED’s.

During a food drive at Miller Park, he spoke publicly and was asked the pressing question on everyone’s minds; “Why did you lie about cheating?”

“Obviously I’ve been through a lot and as I expressed in my statement that I felt was pretty lengthy and specific, I got into a lot of details at that point. I’m not really going to go into any further details. I’m deeply remorseful about what happened.” Braun said. “I wish I had the ability to go back and change things and do things a lot differently, but unfortunately I can’t do that. All I can do is move on and try to do everything in my power to earn back peoples’ trust and respect and support. I don’t anticipate being able to earn back everybody’s support, but I certainly intend to do everything in my power to do that and I won’t stop trying.”

As if reading from a script, Braun seemed to have everything planned. It’s doubtful anybody felt Braun’s statements came from his heart, but that doesn’t seem to be the point of matter as of now. Braun just wants to get back into the game, as he stated he was “eager” to jump back in after serving the suspension.

When asked which he thought was worse, taking the drugs or lying about it, Braun said:

“As I’ve stated, the goal for me is just being able to move forward. I’m not going to get into too many specifics about what happened other than saying I’m extremely remorseful. I wish that I could go back and change things but I don’t have that opportunity to do that, so I’m just going to do everything in my power to move forward.”

Yet again, something that you could find on a flash card written by Braun’s agents. It leaves me no other thoughts that Braun is feeding worthless talk, possibly not even knowing what he is saying, just repeating what he’s memorized.

When Braun tested positive for banned substances in October of 2011, the guy who handled the urine sample was Dino Laurenzi Junior. However, when the test back as positive, an arbitrator ruled the samples as mishandled, flinging heavy criticism Laurenzi’s way, and Braun wasn’t one to give into the real story, as he maintained his innocence the entire time.

When a reporter asked if he apologized to Laurenzi Jr and made any payments, Braun said “I have not made any payments to him. I’ve had some really productive and positive conversations with him. The Laurenzi family was actually gracious and kind enough to have my fiancée Larisa and I over to their house for dinner last night, and we had some really good conversation.

“We’ve made amends and I think we’re both excited to be able to move forward and put this behind us.”

Braun actually put up convincing arguments in the time of his trial during 2011, where he railed on MLB’s joint drug agreement, stating it was “fatally flawed”. When he thought he was in the clear Braun said “We won because we have the truth on our side.”

Although meeting with team members and even season ticket holders at Miller Park, Braun hadn’t addressed the scandal in public until today.

If you remember, Melky Cabrera pulled the same thing with the San Francisco Giants in 2012, which would be his only year of batting over 150 hits and an All-Star season. However, it was in the trash when he tested positive for PED’s, and was soon traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.

But unlike Cabrera, Braun wants to stay with his team, and he plans to take the field again with the Milwaukee boys once more.

“Absolutely I want to stay here,” Braun said. “I made the long-term commitment because the city has been amazing to me, the fans have been amazing to me, the organization has been incredibly supportive of me, and I fully intend to stay here. It’s flattering that people would be interested. I actually had dinner with (general manager) Doug Melvin, (Brewers manager) Ron (Roenicke) and Mark Attanasio this week. I’ve seen Mark a lot, and I don’t think there’s any truth to those rumors. My goal and attention is to say here.”

In 7-years, Braun has played 944 games with the Brewers, driving in 211 home runs and a lifetime average of .312. With 1156 hits, he averaged a massive 165 hits a season. However, with his career now tainted with the sign of PED’s, it’s doubtful anybody takes his career seriously anymore. Despite being on the track of the Hall of Fame, it’s unlikely we will see Braun anywhere else than in the Hall of Shame.