Braves Players Thoughts On Ryan Braun

Jul 20, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun reacts after striking out in the 3rd inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

In a recent story from David O’Brien, several Braves players rightfully called out Ryan Braun on his steroid usage as well as the lies he told to try and cover it all up. Gerald Laird and Reed Johnson gave Braun the most heat, while Chris Johnson just sounded a bit disappointed.

I loved hearing what the current Braves players thought about the entire story and it really makes you feel for guys like Laird and Johnson who are living off of one and two year contracts while Braun cheats and makes a fortune.

We could go on and on about Ryan Braun, and steroids, and what the proper penalty should be for using them but let’s just get a look at what the Braves guys actually had to say. You can see all of their comments if you check out DOB’s story here.

Gerald Laird

"He’s not giving up very much of his contract, because he’s making more money next year and the following years,” Laird said. “His team is not going to the postseason, so there’s nothing to lose there. I mean, what are you really teaching the guy? And he knowingly came out and said he didn’t do anything.”I don’t think he should be banned from baseball, but make it hurt. Make him sit out next year for 50 games or 100 games.”"

Reed Johnson

"“If you look at it from a financial standpoint,” veteran Braves outfielder Reed Johnson said, “you lose 3 or 4 million dollars in salary, but because you did it, you’ve got $150 million on a contract.”He added, “And I’ve played on a one-year deal almost every year.”"

Chris Johnson

"“It’s terrible for baseball,” Braves third baseman Chris Johnson. “I mean, it’s good for baseball in that it’s cleaning up the game. It’s bad for baseball in that one of our best players is now, you know, labeled a cheater.”“I mean, he’s a guy that I’ve watched, as a right-handed hitter, watching his swing,” he said. “It stinks. But hopefully he comes back, serves his suspension and continues to be a good player. We’ll see in the long run if it changes who he was. We’ll see. Hopefully, for his sake, it won’t. Because if it does, then it looks like everything he did is tarnished.”"

In my opinion Ryan Braun’s “suspension” is a joke. He doesn’t get to play the rest of the year, he “loses” three million dollars, and he gets to come back next year without basically any repercussions. He also hasn’t even had to come out and talk to the media about why he lied, why he ruined people’s lives with his lies just to save his own butt, and whatever else the media decides to ask him.

The steroid problem in baseball is not going to be solved until there are some real punishments for using. For those who say that Braun  lost any money at all in this situation, here is what you need to know:

He used steroids for who knows how long, and inked an eight year $45 million contract followed by a five year extension for $105 million. The suspension this year mean he isn’t paid around  $3.2 million. Net gain for cheating = around $146.8 million dollars.

Do you really think people are going to stop using if they have the chance to come out that well?