Wright, Bay surprised by Braun outcome
David Wright warms up for a fielding drill in Port St. Lucie. (Feb. 24, 2012) Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- As Ryan Braun talked on the television screen from the Brewers' spring training complex in Arizona, most of the Mets went about their usual business in the clubhouse Friday at Digital Domain Park.
The only two players who closely scrutinized the event as it unfolded were David Wright and Jason Bay, who finished up lunch as they watched. Both were somewhat surprised that Braun expounded on the subject as much as he did less than 24 hours after winning his appeal of a 50-game PED suspension -- the first time a suspension has been overturned in the relatively brief history of MLB's drug policy.
"I wasn't rooting one way or the other," Wright said. "I've gotten a chance to be around Ryan a little bit -- whether it was the World Baseball Classic or the All-Star Game -- and I think he's a great guy. I've had a blast playing with him and against him. Whether you agree or disagree with the decision, I guess the process worked."
On Friday, Braun, who allegedly tested positive for synthetic testosterone, explained that the urine sample he turned over to the collector Oct. 1 was not delivered to Federal Express for transport to the lab until two days later, a total of 44 hours. The CBA stipulates it must be done the same day.
"At the end of the day, the truth prevailed," Braun said at the news conference. "I'm a victim of a process that completely broke down and failed in the way that it was applied to me in the case."
Whatever those flaws may be, Wright is a steadfast supporter of baseball's drug enforcement and doesn't want to see it weakened.
"If you're guilty, I'm hoping that you're found guilty," Wright said. "If someone knowingly tries to cheat the system or cheat the game, I hope that they're caught and I hope that they're punished. In this case, I see what everybody else sees, but that's why you have the appeals process."
R.A. Dickey, who played with Braun briefly when their paths crossed in Milwaukee, was taken aback by the ruling.
"I was surprised because it set a precedent," Dickey said. "I totally expected for them to find that it was legitimate. The fact that, through a technicality, they found that it wasn't, that is a surprise.
"I think that people still have doubt, like, 'Oh, here's another way to get away with it,' that type of mentality. But we've also seen a high number of people caught by it. The fact that Ryan Braun, the NL MVP, is not beyond the arm of what's going on, that's encouraging, too."
Bay is represented by CAA, the same agency as Braun, and he wondered if the entire story will ever come out.
"I thought [the appeal] was almost an exercise in futility," Bay said. "But MLB has their stance, and it's great for Ryan and mostly all players that if you have been wrongly accused, and you can state your case, people will listen."
Braun may have had his suspension overturned, but completely erasing the black mark of PED suspicion could take longer.
"At the moment, it seems like he's having a hard time winning that public perception," Wright said. "But I guess the important thing for him is that he'll be out there with his teammates for the first 50 games.''
Notes & quotes: Johan Santana's first Grapefruit League start has been pushed back a day to March 6, when he will start the split-squad game against the Cardinals at Digital Domain Park. "There's nothing wrong," Terry Collins said. "He wanted to throw another long-toss program and we didn't put it in his schedule." . . . With Ruben Tejada expected to arrive Saturday -- the actual reporting date for position players -- Collins still plans to speak with his young shortstop. "I'm not going to embarrass him," he said, "but this kid is a big part of this puzzle. I'm just going to explain to him that there's a process when you're the guy." . . . Mike Pelfrey suffered a mild ankle twist Friday but managed to complete his second bullpen session.
