Braun*s Urine Collector Says He Followed Protocol

There's two sides to every story. We've already heard Ryan Braun's side regarding his urine sample testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone. Now, we're hearing from the other side, from the person who collected that very sample.

Ryan Braun claimed that the MLB drug testing protocol was not followed because the delivery of his urine sample was delayed 44 hours. Yesterday, the person who collected Ryan's sample said there was nothing wrong with the process and that he followed the collection program's protocol.

Last week, In addressing the media after winning the appeal of his positive drug test, Braun stated, "We have no idea what happened to it in that 44-hour period...", "...I am the victim of a process that completely broke down. - We're part of a process where you're 100 guilty until proven innocent".

Dino Laurenzi Jr., the MLB urine sample collector, confirmed he handled Ryan Braun's urine sample following a playoff game on Oct 1, 2011.  "At no point did I tamper in any way with the samples", Dino said. 

Laurenzi claims he stored the urine sample at his home because he could not locate an open FedEx office within 50 miles from the playoff location, Milwaukee's Miller Park,  that would ship packages that day or Sunday.

In response to his comments, Braun said there are at least 5 locations within 5 miles of the stadium that are open until 9:00 p.m. and one that was open 24 hours a day.

"There have been other occasions when I have had to store samples in my home for at least one day, all without incident," said Laurenzi. He made his comments public "to set the record straight".

Did Laurenzi follow protocol? Will his admittance he's held other urine samples overnight lead to other MLB drug testing protocol appeals?

Braun*s Brains Win Drug Test Appeal

On Thursday, reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun won the appeal of his positive drug test.  But let's get it straight, it was his legal brain trust that found a loophole in the drug testing protocol that got him off.

Friday, Braun was quoted as saying "We won because the truth is on my side", "The truth prevailed".  But is he telling the whole truth?

Don't you find it odd that at no time did Braun deny that he was taking Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs).  Wouldn't you think if he was truly innocent he would have vehemently denied them from the get-go? That never happened.

Ryan Braun's October 1 urine sample tested positive for elevated testosterone levels.  Levels caused by a performance-enhancing drug, according to two un-named sources. The Daily News quoted a source as saying that the test results were "insanely high, the highest ever for anyone who has ever taken a test, twice the level of the highest test ever taken".

So, how did Ryan get away with winning his appeal? It came done to a technically where Braun*s lawyers argued that the protocol of MLB's testing drug testing policy was not followed.  Instead of bringing Baun*s urine test immediately to a FedEx store to be shipped to the lab, the collector brought in home, believing FedEx was closed on Saturday, delaying delivery by 44  hours.

"We have no idea what happened to it in that 44-hour period" said Braun "I am the victim of a process that completely broke down. - We're part of a process where you're 100 guilty until proven innocent".

Braun's statements about the process completely breaking down just doesn't hold any weight.  Every step in the process was followed perfectly, except for the immediate drop off of the urine sample for delivery. 

Do you believe in conspiracy theories?  Braun's appeal is the only successful appeal of an MLB drug test - EVER. Oh, and he plays for the Milwaukee Brewers, formerly owned by MLB commission Bud Selig.  This is an interesting tidbit (I first heard it from Craig Carton during WFAN's Boomer and Carton in the morning) but carries zero weight.

Braun*s brains never questioned the validity of the specimen, never questioned the science of the testing and never questioned the integrity of the specimen (that it was never tampered with).  In other words, they had no defense again what the test results showed. He beat the rap due a technicality.

Now, with all that said, Braun's appeal is valid because protocol was broken. What you need to understand however, is that the 44 hour delay in the delivery of the drug specimen had zero (zilch, zero, nada, none) effect on the specimen quality.  Drug testing experts agree there is no way that testosterone levels would be escalated by the delay in delivery of the urine specimen.

While Braun is happy with the outcome, the opposite can be said for MLB.  The league's reaction can be summed up by MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred who said, the league "vehemently disagrees" with the outcome.

Through it all, the Brewers get their MVP back from a 50 game suspension and Braun continues to earn his full salary @ 8 yrs/$45M. 

However, Braun will forever be associated with the * (asterisk), the mark of shame in major league baseball. 

That's why he deserves the headline "Braun*s Brains Win Drug Test Appeal".

sources: WFAN -Boomer and Carton In the morning, NY Post, NY Daily News, MLB.com, wikipedia.com

Holy Sheets! Deal With Rangers Called Off Due To Bad Wing

Ben Sheets, the free agent who signed a two year deal with the Texas Rangers, pending a physical, may need to find another job. It seems that Mr. Sheets, who pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, may need surgery to repair the torn flexor tendon in his elbow.

Now Ben's agent wants his former team to pay for the procedure since he injured it late in September 2008 while leading the Brewers to the playoffs. Major League Baseball officials have also been brought into the discussion on who pays for the surgery.

"We're working our way through all of the details and we don't know the answer yet," Ash said. "Major League Baseball has regulations related to workers comp and there are procedures and protocols that have to be respected. We're working our way through those so I can't give you much insight other than that."

The Texas Rangers backed away from the deal with after it was determined that Sheets had a torn flexor tendon that might require surgery.

If the Rangers want to gamble, they could still sign him and hope that he'll return to form after possible surgery and rehabilitation.

"We've maintained contact but I'm not optimistic at this point," general manager Jon Daniels said Thursday morning.

Daniels declined to discuss Sheets' physical and health situations.

Sheets is a free agent who declined an arbitration offer from Milwaukee on Dec. 8, but he was injured while a Brewers employee. He worked much of the second half of the 2008 season with elbow pain and was left off Milwaukee's postseason roster, then revealed to reporters that he had torn the flexor tendon near his right elbow.

At the time, according to Brewers General Manager Gord Ash, the medical prognosis was that, "with rest and exercise and rehab, he should be fine."

Asked if there was any talk of surgery at that time, Ash replied simply, "None."

The Brewers, fully aware of his injury, felt comfortable enough to offer arbritration to Sheets. If he had agreed, it was almost certain he would have gotten more than the $11 million he got in 2008.

Sheets decided to roll the dice and entered the free agency market knowing that teams were interested, especially the Yankees. But the Yankees signed A.J. Burnett and re-signed Andy Pettitt and the Rangers emerged as Ben's suitor.

Sheets has a history of arm injuries going back to 2005 when he tore his right lat (upper back) muscle. He has been on the disable list 6 times since then and all seem to be related to the lat muscle tear in 2005.

Ash was not sure when the debate about possible surgery would be settled.

"When you're dealing with multiple parties, it always takes a little longer than you hoped," Ash said. "We're working our way through it."