Nightengale said he’s public enemy #1. He also mentioned ARod. (That’s not 1 focus)

There is a huge difference between the two concepts. In one, you have an investigation force going after only 1 guy. In the other you have a list of guys with varying priorities. Do you think they’d give ARod (and all the others) immunity to flip Braun? I highly doubt it. To me it sounds like you took a tangent from Nightengale (#1) and took it farther, past fact (the only 1.) Huge difference in my mind.

Just like the Army and the Democrats in 2004, they’re fighting the last war/election and failing to understand the world has moved on.

In other words, for those who will not understand my point, MLB thinks that by going after Braun, they are gaining redemption for ignoring Bonds/Clemens/etc.

I’d skip the “maybe not with Braun” bit. As you point out with your comments about this looking like MLB trying to nail Braun for getting off before, the abuse is already likely to be here. Even if there’s some good reason for focusing on Braun that MLB hasn’t mentioned- an unlikely proposition- it looks terrible. The message seems to be that MLB will vindictively try to get people who make it look bad, even if it means compromising its stated positions to do so. I can’t imagine that this is a good way of improving relations with the MLBPA.

different anonymous source says something to a reporter to make them say ” but there are really two players who captivate MLB’s interest …Alex Rodriguez and Braun. And Braun happens to be MLB’s Public Enemy No.1.” Craig says “MLB is laser targeting Ryan Braun to satisfy their egos.”

Why no “lets wait for the facts articles?” Would that dim the narritave?

(ps, yes I do see the one “if” in the last paragraph of the article, but immedaitly after that sentance, you go back to making statements that are presented as facts out of your merry imagination. I’m pretty sure MLB didn’t sanction these alleged leaks.)

MLB already says this. It says that cheaters who cheat via PEDs are more important than cheaters who doctor baseballs and cork bats.

MLB shit the bed and allowed Brauns test results to be leaked before the appeal process ran its course, but they won’t release the arbitrator’s (Shyam Das) findings and why he sided with Braun.

MLB might be more corrupt than the government. . .

Either way it’s weak. If you don’t have the smoking gun to punish him today, will you really feel better about the punishment X-number of weeks or months down the road when you have dozens of other people involved filling you up with heresay?

As we have seen in public schools around the country in recent years; zero tolerance policies do more harm than good

I get the big fish theory but Braun isn’t some Columbian drug lord who continues to thumb his nose at authorities. The laser focus on him is showing that MLB is being a hypocrite in regards to its policy. Unless it’s been shown that Braun is an investor or in some other capacity involved with operations of the clinic going after him specifically makes absolutely no sense other than showing a petty agenda from the MLB front offices because they were on the losing end of the last Braun-League fight.

There are also arguments that fans will make if this whole episode ends up only going after Braun;

1. A player on a small/mid market team is being vilified while a player on a big market team is being ignored for the same incident. Obviously this would be Braun vs A-Rod

I however have my own doubts of this because had the big market player be a Met, a Red Sox or a Cub the media would vilify them as much if not more than Braun.

2. There is the political angle that some will make again using the Braun vs A-Rod example;

White Conservative Middle America (Braun) vs Minority dominate Liberal East Coast (A-Rod) that a white player is being punished (possibly more harshly) than a minority player

MLB seems (at least in my view) to want to be an extended wing of the colossal failure that is the US drug war with this new turn of events.

If they find hard evidence that these players are guilty then by all means punish away but punish them all equally under the current rules of the CBA.