The D-backs are
taking the high road after major league baseball upheld Braun’s appeal
of his 50-game suspensions for failing a drug screen because of elevated
testosterone. He tested positive Oct. 1, after getting three hits in
the Brewers’ 4-1 victory over the D-backs in Game 1 of the NLDS.
“We
all are part of the system, and the system was employed in this
process,” said D-backs managing partner Ken Kendrick, who talked to the
D-backs for the first time this spring before their Monday workout.
“The
outcome maybe was different from what many people expected," Kendrick
said. "There are rules, the rules were followed and the outcome is what
it is. I don’t think it is my place to make a comment about him as an
individual. He is a fine player. We lost to them as a team. They played
hard. We played hard. They won. We’d like to have another shot at them
this year, or someone else."
The situation might lead to a tweaking of the system, because it
appeared – and Braun contended – that the collection system was flawed,
which led to his one positive test.
“Probably this process
teaches us that nothing is perfect, and we want to try to make it
better,” Kendrick said. “The system was adjusted through the process of
the old labor agreement to the present labor agreement. What we want to
have is the best system in professional sports, and we think we do.”
Braun would have missed the first three games against the D-backs --
Nos. 46-48 on their schedule -- had his suspension been upheld.
“At
the end of the day, we just have to worry about our own business and
hope that all of our players are abiding by the rules and doing the
right thing,” D-backs president/CEO Derrick Hall said.
The
D-backs won the NL West at 94-68, a 29-game improvement from 2010,
before losing to the Brewers, and Kendrick said he spoke to the players
about continuing to move forward.
“The theme for me this year is
unfinished business. Last year was a great year, but you play this to
try to go all the way. I think we have the talent in the room that has
the potential to do that, and we have the leadership,” he said.
He did not get into win totals.
“You
talk to them about playing the game, playing the game hard, playing the
game to win. It was an opportunity to thank them for what they did last
year,” Kendrick said.
“They achieved a lot. They exceeded virtually everybody’s expectations but theirs.”
--Jack Magruder
