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Atlanta Braves News Items

By Alan Carpenter

Jun 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; An exterior view of Marlins Park before a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; An exterior view of Marlins Park before a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 17, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) rounds second base after hitting a two run home run during the first inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) rounds second base after hitting a two run home run during the first inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

Quirks of the Schedule Don’t Really Help Atlanta

The Atlanta Braves were swept in Pittsburgh during the season’s opening week.

Various broadcasters have noted – repeatedly – that the PED suspension announcement for the Pirates’ Starling Marte was untimely for the Braves, given Marte’s role in helping to make that sweep happen.

In case you forgot, he went 7 for 14 in the series with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI… including a homer.

I have two observations.

First, baseball players must certainly be the most drug-tested of any athletes on earth.  Note this from the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta:

It thus stretches all credulity to imagine that Marte was so careless… especially for a big-time steroid like nandrolone.  That’s why many are wondering out loud whether the penalties are sufficient… or maybe even just saying “they apparently aren’t“.

Second, this actually raises the subject of a former rule-breaker, Ryan Braun (who – full disclosure – the Braves pursued briefly before landing a trade with the Padres to get Matt Kemp last year).

Atlanta has already had to play a Marte-included Pirates club.  If Braun is traded to the Dodgers (as rumors persist) before mid-July, then they might have to see Braun in 3 different series’s for two different teams.

The Nationals, for example, might only see him once.

Funny how schedules work.

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