Ryan Braun: The ascent and possible downfall
The Milwaukee Brewers have been witnessing an unprecedented upsurge of power in the offence for a few years now. It is the indomitable combination of hitters that has lent this supremacy to the Brewers’ offence. When one talks about hitters whose contribution
is invaluable to the team, Ryan Braun’s name naturally surfaces.
This right-handed Major League Baseball infielder for the Brewers has set himself apart from his contemporaries with his mega talent, powerful hits and the domination over the pitchers whenever on the plate. Drafted in 2005, he has come to define and epitomise
brilliance, endlessly striving for perfection.
Since the arrival in the club, there has hardly passed a season whereby he has not dominated the list of award winners in one or another aspect of the game. From the National League Rookie of the Year Award that he garnered to his having Silver Slugger Awards
from 2008-11 and being the National League All-Star all these years are but a few in the ever expanding list of achievements.
That he became the National League Most Valuable Player this year is another accomplishment that adds to the incredibly impressive credentials of the outfielder. He was the 2009 National League hits leader as well coupled with having remained twice the National
League Slugging Percentage leader between the 2007 and 2011.
Having performed with admirable consistency all these years, the Milwaukee Brewers decided to extend the contract with this ace hitter in 2011. After talks that were exclusively held between Braun and the club his extension for five years, getting $105 million
in the contract drew mass media attention.
The 6ft 1in player had a .994 OPS in the 2011 regular season with 1.182 in the postseason. Through the season last year, he was a dominating figure who scored 109 runs in the 150 games that he played, and seven in the 11 that he played in the postseason.
His average overall stood at .332 in the regular season, with .405 in the postseason.
While the team cannot qualify for the World Series finals, Braun topped the rank in almost everything when it came to the National League. Among other things, his slugging percentage and OPS stood first, he remained second in both runs and batting averages,
fourth in RBIs, sixth in home-runs and seventh in SB.
All this brought him to limelight. However, that he proved instrumental in lending classic victories to the Milwaukee Brewers will outdo all other reasons to admire this player and make him vitally important for the club. As much as his presence for the
team is necessary, he has recently found himself embroiled in a controversy that will determine the course of his career.
The 28-year-old outfielder failed the drug test last year; a news which broke by a famous media outlet in the States. Subsequently, it came to be known that he had filed an appeal for turning what is said to be a 50-game suspension owing to the positive
results. While this was considered violation of rules set by Major League Baseball, Braun strongly denies having ever taken any performance-enhancing drug.
Nonetheless, it is very important for the player to get himself cleared from this serious issue as it may adversely impact the player’s career if the appeal is turned down. After all, the player who has appealed to the sensibilities and fascination of the
baseball fans should stand tall in keeping the sanctity of the game intact.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: