Page 8 August 1, 2013 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Braun vs. Brains Up and Adam By Adam Serrao be somewhat apologetic for his actions. “As I Tartars Honing Skills in Summer Ballhave acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect,”Though sports may be a vastly different world than the one that we all currently live Braun said in a statement released by MLB. “I By Adam Serrao “Our whole team underperformed. Our in, certain moral factors about its living remain realize now that I have made some mistakes. There are a lot of good things happening in pitching was not bad, but our offense never the same. For example, we are all raised in I am willing to accept the consequences of Torrance over the summer and one happens clicked.” More of the same was evident when a society that upholds its citizens to tell the those actions. This situation has taken a toll to be taking place right here in our own very Torrance faced perhaps its biggest challenge truth. At an early age, we are taught to be on me and my entire family, and it has been a backyard with the Torrance High School of the summer versus Banning. Banning honest and in doing so our character will be distraction to my teammates and the Brewers Tartars. Head coach Ollie Turner has the went on to the L.A. City Section Division a virtuous one. In the sports world, that same organization. I am very grateful for the support youth on his team playing well and is seeing I semifinals last year and showed just why moral standard of honesty remains the same. I have received from players, ownership and good things out of players who are looking it was so good as it took a 3-1 victory over Look at Pete Rose, for example. Dishonesty the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. to make a big difference on the club next Turner and his Tartars earlier this month. will keep him out of the Hall of Fame for as Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may year. Turner is known for tinkering with his While the pitching for Banning has always long as he lives. Lance Armstrong must now have disappointed--all of the baseball fans, lineups in the summer. That way, come time been pretty good, it is difficult to tell whether be experiencing that same feeling--maybe even especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers for Pioneer League competition, he knows it was on display again during the game or to a greater extent. Then there’s Ryan Braun. organization and my teammates. I am glad to just how to use his guys. With new players whether the Torrance bats just went cold, Braun has played for the Milwaukee Brewers have this matter behind me once and for all since the 2007 season and has since turned and I cannot wait to get back to the game I himself into a five-time All-Star, a five-time love.” Braun may have put this matter behind “Whether it was the coaching style of Turner or the ambition Silver Slugger, a Rookie of the Year (2007), an him, but to those who appreciate the game of of the players that did it, Torrance went on a streak and won NL home run leader (2012) and an NL MVP baseball, there is still much more to be heard (2011). Just recently, however, Braun was that has yet to be said. For instance, Braun seven games in a row to close out the season.” caught by Major League Baseball (MLB) and has still never admitted to taking PEDs or suspended for the rest of the year without pay any kind of steroid. That is in fact what he for “violations of the Basic Agreement and its has been suspended for, yet he fails to directly stepping up to the plate and a new coach like Turner has been fearful of over the past Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.” acknowledge his own wrongdoing. back in the fold, Turner believes that his year or so. Justin Yanez pitched five innings Not even two years ago, Braun professed his Likewise, Braun fails to acknowledge the fact team should be primed to make a run at the while giving up just six hits and no runs to innocence in the matter and swore to everyone that he lied directly to face of the public, of whole thing next May. the Tartars, as Banning also saw all three of who looked on that he was innocent. Now a baseball, of his peers and of the country when If you ask Turner, he’ll tell you that the its runs come in the second inning. A double proven liar, Braun, like those who have come two years ago he fervently denied having taken Tartars are coming off of a disappointing and two singles supplied all of the runs that before him, must prepare to pay the price. any sort of PED. “I truly believe in my heart season last year. Losers of three out of their Banning would need to take home the victory. That price, for Braun, does not seem to be a and I would bet my life that this substance first four games and six out of their first nine, On the brighter side of things, Kyle Smith steep one upon first glance when considering never entered my body at any point,” Braun said it certainly seemed as if Turner and his team was doing his best to keep the Tartars afloat the repercussions of his actions. Braun’s in February of 2012 when initially accused of were going to be in for a long season. It never in the game, just as he tried to do when used suspension includes the final 65 games of the taking PEDs. “If I had done this intentionally is quite easy to get along with other Pioneer sparingly last season. Smith racked up four Brewers’ season and any potential postseason or unintentionally, I’d have been the first one League rivals either. The Tartars, however, did victories with a 3.87 ERA in limited time for action that the team may see. The money that to admit it. I truly believe this substance never so quite nicely. Racking up a record of 7-3 the Tartars last year. In the upcoming year, Braun will lose resulting from this suspension entered my body.” All of those statements have in the Pioneer League, Turner’s only three however, Smith figures to be a bigger part amounts to $3.25 million. After he serves his now been proven to be lies and one of baseball’s losses in league play came to El Segundo of the rotation and batting order for Torrance not even half-season suspension, however, biggest names has now forever tarnished his and South, which both finished tied atop and he showed just why in the game against Braun is eligible to return to the Brewers’ name as well as his career. the Pioneer League with the Tartars in the Banning. Smith produced all of the offense organization for spring training and receive Ryan Braun didn’t only lie to himself--he lied to standings at the end of the year. The loss to for the Tartars, going three for four with two the remaining $132 million on his contract. everyone around him. What’s worse is that by South was an ugly one, taking a 6-1 defeat bunt singles, and came into the game to toss Without the use of performance enhancing lying about his initial positive test, Braun wound in early April. The silver lining is that the two innings of relief in which he didn’t allow drugs, Braun may have never even made it up getting the sample collector fired and cost a Torrance boys turned it around just two days a run. Smith was singled home in the game to the Big Leagues and definitely would not man his job. By having no integrity himself, he later to not just beat the Spartans, but shut by Paul Moon in the sixth inning to break have accrued some of the money awards that jeopardized another man’s integrity (and job) them out on their home turf just two days up Banning’s shutout bid and account for he has garnered up to this current date. The in the process. Braun may still be a millionaire later. El Segundo certainly had Torrance’s the Tartars’ only run of the game. fact that he loses only $3.25 million while and may still come back to get paid next number, though, taking two straight games Though the Tartars lost the game, they also receiving an extended vacation may have season, but his peers in the game of baseball from the Tartars in a sweep later that month. gained another key piece of the puzzle made his cheating worthwhile for the player. It and most fans of the game of baseball will no Towards the end of the season, something when former assistant coach Terry DeWan boosted Braun’s name and brand to a level that longer respect him. Braun not only lied, but clicked for the Tartars. Whether it was the announced that he will return to take over it would have otherwise never seen and turned also forced others to lie for him and will now coaching style of Turner or the ambition of the pitching staff after a head coaching stint him into a multi-millionaire. MLB used Braun forever be the victim of a tarnished reputation. the players that did it, Torrance went on a at Covina in which he went 26-25 over as its first example, but the slap on the wrist There are still honest players like Andy Pettitte streak and won seven games in a row to two seasons of play. DeWan will look over that they gave him may not even do its part and Jason Giambi, who have been caught using close out the season. The Tartars took that Smith, Ray Diaz, Jacob Gurwell and David to deter other players from becoming future PEDs, admitted to it and apologized for their momentum with them into a first round Aros in an attempt to put together a stalwart offenders. If Braun’s case proves anything, it’s actions. Those players have been forgiven and playoff victory over St. Bonaventure before pitching staff that will shut down the rest of that financially PEDs are worthwhile, especially forgotten about. The Ryan Brauns of the world, eventually being knocked out in the second the Pioneer League next season. “We’re ready for a player with a subpar skill set. however, have no excuse for their actions on or round by San Dimas. “We’re coming off a to turn the page,” Turner explained. With a While the picture that has just been painted off the field and will forever be marked with rough year and we’re trying to get it back in successful summer league under their belts, may make it seem like Braun is getting away the scarlet letter of disgracing their peers, their the right direction,” Turner said of his club Turner and the Tartars may just be poised with highway robbery, he does in fact seem to own names and the entire game of baseball. • now participating in summer league action. for a breakout season next year. • “SPECIAL SUMMER SAVINGS” Harry’s & $6500* HERALD PUBLICATIONS McCoy’s MovingOnlySubscribe Now *Limited time offer. Each publication. 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