Braun Will Never Lose 2011 MVP Award

Whenever a player wins an award, people always consider him or her in a higher class than the other athletes in his or her sport.  But if the athlete is caught doing something consider wrong, people are outraged they even won the award in the first place. Naturally with Ryan Braun's PED but not PED suspension, people are banging the drum for the Brewers slugger to give back the 2011 MVP and give it to runner up Matt Kemp, or vacated it all together. The first suggestion could not be more stupid and the second one is just as dumb as the first.

The reason why Kemp getting the MVP gained traction is Kemp made comments about thinking he should be given the 2011 MVP award. Here's the weird thing, Matty, you should have been!  In all honesty, Kemp's year was better than Braun's all together except for one thing, winning baseball games. While the last thing should be a frivolous thing when it comes to MVP voting, it matters every damn year.  The other problem is writers would have trouble having the MVP and Cy Young (Clayton Kershaw) on the same team who only won 81 games. Kemp definitely has all the right to feel robbed, but at the same time, this whole notion is ridiculous.  

Kemp had a great year, but he did not win. This is not some eighth-year-old soccer league where everyone gets a trophy, a juice box and some orange slices at the end of year. Kemp should have another season that will earn himself MVP consideration. He is talented enough for multiple MVP's honestly and I do not believe Kemp fully meant his comments about getting the MVP.  Look at his body language, he is laughing it off trying to get the reporters away and he knew this would be the kicker.  Kemp even mentioned he felt 'uncomfortable' talking about it. Additionally, Skip Schumaker being on his team, a weird coincidence or something to do with it? 

Schumaker is the King of Mt. Pious right now, and he is coming out of the woodwork getting national attention for comments about Braun. Schumaker took Braun's jersey down in his living room and said he should be banned for life. There is no question in my mind Schumaker influences the clubhouse about this issue.  He must have forgotten their hitting coach had Andro in his locker room. The National League West is a popular place to lead the charge against Braun with both the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks speaking out. All it takes is one player, person or coach to develop a groupthink about a certain topic.  

The idea the MVP should be vacated is something that will not happen either because they would have to vacate a shit ton of MVP awards if they do with Braun. Just looking at the National League, they have Ken Caminiti, the first admitted steroid, not PED, user as a UNIAMINOUS winner in 1996. Barry Bonds won four straight from 2000-2004. Sammy Sosa won in 1998. The MVP award is littered with steroid users and Braun, a supposed PED user (There is a difference) on the list.  Anyone calling for the MVP to be vacated should just look at the list of MVP winners in the last thirty years. Do not give me Schumaker's shit about it being a 'Different time', because that does not fly when talking about awards.  

Ryan Braun's 2011 MVP trophy will stay with him until the end of time unless Braun, himself, chooses to give it up. But Braun should look at that list and know, nobody is perfect in baseball no matter what anyone tries to say to the media.

Charlie.