Ryan Braun: Successful Appeal Saves Milwaukee Brewers' Season

Good news, Milwaukee Brewers fans—Ryan Braun will be ready to go on Opening Day, meaning your favorite baseball team has reason to believe this season after all.

According to MLB, the reigning National League MVP has won his appeal against a 50-game suspension doled out by the Commissioner's Office in response to Braun allegedly testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs in October of 2011.

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BREAKING: @Brewers OF Ryan Braun has won his appeal challenging his 50-game suspension by the Commissioner's Office.

— MLB (@MLB) February 23, 2012"

Braun's return has little impact on the Brewers' pitching staff, which boasts two top-tier starters in Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo along with two lights-out arms at the back of the bullpen in John Axford and Francisco Rodriguez.

The real effect will (quite obviously) be felt in the Brewers' batting order, which would've been down two big boppers after the departure of Prince Fielder (a.k.a. the Detroit Tigers' $214 Million Man) and Braun being forced to miss nearly a third of the season.

Sure, the Brew Crew would've been able to keep its collective head above water in the competitive-but-winnable NL Central without Braun, thanks to the likes of Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, rookie Mat Gamel and free-agent signee Aramis Ramirez.

With Braun, though, Milwaukee will boast a lineup that can bat with the best of 'em while fending off the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals and the much-improved Cincinnati Reds.

They also keep a Gold Glover in left field behind what may well be the worst defensive infield in baseball.

Thus, Braun's big win in arbitration will prove to be an even more monumental victory for the team as a whole, one that could mean the difference between playing in the Fall Classic or watching it from home.

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