MLB's Decision to Fire Arbitrator from Ryan Braun Case Marks Chasm with Players

Major League Baseball has been trying to curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball ever since the infamous Mitchell Report came out in December of 2007.

Regardless of whether you believe Ryan Braun was guilty or not of using PEDs, MLB made its opinion rather clear on Monday when it fired the arbitrator who ruled in favor of Braun in his appeal of a positive drug test.

Shyam Das had been baseball's permanent arbitrator since 1999 but was fired on Monday after his ruling on the Ryan Braun case in February.

If Braun had been found guilty, he would have to serve a 50-game suspension to start the 2012 season. Instead, he's enjoying another successful season, batting .306 with 10 home runs, 21 RBI and 23 runs in his first 32 games.

The decision to fire Das on Monday was a clear indication that the MLB is not messing around. While the league oversaw players using PEDs for decades, it put its foot down on Monday, sending a message to other players in the league that there won't be much leeway moving forward.

This news also comes on the back of Colorado Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo getting his 100-game suspension for a positive drug test overturned.

MLB could have let the outcome of the Braun decision go. It could have gone on as if nothing had happened.

Instead, the league's firing of Das shows that it won't turn its back on the use, or alleged use, of PEDs going forward. The declaration stands to make quite a few ball players unhappy, including Braun, last year's National League MVP.

Whether you agree with Major League Baseball's decision on Monday or not, hopefully it's a sign that the league is making a concerted effort to get away from the Steroid Era. 

Just don't expect the movement to be greeted with open arms by players around the league. 

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