Ryan Braun Tests Positive for PEDs: Most Pathetic Excuse Stories in MLB History

A month before receiving the 2011 National League MVP award, Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was told that he had failed a drug test for performance enhancing drugs.

By failing the PED test, Braun faces a 50-game suspension to start 2012 and a lot of scrutiny for the rest of his career. 

Braun is going to appeal the suspension and work toward finding evidence that he did not cheat and that he was wrongly accused of doing so. His only statement so far has been that, "It's BS."

While that may or may not be true, it's hardly a good explanation. Let's take a look at some of the worst excuses in MLB history. 

Sammy Sosa's Corked Bat

In 1998, former Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa was in a race with former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire to break the single-season home run record. Both surpassed it with 66 and 70 home runs respectively.

Five years later, on June 3, Sosa broke his bat while at the plate against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. When the umpires looked at it, they found that the bat was corked.

Sosa said that he had accidentally used one of his practice bats, and when asked, Cubs manager Dusty Baker stated that corked bats were prohibited in practice.

Later that year, Sosa tested positive for PED's.

Manny Ramirez's Fertility Drugs

Former superstar left fielder Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2009.

He tested positive for the female fertility drug human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, a substance commonly used to boost testosterone after a steroid cycle.

Ramirez claimed that it was given to him by his doctor for a "personal health issue," and was suspended for 50 games.

Again, before the 2011 season started, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games and instead chose to retire.

Rafael Palmeiro's Congress Statement

When testifying in front of Congress on March 17, 2005, Rafael Palmeiro famously stated, "Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids, period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never." 

Not only did he say that, but he wagged his finger at them the entire time.

On August 1, 2005, he was suspended 10 games for failing a drug test. Later, in 2006, he stated while undergoing a polygraph test that he may have unknowingly taken steroids while injecting a B12 supplement.

Roger Clemens' Bat Incident

In 2000, the Subway Series got to extend into October when the Yankees faced their rivals from Queens, the Mets.

In Game 2, Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens threw an inside pitch to Mets catcher Mike Piazza that broke Piazza's bat. As Piazza ran to first, Clemens picked up the barrel of the broken bat that landed near him and threw it directly at Piazza.

After the game, Clemens told reporters that he thought he was throwing the ball. 

But even if it was the ball, why would he throw it at Piazza?

Claudell Washington's Late Start

In 1975, Claudell Washington was named to the All-Star team at the young age of 20 years old and finished with a batting average of .305 and stole 40 bases for the Oakland Athletics.

In 1978, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox but failed to report to the team for four days. His excuse?

"I overslept."

Mrs. Clemens' Steroids

Roger Clemens was under great scrutiny in 2008 over the alleged use of human growth hormone years earlier.

But according to Clemens and his trainer, Brian McNamee, the HGH wasn't being used by him. It was his wife, Debra, who used it in 2003 before a photo shoot for the Swimsuit Edition of Sports Illustrated. 

Alex Rodriguez Swats the Ball

In the historic 2004 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez swatted the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove as he was being tagged out in Game 6. 

Derek Jeter scored on the play, all the way from first, and Rodriguez was called safe at second base. The Red Sox argued with umpires about the call, stating that A-Rod had slapped the ball out of Arroyo's glove. The umpires reversed the call, stating that Rodriguez was out and forcing Jeter to return to first base.

Outraged that he was ruled out by interference, A-Rod pleaded with the umpires that he was simply moving his arms in a normal running fashion by his side with his palms facing his body.

That's certainly not what the picture shows.