Is anything pure in baseball anymore? 

Three weeks ago, Ryan Braun accepted the award for being this year's National League Most Valuable Player. 

Just weeks earlier, he was informed he failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs. 

Even worse, the commissioner of Major League Baseball cited Braun earlier as one of the glowing examples of young players who now represent a fresher, more honest game and overall testing procedure. 

Now, MLB is left to find an explanation for yet another black eye on its sport. 

For his part, the 28-year old Braun denies taking any PEDs.  He has appealed the findings of the test, but it's important to note no baseball player has ever had a successful appeal of a failed test for performance-enhancing drugs. 

The Braves would benefit if Braun is subject to the mandatory 50-game suspension that comes with a positive test, as they host the reigning NL Central Division champion Brewers Apr. 13-15, in Atlanta's first home games of the 2012 regular season.  

Let's just hope, for baseball's sake and our own ability to believe in the purity of the sport again that somehow, Ryan Braun is playing at Turner Field on those three days; because if he's not, it will mean he's serving part of his suspension and we will be forced to suspend all heartfelt thoughts whenever we applaud those players we think are racking up their monster numbers the right way.