As first reported by Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, reigning National League MVP Ryan Braun will be starting the season with his Milwaukee Brewers. Braun won the appeal of his 50 game suspension. It was the first time a Major Leaguer successfully appealed a drug suspension.

Apparently Major League Baseball is not happy with this decision. Going as far as saying they were disappointed in this outcome. Really?

Shouldn’t this be viewed as a good thing? Braun maintained his innocence the whole time. It was case of a guy being found innocent after being wrongly accused of something. Why be so angry?

Statement from MLB Executive Vice President for Labor Relations Rob Manfred:

“Major League Baseball considers the obligations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program essential to the integrity of our game, our Clubs and all of the players who take the field. It has always been Major League Baseball’s position that no matter who tests positive, we will exhaust all avenues in pursuit of the appropriate discipline. We have been true to that position in every instance, because baseball fans deserve nothing less.

“As a part of our drug testing program, the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association agreed to a neutral third party review for instances that are under dispute. While we have always respected that process, Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today by arbitrator Shyam Das.”

This is good news for Brewers and their fans who are probably breathing a huge sigh of relief at this very moment because the posibility of facing the first 50 games of the season without Braun and recently departed free agent Prince Fielder would have been a pretty frightening proposition.

But I think the question everyone wants to know is, “When will Ryan Braun be getting apologies from all of the baseball writers who demanded he be stripped of the MVP award?” Hmmmm?

You can read Braun’s full statement here.