Why would he have to go on some sort of secret leave to discuss a plea of some kind? He has lawyers for that sort of thing. Or there is ample time during the all star break if they really wanted to meet in person. The bereavement list isn't something players can just go on for the hell of it, there has to be a documented reason for it. Otherwise teams would try to use it all the time just to get a different player on the roster for a day or two. Now, because Braun's situation has remained private (which he has a right, and it doesn't sound like it was a death), I'm to believe that it's some sort of cover up and that he's really secretly negotiating with MLB? For Braun to accept any sort of suspension, without an email, he's going to make himself look very foolish. Think about his press conference last year, how can he possibly now come out and say he did it? He can't, he has to fight it. They can say lifetime ban all they want, but the fact is, they'd have to get not one, not two, but three different penalties to stand up through an appeal. On top of that, it would be unprecendented to just skip the first two suspensions. I can't imagine the players union would sit quietly by, and I'm sure lawsuits would follow. I think it's purely a scare tactic by MLB at this point, as they know they have very little and are trying to scare the players into thinking they have way, way more than they do.