"And now Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers wait for the verdict.

Assuming Braun's arbitration hearing concluded Friday as expected in New York, major-league baseball's Basic Agreement calls for a decision to be rendered within 25 days as the Brewers' all-star leftfielder seeks to avoid a 50-game suspension for a reported positive test for a banned substance in October.

While 25 days are allotted if necessary, everyone involved is hoping for a shorter timetable for the important verdict. The three-man panel is allowed to announce its decision in advance of the required written opinion.

The New York Daily News reported that Braun's arbitration hearing began Thursday in front of a panel that included players union executive director Michael Weiner, Major League Baseball vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred and independent arbitrator Shyam Das. Assuming that Weiner and Manfred split their vote, Das would render the decisive tiebreaker.

Braun will stay in New York to attend the Baseball Writers Association of America dinner Saturday night to accept his National League most valuable player award. In his first public appearance since the positive test was reported in December, he is slated to give a speech but is not expected to answer questions about his drug test or pending verdict.

Braun requested the hearing after a reported positive test for a banned substance at the start of the postseason. Without the hearing, Braun immediately would have been suspended for 50 games, the penalty for a first offense."