The easy thing to say is that Bradley ought to take responsibility for his own performance. However, while he would've been better off had he taken his words and replaced them with other words, truth be told, Chicago presumably was a big factor in his disappointing campaign, and personally, I love how he's still poking them with a stick even though he's a long way gone. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is about Chicago that rubs me the wrong way, but apparently I'm on Bradley's side here instead of theirs, so there's gotta be something.
"Two years ago, I played, and I was good," Bradley said. "I go to Chicago, not good. I’ve been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me."
He added: "Just no communication. I never hit more than 22 homers in my career, and all of a sudden I get to Chicago and they expect me to hit 30. It doesn’t make sense. History tells you I’m not going to hit that many. Just a lot of things that try to make me a player I’m not."
0 recs | 73 comments
Please stop torturing Graham.
abender20 - March 4, 2010
That took me a second
But I’m new here; I didn’t realize that was Jeff’s pet name for Graham. How cute.
Guess the whole candle wax thing got out of control, eh?
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
Tui at 2B, Woodward at 3B, Hannahan at SS
This would’ve been incomprehensible to me a year ago.
It’s still not, you know, a GOOD line-up, but it’s at least understandable.
marc w - March 4, 2010
BUY THE GODDAMN THING
I’ll help with the sales effort since I want my half-penny royalties.
Teej - March 4, 2010
Which thing?
marc w - March 4, 2010
THT Forecasts! Do it!
Teej - March 4, 2010
Oliver forecasts look really cool.
I WILL buy it, Teej…. I will.
(You bought a Mariners Annual, right? Reciprocal back-scratching.)
marc w - March 4, 2010
Of course.
Teej - March 4, 2010
How do you burn an english muffin in this day and age?
OlSalty - March 4, 2010
With care.
Burned English muffins are fantastic.
Teej - March 4, 2010
Because they look more like you than they did before going in the toaster?
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
Isn't that...
…kind of racist?
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
No
Jeff Sullivan - March 4, 2010
Racial
OlSalty - March 4, 2010
Yeah because on LL we would never tell racist jokes
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
You wouldn't?
Not even in a Milton Bradley thread? Wow, this place really is different from Chicago.
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
This place is disgusting
Poochie - March 4, 2010
I'm OK with it.
Teej - March 4, 2010
But your opinions are only 3/5 as meaningful.
kentroyals5 - March 4, 2010
Teej doesn't look an awful lot like an english muffin.
abender20 - March 4, 2010
I thought it was a euphemism
for something
Mike Fast - March 4, 2010
Definitely embarrasing for them
remember in 2008 when we ran out our starters against the Angels in Spring Training to show them we were taking it seriously? Yeah, that worked out real well
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
So the Padres get the proceeds, huh?
Do the M’s reap the benefit of such charity by acquiring Adrian Gonzalez for a PTBNL in May, then? I think that should happen.
JLProck - March 4, 2010
Fuck the Cubs
Poochie - March 4, 2010
Instarec
abender20 - March 4, 2010
I know people in Chicago who are already making anti-Bradley signs for the Cubs/M's series in June.
And it was all over one season in which he was bad but not (terribly) awful.
katal - March 4, 2010
Christ he must be like Player A to them after this
Except Bradley was somewhat productive for them, and Cubs fans really are fucking obnoxious. Just ask Lee Elia.
Bearskin Rugburn - March 4, 2010
God I love this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv23pqH9iG0
Bearskin Rugburn - March 4, 2010
Classic.
Teej - March 4, 2010
Why do you know people like that
I would think you’d want to cut ties with such horrible people.
Unless you’re keeping tabs on them on behalf of Homeland Security, or something.
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
It's amusing to me, honestly.
katal - March 4, 2010
Bradley should try shutting the fuck up for a change
lemonverbena - March 4, 2010
I'll be happy if he plays 140 games this year and kills the Cubs at Safeco in July
Shutting up is overrated.
CMC_Stags - March 4, 2010
He's hardly said anything since he arrived.
ThundaPC - March 4, 2010
His Cubs debut...
He didn’t say anything bad all spring long with the Cubs… first game at Wrigley… gets tossed and makes an ass out of himself. He’s got a timer. Only question is when it will go off.
jameslcrockett - March 4, 2010
Griffey will tickle him
it will be fine
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
that's fine
i’m a really big fan of Zduriencik and what’s he’s doing with this team… However, I’ve been saying for years I wouldn’t root for a team that employs him. I didn’t last year as a Cubs fan, and I don’t plan to this year… which will suck come playoff time. lol
jameslcrockett - March 4, 2010
Honestly, to us we're looking at it as much of a non-issue as possible
Milton Bradley is a crazy motherfucker. We all know this, and we all knew it when we traded for him. However, he’s a crazy motherfucker with a lot of baseball talent that could really help our ballclub, and we essentially got him for free. If he’s insane, whatever, that money we were going to give Silva was sunk anyway. If he’s awesome and sane, then we just got something for nothing and I’m always going to be OK with that.
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
no question
he can and probably will help the Mariners. And there’s absolutely no downside to this because the Marienrs actually have a smart GM, unlike the Cubs. The Cubs will let Carlos Silva suck for them. If Bradley gets out of line, he’ll be gone and all it really cost was $6 million over 2 years. It’s a bargain when you consider saving on Silva’s meal costs too.
jameslcrockett - March 4, 2010
Plus he's just 4% of a roster
That is mostly boring and/or full of tickle-fests. Every dish requires a little pepper.
And he is replacing Silva, who was no bowl of peaches in 2008 himself.
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
But was a perfectly good teammate in 2009, at least off the field
either way, it’s just hard to predict how different personalities will react to each other – hell, Jose Guillen was a model citizen the year he was here in 2007
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
Bradley has been a good teammate everywhere, right?
His issues have been with the media, fans, umpires… pretty much everything except his teammates.
The trouble is that he can’t get a fresh start anymore because he’s got this “kick me” sign around his neck now. People who would never think of saying something nasty to a Seattle Mariner will say something to him because he’s Milton Bradley.
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
Cubs players
said in interviews after he left, that he was a horrible teammate. Only out for himself and completely anti-social. None of them had anything positive to say about him.
jameslcrockett - March 4, 2010
Cubs fans
should stop posting about Milton Bradley.
We get it. Just stop.
CMC_Stags - March 4, 2010
It shows how pathetic Cubs fans are that they blame Bradley for their troubles last year,
when in reality he was the least of their problems.
Goose - March 4, 2010
Chicago sports fans are a peculiar breed of delusional.
One of my classmates is convinced that the Bears are really close to contention.
abender20 - March 4, 2010
They're going to sign Peppers!!!
katal - March 4, 2010
Here's the thing that kills me.
Bradley was traded months ago, yet the Cubs still take shots at him the weekend that Bradley shows up to Mariner camp.
What’s worse, Chicago reporters were waiting for Bradley to arrive so that they can get his reaction to Hendry’s recent comments.
I don’t care how much of a headache Bradley has been to other teams, we’ve seen too much evidence that the Cubs only exacerbated the problem.
ThundaPC - March 4, 2010
I think he's had quite a few run-ins with teammates as well, but not nearly to the level as his issues with umpires, fans and media
seattlebruin - March 4, 2010
Wow, never heard this before.
Ballard Erik - March 4, 2010 via mobile
I want Bradley to say something interesting or crazy every day
Its the best part of having crazy people on your baseball team. I can’t wait for Bradley to blow up.
Edgar for Pres - March 4, 2010
I hope he blows up on Baker.
InSpokane - March 4, 2010
Baker would flash back to his Canadian youth
Reacting instinctively, he’ll pull Bradley’s jersey up over his head.
And then Bradley will blindly beat the crap out of him through his jersey.
And if there is a benevolent deity, somebody will get it on video.
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
Milton Bradley is our less amusing, better hitting Tracy Morgan.
He’s old school. He don’t be pulling out.
SethGrandpa - March 4, 2010
I don't think that what he said today is bad at all.
Also, I think he can say whatever he wants as long as he plays well.
BrettJMiller - March 4, 2010
I dunno
If you are constantly being asked questions about something, you probably get tired of deflecting them and answer honestly.
Ballard Erik - March 4, 2010 via mobile
Of course he gets tired of the questions.
But writers know that if they keep badgering him a story will eventually result. He has to be aware that because of his history he is going to be baited with a leading question or 20, even in kindly mid-market Seattle.
The guy has major insecurity issues. Anyone who walks around with their fragile ego on their sleeve is going to feel disrespected at some point.
lemonverbena - March 5, 2010
Sure. You are right.
I don’t post here often, but I have been a devoted reader for about a year now. One of the things I have always liked about reading this blog is that it has focused on statistical analysis and ireverent humor, two things I like very much.
What I don’t like is the KJR-esque “Bradley better keep his mouth shut and play baseball” and “oh, just a matter of time before this guy loses it.” I think we are better than that here.
You could make an agrument that few players got shit on as much as Bradley did last year. He had racial epithets and objects hurled at him, the national media ripped him, the local media pretty much blamed the totality of the Cubs suckitude on him. I think that would make anyone mad.
Ballard Erik - March 5, 2010
I definitely concede that point. Cubs fans and media are ridiculous.
And I’m not making demands of anybody. But the only thing any of us can control is our own actions and reactions. Nobody forced him to sign a $21m free agent contract in the 3rd-largest media market in the country. Bradley would do well to recognize his part in things going sideways for him, as they have so many times.
lemonverbena - March 5, 2010
JY - Erasmo Ramirez is in the pen today
Going to be fascinating to see him. Over/under on FB velo? 88?
Anyone know if pitchfx data is available for this?
marc w - March 4, 2010
Luigi!
kentroyals5 - March 4, 2010
Under, I think.
I’m not a big fan, but I’m glad they’ve finally brought him to the States.
JonBBT - March 4, 2010
IS he actually 19 or was that a typo on USSM?
cause I’d put him at like 36
Bearskin Rugburn - March 4, 2010
There's another (older) Erasmo Ramirez and they keep using his picture
at least they did on the broadcast last year.
Our one is 19.
Eyeball Kid - March 4, 2010
Our one is probably 19 and definitely not the 36yo MLB journeyman.
marc w - March 4, 2010
He's not quite 36, but he may not be a teenager either.
A lot of teams reportedly passed up on him because they thought he was older.
Here’s a real pic
JonBBT - March 4, 2010
That's the biggest lollipop I've ever seen
no wonder that child is smiling
Bearskin Rugburn - March 4, 2010
I think they're right to question his age
In that pic he looks about 12.
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
My Grandpa lived near Chicago.
When I was a kid I went to visit him. I got to ride in a plane for the first time. My Grandpa and I walked around Soldier and Wrigley field, we took a long trip down to South Bend Indiana to see Notre Dame Stadium and we ate some amazing hot dogs. So, I have found memories of the place, but I’d say their fans are still crazy idiots and deserve any lost sleep Bradly can provide.
InSpokane - March 4, 2010
Oh my god is Kyle Blanks playing LF for them?
Bearskin Rugburn - March 4, 2010
He's probably going to start the year there.
Can’t put him at 1B until they trade Gonzalez.
marc w - March 4, 2010
Fangraphs mentioned him recently
Here
wandergeist - March 4, 2010
I thought this was funny
Baseball-ref has Ken Griffey as Ichiro’s 3rd top similar batter through 35.
Edgar for Pres - March 4, 2010
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