Swagger Like Us- The Milton Bradley Story
by fischisgod on Mar 1, 2009 12:46 AM CST
54 comments
I have come to the conclusion that I ma more in favor of the Milton Bradley signing than any move the Cubs have made since the Aramis Ramirez trade. Milton Bradley is an absolute animal. He led the more impressive league in OPS. It is a very rare occurence that a team acquires a player like that and the fans aren't overjoiced. I understand certain peoples concerns that he might have some injury problems but he has come back strong and when healthy is a good outfielder. We don't need this guy to play 162 games (Milton will want to) We need him to play 130 or so and be healthy when it matters.
However the reason I decided to post this, is I think he adds something to this team that was previously missing. Swagger. There is no doubt that this man is a confident individual and is fiery. In the trib today he had this to say about if he would get a fair strike zone, " I doubt it," he said. "But I'm still going to hit .320. It don't matter." I like that type of confidence. This is the type of guy that is going to mash baseballs. He also knows what to do if umps screw with him.
"So now I have Bob Watson on my speed dial, and if I feel like I'm being treated unfairly, that's what I'm going to do. There's a way to go about everything. I'm not going to be disrespected. I'm not going to be treated unfairly."
Thats maturity. All Milton wants is to be treated fairly. His last major injury came when an umpire race baited him. That type of behavior on the umpires behalf is repugnant and Milton should not be blamed. I think this was potentially the best free agent signing that Jim has made in terms of years and cost. I am looking forward to Milton being a productive member of our team this year.(Also if you dont like him blame it on kosuke)
The article quoted from was http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-01-morrisseymar01,0,7556577.column
Some other of my rumbling and grumblings so i dont have to start any thing new
1. I really cant see any way this team doesnt win the NL central. It would have to take a significan amount of injuries for us to blow this. I have never felt this confident. I could make a case for every team but the Pirates being second best in the division but not a single case for anyone else being better or at our level.
2. I really like the MLB Network. I am moving to DC and i really hope it is on my cable package. I feel like this is my favortie channel ever and I cant even imagine how much beter it will be during the season. Two thumbs up to the people who came up with this.
3. Aaron Heilman is going to be good I think. Most likely in the BP but maybe even as a starter. He had an abberation of a year last year and I really think he will do good. (Has nothing to do with todays start i have liked him for a while) power pitcher
4. Rich Hill pitches tomorrow. I am very intrigued. I really think we should have maybe kept him around just to see if he could figure it out. Word out of Orioles camp is that his problems were injury related(I dont believe it. I saw the same numbers everyone else did including winter ball) I just have a bad feeling about this one. But at the same time i dont think he would have ever succeeded here. I would like to know who is in the PTBNL list. If someone like Spoone, Erbe, Hernandez, Rowell or Snyder is potentially available solid deal.
5. Looking back on it I sill wouldnt do Pie/Hill or either of them plus ceda for Roberts. I was pretty sure Rich was going to be a staple for a long time. And was confident Pie could be ok. Wow. Just amazed.
6. if the Mets backend of the bullpen is healthy wow. Too bad their starting pitching is meh.
7. Love the Koskie signing. But think that Micah might deserve the spot, if he continues to hit. Part of me is silly in thinking that this team might be almost more productiv if we had Hoffpauir at 1B and could use D-Lees salary elsewhere. Anyone who knows VORP would be welcomed to hime in about how dumb i am.
8. 4-0 feels pretty good.
9. My 25 man roster prediction as of today. (Harden, Z, Lilly, Demps, Marshall, Gaudin, Heilman, Guzman, Cotts, Gregg, Marmol, Vizcaino)(Soto, Hill, Lee, LBR, Miles, Caught Stealing, Rammy, Reed, Soriano, Dome, Milton, Micah, car jumper.
That is all..
p.s. The Broncos are listening to offers for Jay Cutler.... I mean he ahs to be better than throat beard right? Urlacher and a third rounder?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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Milton was injured in game 2 for quad soreness. By game 3 it was flu-like symptoms, which mean just about anything. I am prepared to get a lot of this from GameBoard/DHL this season. It is early, sure, but holy hell, decide what injury you’re going with today!
Hill is gone, as is Pie. There’s nothing we can do about it, nor former players like Sean Gallagher. Water off my back.
I hate the Mets—a lot—and their starting pitching is a bit above average. With Putz & K-Rod, the should be great.
This is the first time I’ve seen a BCB post with a Jay-Z title; I like it.
Dan
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
by dtpollitt on Mar 1, 2009 1:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yes and these are important games he's missing here
Clearly this is a concern.
by Wreckard on Mar 1, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Sure they aren't.
But what are you gonna judge the guy on? What he’s done? Or what he hasn’t done?
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
by dtpollitt on Mar 1, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
so which is it then
judge MIlton on the games he misses in ST but not judge Hoff on his ST performance?
not calling you out, just asking as a whole
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 1, 2009 10:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
injured?
Bradley wasn’t injured. Reports stated that he complained of soreness in his quad before the game and was told to go ahead and take his first at bat. After that bat was complete and he took his walk to first he left the game. Last season he appeared in 6 spring training games and somehow managed to lead the AL in OPS. Let’s not get too worried about spring training.
by Acapulco Taco Pie on Mar 1, 2009 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Semantics.
Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.
by dtpollitt on Mar 1, 2009 8:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Complaining about the strike zone is maturity?
Id say its the exact opposite
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
by bren on Mar 1, 2009 8:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Where did he complain about the strike zone?
"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano
by JohnM on Mar 1, 2009 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
In the trib today he had this to say about if he would get a fair strike zone, " I doubt it," he said. “But I’m still going to hit .320. It don’t matter.”
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 1, 2009 12:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
So what is he saying?
Is he saying the umpires are out to get him personally?
Umpires make mistakes all the time, to all kinds of different players. I don’t think Milton is being singled out.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Mar 1, 2009 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
It's all part of his "swagger", I guess
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 1, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
in the article
it mentions that he got tossed from a game for complaining about the strike zone. he called that watson guy, who told bradley he was right, and rescinded the fine that he was to receive.
There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help......"--Bill Buckner
by laidbackliam on Mar 1, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Right, and it's good that Bradley has an outlet (Watson).
There are plenty of players who get jobbed by bad strike zones. I don’t think it’s anything personal against Milton, though.
Moises Alou used to screw up his face something awful whenever he didn’t get a call. The result was, he almost never got borderline calls.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Mar 1, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't imagine why Bradley would feel like umps were out to get him
It’s not like he’s ever been baited by an umpire or anything like that.
by Wreckard on Mar 1, 2009 5:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, you're right, he has.
Again, the bigger man walks away, instead of starting a fight.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Mar 1, 2009 5:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah, Well, Gosh-darn-it, I beg to differ with that comment.
Second thought……..never mind.
Hey Lou, we're long overdue.
by deadcatbounce on Mar 1, 2009 7:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
A couple comments above, you implied umps don't single out players.
But here you’re implying umps didn’t give Alou borderline calls.
Aren’t those viewpoints in conflict?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Mar 1, 2009 9:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
OK, let me elaborate.
I don’t think Alou got the borderline calls AFTER his histrionics.
Now, I also don’t think Bradley was getting singled out. But if he keeps up his antics… well, it’s possible. Umpires are human. SHOULD they do this? No. But it happens. We’ve all seen it.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Mar 2, 2009 3:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
So, he was asked about this.
Just to be clear, a reporter brought up the subject, not him.
He didn’t bring it up, someone threw out a question that could only end up looking controversial unless he lied. If he tells the truth, like he actually did, then people say he’s complaining. If he refuses to answer, people would say he’s being difficult.
Let me know when Bradley approaches a reporter and says, "man, those umps are really squeezing me.
"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano
by JohnM on Mar 2, 2009 3:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
This post is just one big rambling mess..
#34: You'll be missed!
by Chanman25 on Mar 1, 2009 8:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
if you dont like it...
pass it on by. No one made you diary police, at least not to my knowledge. Actually I think the point is that he understands that tirades aren’t right anymore. There’s rules and if you think someone has violated the rules you have rights. Like talking to or filing a complaint with Bob Watson. I’m starting to warm up to Bradley as I was one of those that wasn’t for signing him at all.
I agree with the assessment Koskie was a great signing. I want one more thing and that’s to sign Beimel for the pen. I think he can be had cheap right now.
I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!
by cubsluver22 on Mar 1, 2009 9:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
His point is valid.
There are 10 different points made in this post. He could have just focused on Bradley.
About Bradley, the one thing I found interesting in the Trib article is the sequence with Bob Watson. Now, Bradley says he’s going to call Watson if he doesn’t think he’s being treated right, instead of blowing up.
While that may be a good thing, the implication is that Bradley thinks that the bad ball/strike calls are a personal vendetta. Bad ball/strike calls are made every day, to dozens of players. I don’t think Milton is getting picked on.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Mar 1, 2009 12:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
fwiw...
I actually kind of liked that there were 10 different points. Allows for more fodder for discussion, so that conversation in reply can be a little more varied. Maybe that’s just me though…
by CubsWin!Oregon on Mar 2, 2009 1:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe, but..
… a lot of those individual points could also be posts to themselves, which would maybe increase the discussion on that specific topic.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
by Al on Mar 2, 2009 3:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
+10
My sig line is out for jury duty.
by dat cubfan daver on Mar 2, 2009 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
My guess is fischisgod was trying to avoid being told this should’ve been a Fanshot, but it really should have – just a link to the Trib article with Bradley’s quotes would’ve been ample discussion material. Cramming all that other stuff in is just confusing.
My sig line is out for jury duty.
by dat cubfan daver on Mar 2, 2009 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
surprise...
Rich Hill is skipping his start today because of a stiff left elbow… says MLB.com
by RMRZisMYmanCRUSH on Mar 1, 2009 9:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
hahaha
Opening Day 2009 can't come soon enough!
by TyCubsfan on Mar 1, 2009 9:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That's uncalled for.....
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
by Clutche on Mar 1, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think he's laughing at the irony of it all....
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 1, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
did he blame Rothchild?
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 1, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I stopped reading after it was pointed out that he provides "Swagger"
The Cubs need productive, plus/above average players who are also mature and approach the game as the multi-million $$$$ professionals that they are—the latter is what the Cubs need most. Swagger is B.S. and Dusty Toughness and it provides absolutely nothing of positive significance, and it may even be a detriment.
Milton Bradley may provide the productivity that the Cubs need, I sure hope that he does. But the sad thing is that he and posts like this, don’t seem to realize that he’d a be a much better person, possibly a more productive player, and certainly a professional without his B.S.“swagger” antics.
by DudeVf11 on Mar 1, 2009 10:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I stoppped at
“overjoiced”
"This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell outta here." --Michael Scott
by Reddevil on Mar 1, 2009 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Maturity?
Hardly.
“So now I have Bob Watson on my speed dial, and if I feel like I’m being treated unfairly, that’s what I’m going to do. There’s a way to go about everything. I’m not going to be disrespected. I’m not going to be treated unfairly.”
THAT tells me he’s still got a chip on his shoulder the size of Navy Pier and he’s looking for a fight. What’s the over/under for his first ejection?
There’s confidence, “swagger” and then there’s Gary Sheffield redux. Sure, he hits a ton, but nobody is ever all that sad to see him move on. Unless he grows up real quick like (he’s 31 in April, so exactly when does that start?), he’s already well on the road to Garyness.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on Mar 1, 2009 11:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I Stand Corrected
At 30, Sheffield was only on his fourth team. His didn’t get to his seventh and final team until age 38. The Cubs are Bradley’s seventh team. He’s already there. He’s achieved Garyness.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on Mar 1, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Lee Smith
played for 8, so he has not reached Smitty level yet
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 1, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Apples and Oranges
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on Mar 1, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
can I have kiwi instead?
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 3, 2009 6:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Question
“Part of me is silly in thinking that this team might be almost more productiv if we had Hoffpauir at 1B and could use D-Lees salary elsewhere.”
What part? Certainly not your brain.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on Mar 1, 2009 11:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
OK
Sorry, a bit mean spirited, but it was just out there and obvious.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
by BeerCub on Mar 1, 2009 11:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You're good BeerCub.
Only Al gets to suggest stupid things like this ( Huff/ Millar platoon) well… because he runs the blog. Everyone else should be prone to community humiliation for saying such things.
by xene on Mar 1, 2009 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that line is an epic fail.
My sig line is out for jury duty.
by dat cubfan daver on Mar 2, 2009 10:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Epic.
You want it all, but you can’t have it.
by nickler on Mar 4, 2009 8:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
WHAT. IS. IT?
My sig line is out for jury duty.
by dat cubfan daver on Mar 5, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
"It is what it is."
Bradley gets hurt every year and he has a blow up every year. Why do we think that because he is now a Cub those things are going to change? Players don’t change just because the Cubs trade for them.
I remember a few years ago when we traded for Damon Buford, a lifetime .240 hitter. Cub fans were so disappointed with the trade because he hit only .240.
Bradley is a great hitter, but he will get hurt and he will have a blow up.
by PalatineRol on Mar 1, 2009 4:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
It's Gonna Happen!
Sincerely,
Zambrano’s Maturity
by DudeVf11 on Mar 1, 2009 10:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
As long as he doesn't have a blow up doll...
…I’m not going to worry about him. I like his confidence. And while those eventualities are probable, they are by no means absolute certainties.
My sig line is out for jury duty.
by dat cubfan daver on Mar 2, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
It could be a smart thing
when you look at history, managers such as Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa have been ejected and warned numerous times over strike zone complaints, and the next time there was a border line pitch it went their way.
"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 2, 2009 5:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
This has been like a really, really, really weird thread
Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!
by cubnational on Mar 3, 2009 5:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Weighing in
I think everyone has a pretty realistic idea of Bradley. I also think if he has Watson on speed dial, it’s for the best. He has anger issues rightly or wrongly. He has developed a way to deal with them that should keep him playing. I don’t see anything wrong there, even if it is less than what we would expect from other people. We also know he’ll get hurt, but that happens to everyone. Soriano took a fastball off his hand, not his fault, got hurt hopping, his fault, but it comes with playing the game. He busts ass though and I like th quote today in the trib “I’m as serious as a heart attack about baseball, and winning”. Every player says that, but it’s a little different from him because he’s not reciting the lines Crash fed him cause he’s got a (I hesitate to say it) passion that overrides his reason.
His swagger issues I don’t agree with. The Red Sox had a bunch of “idiots” who raked and won. It’s up to the manager to focus his players. And I bet we find out that one person will be missing him, Josh Hamilton. I think he had the year he had because he had Milton there, both in the clubhouse and in the lineup.
by fndr5 on Mar 5, 2009 8:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
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