Milton Bradley is beginning to tick me off
by BLou on Apr 23, 2009 6:31 AM CDT
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PrintI have been unabashed supporter of the addition of Milton Bradley. Fact is this guy can flat out hit and brings a desperately needed explosive charge into that Cub lockerroom in my opinion. But that all said I am deeply disappointed in the unfolding events of the last two weeks.
Half-hearted jog to the right field line on those two balls golfed by Johnny Cueto was enough to send me over the edge. But what really got my goat most of all was the at-bat where Bradley assumed Ball Four.
Newsflash Milton! Major league umpires don't like you, and truth be told given your sordid history can you really blame them? Shut you're blankety blank pie-hole and serve your two-game suspension. You're hurting the ballclub with this insistence on appealing a suspension. Open up the major league rule book. It expressly states thou shalt not touch an umpire with one's body or any article of uniform, to include bill of one's cap. Well Milton, you bumped the umpire. It is right there on the videotape.
I'm also ticked off with how Hendry and Sweet Lou have refused to handle the fact that Bradley is clearly hurt. For crying out loud the decision should have been made when the injury happend to put Bradley on the DL. Have you EVER heard of a ballplayer with a history of leg problems being able to recover from a groin pull within a matter of a few days?!?!? I sure haven't.
Shut up Milton. Get you're act together and play the game. And make peace with the damned umpires before they really throw you under the train.
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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I like pie
Apple, with the caramel swirl. Very nice.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Apr 23, 2009 6:50 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Pecan is my favorite.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Apr 23, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions
I like Apple...
with that crumble topping… mmmmm
by socalicubsfan on Apr 23, 2009 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions
i like π
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
have you ever celebrated pi day?
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions
TWSS
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
FAIL
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Yea, well....
We will have all summer to be ticked off at Bradley, he is the gift that keeps on giving. Don’t let your gasket get too hot this early.
You are arguing both sides of the issue here...
Do you think Bradley should shut up and play, or do you think he’s hurt and should go on the DL? Because one of your complaints was because of his half-hearted effort on chasing down a ball. Well, if he’s still hurt, sprinting over there (and stopping quickly) would risk further damage. He can’t (and shouldn’t) simply shut up and play if he’s clearly hurt.
We’re seeing the two issues with Bradley that you (and many others) overlooked prior to the signing: his temperament and his brittleness. It’s funny – the ones who hated the signing downplayed his hitting prowess, while those who supported it downplayed the injury issue and the potential for the temperament affecting things.
The reality is that Bradley’s signing was neither unequivocally good nor unequivocally bad. If he stays healthy and focused, he’s a great signing. But he’s not remotely likely to stay healthy. So it comes down to how healthy he is able to stay, and how well he does at staying out of trouble. Obviously, it’s a long season, so there’s still much to be learned about his performance. But the first few weeks don’t portend well on the injury side.
by SouthernCub on Apr 23, 2009 7:17 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Um....
Half-hearted jog to the right field line on those two balls golfed by Johnny Cueto was enough to send me over the edge.
and
Have you EVER heard of a ballplayer with a history of leg problems being able to recover from a groin pull within a matter of a few days?!?!? I sure haven’t.
Can you see how one goes with the other?
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
Well, he's conflicted...
BlueMike thnks the first thing, Blou the second.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
oh-ho!
Emelie FTW!
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
rant, rant, rant
Bradley has started slow and is frustrated. Surprise! The Cubs signed a volatile player; he’s acting up. Wow, call 60 minutes! Guess he’s gonna suck the whole season.
The team has played 13 games and won 8. Hey, they’re on a pace to win 100 games.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
by blackhawk24 on Apr 23, 2009 7:23 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Quote to be repeated...
… and repeated, and repeated, and repeated during the game threads right there, as everyone is calling to send Lee to Iowa and put out a hit on Bradley just to save ourselves the trouble…
The team has played 13 games and won 8. Hey, they’re on a pace to win 100 games.
Well done.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 23, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions
-1
It’s WAY too early to play the “on a pace to win” game. After yesterday’s game they were on a pace to win 100 games. After today’s game they are on a pace to win 93 games. If they should lose tomorrow, they would be on a pace to win 86 games. Means nothing at this point in the season.
Maybe, but...
… winning 8 of every 14 games doesn’t seem that difficult for a good major league team, does it?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I put that in there
to make it look as silly as the comments in the original post.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
If you really was an "unabashed supporter"
you wouldn’t have put together this ridiculous post. You sound more like an impatient two-faced cliff diver to me.
I wouldn't mind putting Bradley on the DL
It’s still early in the year, with the weather not exactly conducive to a speedy recovery from a groin injury. Get him rested and healthy for the rest of the year.
Too late now.
He played last night. If you DL him now, he misses two weeks when he might be healthy.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Im not going to judge yet
But the boo’s have started at wrigley and he seems like a player that could be affected by that and go into a jacque jones shell.
We never used to boo
But then again, it used to be a lot cheaper to go to games. The stakes are higher now, and everyone wants to win now.
That being said, Boo Bradley got his because of his effort. How much he’s hurting is unknown.
10/15/03 changed that
getting eliminated in the NLCS that year, IMO changed forever expectations of the Cubs.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
I'm not a weird hippie, and my house isn't arranged all feng shui...
… but that booing is literally casting some nasty energy down on a guy who has proven to be susceptible to it.
And for what? A few bad outings from a dude with a pulled groin? Awesome.
I’d like to see those booing fans climb to some seats in the 400 level with a pulled groin, let alone chase down major league hitting on a cold and windy night.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 23, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Small sample size
so far but I would agree he only has one way to go from here which is up. I still think the guy can rake.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
I don't buy
the “umpires don’t like Milton” argument. He is just not that good. The called 3rd strike was close enough to swing at and at least foul off. He doesn’t leg out groundouts. $10 million/year and a .045 BA. Talk all you want about how he was a great DH last year. There is nothing about this guy that tells me he is a difference-maker this year.
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
Were you watching the road trip before Bradley was injured?
The guy’s actually pretty fast, especially for someone his size. The batting average is a small sample size, and it’s definitely going to go up. And “there is nothing about this guy that tells me he is a difference-maker this year”?
Player A, 2008: 321/.436/.563
Player B, 2008: .302/.392/.573
Player A is Milton Bradley. Player B is Alex Rodriguez. They are both VERY GOOD AT BASEBALL. So quit overreacting over fifteen games. If this production keeps up…. why, I’ll buy dinner for someone!
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
Uhhhh Yep
I am that stupid. But I prefer sabermathmatically challenged.
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana
don't feel bad I couldn't be a sabermagician if I tried :)
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
The flip side is
There is nothing about your ridiculous assessment that will convince even the casual fan that Bradley is NOT a “difference maker”.
"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"
I thought half of Bradley was better than a whole Dunn or Abreu
Or so many of you said, its looking like a long shot at this point. Lets hope he can get hot once it gets warmer out there
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.
Okay
Perhaps I was indeed talking out of both sides my mouth.
What I mean to say is that I am not pleased with Milton Bradley on a few fronts.
1. Either he is healthy or he is not, and it is therefore up to the player to be in strong communication with his manager and the trainer as to the seriousness and likely healing time needed. In hindsight, it is clear that Piniella and Hendry should have put him on the DL regardless Bradley’s opinion on the subject.
2. Make no mistake that the umpires loathe Milton Bradley given his history, to most notably include the messy situation in San Diego where he (perhaps rightfully so) got into a fight with an umpire who was accused of calling him a “fucking piece of shit.” And let us not forget the bumping incident of a couple weeks ago. We all know that the umpires can be bastards at times and that they are a tightily knit bunch with a union mentality of protecting there own. Does Bradley honestly think he will ever get a borderline strike call?!? Please.
3. If you can’t give strong effort to go get a ball in the outfield or run down the 1st base line hard, then tell your manager you are not healthy enough to be in the lineup that day. It’s that simple. Cubs are blessed with good outfield depth and it is April. This isn’t the last week of the season with the Cubs a couple games away from clinching a playoff berth.
4. Take your 2 game suspension like a man given that you are already on the shelf hurt !! Suck it up for the good of the team as opposed to asking your team to play a man short for two games and doing further damage to your relationship with the umpires. Sometimes you need to dismiss principle and do the selfless act. Which apparently is a foreign concept to Bradley.
===
So yes, I am disappointed about Milton Bradley right now. That does not diminish one iota my strong opinion of Bradley has an impact hitter and an offensive force.
And yes, I am critical of Lou Piniella in his general handling of the Bradley affair. I love Sweet Lou more than anybody, but I absolutely detest preferential treatment ala what I have seen Lou do with Soriano the last few seasons. Lou needs to lead, and if it means being tough on Bradley then so be it.
Regarding #4
I’m so very sick of people telling Bradley not to be selfish.
1) It’s not your money you’re forfeiting in a suspension
2) There IS a principle here. If the two games stick, then the next time the umpire makes up contact, it will be 6 games.
3) Every single player has appealed the suspension. Baseball now pads suspensions just to plan for the appeal. If an ump truly gets offended at that, it is not Bradley’s problem.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Bullshit
Bradley was / is already on the shelf with a leg injury and not sitting on the DL. And given his very sordid history of run-ins, etc., it IS in the best interest of the Cubs that he suck it up and take his two game suspension.
We aren’t talking a choir boy here. And the rules of baseball are indeed very clear…“touch an umpire with any portion of your body or article of uniform and you are suspended.” There is NO dispute that Bradley touched the ump with the bill of his hat. So all things considered a two game suspension while already on the shelf should be the LEAST of his friggin worries.
MLBPA instructs players to appeal
it is part of Union process
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
I understand that
I also understand that Bradley was already sitting on the bench (not the DL ! ) unable to play. I also understand that Bradley has a very checkered past in this game, to include recurring issues with the umpires. The situation called for him to suck it up for the good of his team.
so then you understand why he appealed it
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
so he should
disregard his union, which is made up of his peers?
Oh, Blue Mike. You DO go on…
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
WE forget
BLou knows more about the MLBPA and its policies than the MLBPA does
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
So tell me
Does Tony Soprano and Paulie Walnuts run the MLBPA, and does Bradley run the risk of having them pay a visit should he not appeal his two game suspension?!? And again, we are talking about a player who absolutely did commit the crime of bumping an umpire and has a wretched history with the umpires.
I take it you have not worked in a Union
the MLBPA says to appeal, and you do so. That is why you pay Union Dues. The suspension is something you appeal, to bring to the forefront other factors that led to the situation at hand.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
exactly, if the MLBPA says to appeal,
it’s no longer Bradley about Bradley. It’s about every other player and he has to do it.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
dood
first of all, stop using the word “crime”. It’s not a crime. He broke a rule. Not even a very big one.
Secondly, you back up your union, because when the time comes, your union will back you up. Pete’s sake.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Good of the team?
Every other player in that locker room is a union member. Each and every one of them would do the same damn thing.
You act like the umps are going to call pitches five feet outside strikes now. That’s not going to happen.
You act like Bradley’s suspension will have to be served during Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS. That’s not going to happen.
You act like you just found out the sky is falling. That’s not going to happen.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Fine
Apparently I’m the only one here who is concerned with the “goings-on” regarding Milton Bradley of late. Everything is just hunky dory according to you guys. No ticking time bomb of a situation and nothing going on to hurt the ballclub. I should just ignore the fact that Bradley coudn’t get to a catchable ball in right field, doesn’t run down the first base line right now and has one friggin hit to show for the season. Or that his anger is clearly surfacing in the batter box. Nope, deaf dumb and blind is the way to go. Screw being concerned with what is a negative to the Cubs trying to win ballgames.
No....
screw your insane rantings over a season 13 games old
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Great perspective
Lets run the risk that Bradley fucks up his groin to the point he misses an entire season or that his anger becomes so pronounced that he does the unspeakable to somebody/something and gets suspended for a very long time.
All is peachy keen. Nobody look at the unfolding accident scene and maybe that gas tanker truck and school bus of kids won’t crash.
Wait...
You’re talking about school buses crashing into tanker trucks and you’re bitching about MY persepctive?
More fiber, Aisle Blue Mike!
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
I never thought
I’d ever run into someone who has more inflammatory rhetoric than Karl Rove, but Blue Mike takes the cake.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Hell, who thought I'd sit here
developing arguments and reading down to see Worf already has them clearly and concisely presented.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
your thoughts on this
have been dead on, and it is nice being able to agree instead of butting heads IMO
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
I'm sure we'll scrap at some point
But we’ll do it differently…
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
I for one like the new Worf
but I must admit, that it unnerves me a bit to be in such agreement with you :)
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Karl Rove?
or BlueMike? :P
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
you are up damn early
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Why do you have such confidence of the Cubs' management
when it comes to not overworking Carlos Marmol – and yet no confidence when it comes to getting the right balance of play and rest for Milton Bradley?
I see how you could be right and Bradley could be playing when he shouldn’t be. This reaction, though, seems inconsistent compared to your views on the Cubs’ coaching of other players in similar situations.
Derrek Lee is good.
you ever read
about Cassandra, or the boy who cried wolf? Ye ghods.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
yes, I know she was
but she yipped on and on and on and ON and by the time she WAS right, NO ONE WAS LISTENING.
Blue Mike is right every so often. But he’s been banned so many times, and come back so many times, and said the same bullsh!t SO MANY TIMES… no one listens anymore.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
You know what they say...even a broken clock is right twice a day.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 23, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
in fact
the MLB may see what the cause of the reaction was, and bring it to the attention of the Umpires Union that the Ump was wrong and fast with the hook, etc and the ump may be pulled aside by HIS union and told where he was wrong.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
This may very well happen.
If there was “contact”, it was incidental and brief — caps touching. You’d have to have a REAL thin skin to file a “contact” report on that. Umpires are supposed to have thicker skins than that.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Which is why I think it gets dropped to one game
I don’t think baseball is ready to antagonize its umps by eliminating the suspension entirely, at least not for Bradley.
(Had the guy pulled this on Derrek Lee, I think there’s no suspension at all)
I still think that’s why the two games were handed down. Baseball gets to reduce it to one because it thought the ump overreacted, but keeps it AT one to let Bradley know to walk away next time.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
+/- 1
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
you're welcome
to believe that as much as anything else that you believe in that isn’t true.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
1. Either he is healthy or he is not, and it is therefore up to the player to be in strong communication with his manager and the trainer as to the seriousness and likely healing time needed. In hindsight, it is clear that Piniella and Hendry should have put him on the DL regardless Bradley’s opinion on the subject.
Based on his performance in ONE DAY back, which was pretty cold.
2. Make no mistake that the umpires loathe Milton Bradley given his history, to most notably include the messy situation in San Diego where he (perhaps rightfully so) got into a fight with an umpire who was accused of calling him a "fucking piece of shit." And let us not forget the bumping incident of a couple weeks ago. We all know that the umpires can be bastards at times and that they are a tightily knit bunch with a union mentality of protecting there own. Does Bradley honestly think he will ever get a borderline strike call?!? Please.
I don’t care WHO the player is. The umpires’ job is to call balls and strikes fairly. If they don’t, they should be fired.
3. If you can’t give strong effort to go get a ball in the outfield or run down the 1st base line hard, then tell your manager you are not healthy enough to be in the lineup that day. It’s that simple. Cubs are blessed with good outfield depth and it is April. This isn’t the last week of the season with the Cubs a couple games away from clinching a playoff berth.
It was cold, and for the most part, the whole team played fairly listlessly yesterday. Sure, we want them to do better, but I don’t think focusing on Bradley is appropriate.
4. Take your 2 game suspension like a man given that you are already on the shelf hurt !! Suck it up for the good of the team as opposed to asking your team to play a man short for two games and doing further damage to your relationship with the umpires. Sometimes you need to dismiss principle and do the selfless act. Which apparently is a foreign concept to Bradley.
Charles Darwin on a POGO stick, THIS AGAIN? WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE? Show me where Lou disapproves of Bradley appealing. Show your evidence that he’s not being pushed to do this by the players union. Show me where this hurts the team. You NEVER EVER dismiss your principles. NEVER. I do not want anyone like that playing on the Cubs.
And yes, I am critical of Lou Piniella in his general handling of the Bradley affair. I love Sweet Lou more than anybody, but I absolutely detest preferential treatment ala what I have seen Lou do with Soriano the last few seasons. Lou needs to lead, and if it means being tough on Bradley then so be it.
Because when you do it, it’s tough love, and when we do it, we hate Lou Piniella. Preferential treatment. What a load of crap. Par for the course.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Aces, Drew
I’m also going to stick up for the umps a bit here.
Most of them (the clown in this case notwithstanding) are professional and I’ve read interviews with umps saying that at this point, they couldn’t deliberately call balls and strikes the opposite way even if they wanted to.
They will make mistakes and Bradley could have a shorter leash on how much he argues those mistakes, but that’s different than deliberately trying to screw him.
But an ump with 15 years service is not going to call a pitch over Bradley’s head a strike. It’s just not going to happen.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Why are you talking about a pitch over his head?
Did you bother to look at gameday? Is it being a clown to call someone a clown without good reason?
not over his head, no.
My problem with the umps isn’t that they’re deliberately bad, it’s that they’re FUNCTIONALLY bad.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions
An ump may despise Bradley, but their games are judged and
graded. If they call a strike 2 inches off the plate for Bradley, it better be only once or be called for every other player in the game. These guys want playoff games to add to salary and screwing one player with obvious bad calls isn’t going to help them.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
agreed
and in THAT GAME — and the one after it — the strike zone was so variable, I wanted to run SQL Stored Procedures with it.
/geek
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd argue that the worst umps
Are the ones who can’t handle conflict.
Home plate umps will call 300 pitches a game, to say nothing of plays at the plate. There will be mistakes. Everyone knows it. Some will make more than others, but even the best will miss a few.
The good ones are the ones who say, “Yes, I missed it. Move on.”
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
there will be mistakes
they see, what 300 pitches (give or take) each game. If they make 10 mistakes, that is a great percentage of correct calls. They are human after all
+1 for New Worf
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
I don't have any.
However, show me the last time a suspension WASN’T appealed.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
I doubt that's because of the union.
They appeal because the act of doing so almost always results in a game or two being taken off of the penalty. From the player/team perspective, it makes sense to do it.
I don’t think it has anything to do with some larger meta-principle that the union is trying to bring the forefront…
by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 23, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Union process is to appeal
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
It was not my impression...
that’s that true for short 2 game suspensions. Isn’t that why the Tribune and other stories made note of how rare it was for players to appeal such a short suspension? If it was standard operating procedure per the union, such appeals wouldn’t be rare.
Admittedly though, the inner workings of the appeals process isn’t my bailewick…
by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 23, 2009 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions
as a member of a Union
before he serves ANY suspension, the process is to first ask the Union to review and give advice. The Union then tells him what they believe is right or not and how they want to go forward with it. That is why a suspension is (almost) never served the day after being announced, to allow the Union ample time to review and advice their member of the stance they take on it.
That is true in pretty much any Union nationwide as well. A company can state what they want to the employee, but you go talk to your UNion steward and give your side, and then the Union decides what to do. Your Union dues “pay” for this “service” so to speak.
I know this first hand from when I was in the Local 777 Teamsters in Chicago (warehouse workers). I was written up for shipping errors, but when you took the amount of errors vs the amount of orders I handled daily, it was less than 1/10 of 1%. I appealed it and the write up was removed from my record due to the error margin that a human should be given. Sure this is a different situation, but the same process exists to protect the union members from being mistreated.
This does not include the fact that MLB has to deal with two seperate Unions in this (MLBPA and Umpires Union).
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Huh.
That’s interesting. Thanks!
I guess I misunderstood what you were saying. I read what you were saying to be that the union protocal is to always appeal. But I gather that you simply meant that the union is always involved in the decision-making process over whether to appeal? That would make sense to me…
by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 23, 2009 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Is Lou getting senile?
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Kettle, meet black...
… or maybe we SHOULD send DLee down to AAA?
That WAS you, right?
by AndrewJStone on Apr 23, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
I am ticked off because
He isn’t answering to reporter. The season is young and already I have read many articles saying “Bradley didn’t make himself available to reporters”. That is not good. If he hits like a machine it won’t matter, but if he struggles and/or is injured a lot this is going to get really ugly.
Good point
Milton Bradley seems hellbent on turning the world against him, be it the media, fans, umpires and probably at some point his teammates.
Assumptions, assumptions, assumptions....
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Apr 23, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
So do reporters
At some point, there is a cost-benefit analysis. Do you create a small controversy by not talking or a bigger one by saying something stupid?
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
The media wants to see Milton Bradley fail.
Why would he want to talk to people like that?
"Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others." - Groucho Marx
by Keith on Apr 23, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
agreed
I’m sure he is aware that he is not hitting. Doesn’t help that the media keeps harping on this issue.
by BadDecisions on Apr 23, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Like this wasn't going to happen
I hated this signing for this reason, I just didn’t think it would be this soon.
Pulled groin, 1 for 23, not running out anything, suspension, tossing bats,
The guy is always hurt, the guy is always a pain in the rear. I just don’t see it, the guy can hit, the guy has a great OPS, Big problem he is hardly on the freaking field.
I will be glad when he is gone.
"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"
Didnt you hear?
the NL is instituting the DH in ’10….problem solved!
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.
If they do that...
… at last, there might be a position for Micah Hoffpauir.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Interesting
On ESPN.com yesterday, they pretty much compared Lee, at this point in his career, to Lyle Overbay….too bad Micah cant get a shot at 1B full time
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.
too bad
for our division opponents, you mean.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Hoffpauir in right...problem solved
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
wow
that would be a travesty..I really dont like DH…Its what makes the NL unique
by BadDecisions on Apr 23, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
yep
we’ll never have to worry about the World Series again.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Do. Not. Want.
remember
Sammy Jankis
by neverAcquiesce on Apr 23, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
From what I remember...
hasn’t every “star” that we have signed usually start off cold. Ex. Soriano, Jones, Uncle Cliff. Minus Fuku (who did the complete opposite). I’m just saying…. But it is getting tired some watching him get his preferential treatment, and lack of hitting.
Uncle Cliff was hadly a star
And none of the other ones had historys of injuries, nor were they coming off of career years as a DH is the best hitters park in the league
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.
hardly
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.
hardly
I agree…hence the use of quotations around STAR.. But he was a lefty that was signed to provide that “lefty power spark”
by BadDecisions on Apr 23, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions
ha, sorry, mustve missed that
That was another curious signing
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.
So I get bashed for writing a proposal for the bullpen
yet this rant doesn’t appear to have much
Movement to make Jeff Samardzija our closer!
we know that there is ZERO chance of Blue mike being reasonable.
He doesn’t like facts to get in the way of his points. I personally get sick of bashing him on a reagular basis.
You on the other hand seem to be ok using facts. So when you post something that doesn’t have many…. people jump on your case.
this isn’t me being a fan post police just my opinion. I think if I posted the same thing, people would bash me also.
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
Regardless Blou,
which is it. Is Bradley a loafing freeloader who’s not earning his salary by jogging to balls hit short in the OF, or is he hurt and shouldn’t have been in the field.
Pick a lane please, your blocking traffic.
if this was still new to me, i wouldn't understand
if he is freeloading and not playing
he will not gt enough ABs by the end of the season for his third year to kick in. Lou will not trot him out there to watch him look foolish
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Should've served the 2 games
He’s not healthy anyway, and should have swallowed his pride and just fallen on his sword for the two games. It wouldn’t even be talked about by now.
Not worried about it yet, but its a pretty bad start for MB here. I think he just needs to string a few hits together, and he’ll be okay.
Must say, Hoff has played pretty well in his absense, and unless I’m wrong, hasn’t made any major gaffs in RF.
I have nothing funny or creative to write.
by Canadian Cubs Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions
This has been covered a hundred times...
… he’ll earn the ire of his peers in the union if he goes against their wishes and does not appeal. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?
He will appeal, it’ll go from 2 to 1 games, we have the players to spot him that game off, and he won’t have to take the full suspension from a suspect call resulting in incidental touching.
It’s called a happy medium, man… and he’s trying to reach it with his team, his union, and the league.
by AndrewJStone on Apr 23, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
It really is not unheard of for a player to drop his appeal
just saying…in fact it is entirely possible that a member of this current team has done it before….Exhibit A
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on Apr 23, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
context
is important. Lee started a brawl. Bradley was complaining about a horrendous strike call.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Agree
that this context is different but some folks on here have been making absolute statements that a player would never drop an appeal because he would feel the wrath of his peers. That is just not true. I googled “dropped suspension Appeals in MLB” and found several cases of MLB players dropping appeals. Those appeals that those players dropped help set precedences too whether they are agregious offenses or not.
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on Apr 23, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I will agree with that
however, I think there’s a big difference between dropping an appeal when you started a brawl with another player, and when you had a tiff with an ump.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
This has what impact to my argument
I am making the point that people on here are saying with absolution that a player would never drop an appeal. That is simply not true. It is probably in the minority, but a simple google search shows that a handful of these events have happened over the last couple of years (Becket, Lee, Duncan, Wells, Cabrerra, Gnomes).
All I am saying is before somebody makes an absolute statement they should do some research.
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on Apr 23, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
I am saying that if there are 100 fines/suspensions/etc.
and if there are several, let’s say 3, dropped appeals, that’s not significant. I don’t know the numbers, but they are important to the argument. Anyone claiming it can or will never happen should just be ignored.
In either case, he hasn’t dropped it, he won’t, and you’ve seen the reasons why. You might as well let it go.
by chitownhawkeye on Apr 23, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I am not advocating for him to drop it
so I have nothing to let go….
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on Apr 23, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Why are you upset over the ejection?
He was hurt and wasn’t going to be re-entering the game. It was a terrible call on ball four and since he knew he headed to the showers anyway, why not let out some frustration and get tossed? Considering his past, I’m surprised he didn’t flip his lid even more than he did. The fact he got suspended is really a non-issue; it’ll likely get reduced to a game and he’ll serve it the next time the Cubs face a lefty starter.
My God Blou, it’s April 20; you’ve got like five months of this guy this season alone. If you get this worked up now, his antics will kill you dead by June.
Twittermeyer reports
Vizcaino DFAd to make room for the Shark
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
We're gonna need a bigger pen.
remember
Sammy Jankis
by neverAcquiesce on Apr 23, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Blou, I'd like to ask you a simple favor.
Stop swearing all the time.
You want Milton Bradley to follow the rules, while you’re breaking the rules of this blog on an increasingly basis. Just stop.
Otherwise, you’ll get banned, and then you’ll make a new name, and come back (again), which is going against the principle of the ban, and hurting BleedCubbieBlue’s team. See where I’m going with this? You’re Milton Bradley, get off your soapbox.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton
increasingly regular*
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton
he has lots of fiber
in his diet.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
I actually ...
like reading Blou’s comments. Minus the swearing, (which in low usage i think acceptable), he usually brings a different point of view and passion to this page. I know ill get bashed for saying this, but the groupthink on the website is ridiculous ! It’s sort of refreshing to read his comments from time to time.
by BadDecisions on Apr 23, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Very true
I’m not saying I oppose other opinions.
But look at his argument. He doesn’t like Milton Bradley breaking the rules when the umpires clearly don’t like the him.
While Blou’s breaking the rules when a majority of the people on this site clearly don’t like him.
Milton Bradley’s appealing a suspension on principle.
Blou’s come back under different names on principle.
I’ve actually agreed with many of Blou’s stances and I don’t always have time to post my view (plus when someone’s already stated it, I just move on.) But on this one, I think he’s being incredibly hypocritical, noone had voiced it, so I decided too.
Side note, I agree that the mob mentality of this site has gotten semi-ridiculous.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton
We have no idea what the majority of people on this site think about Blou
What we do know is that anything he says, good, bad or indifferent brings out the “high school herd mentality” in a certain amount of the same people.
Any time he makes a post I get a little charge because 1) he usually has something interesting to say (even if I don’t necessarily agree with him) and 2) he acts a a kind of “human starter pistol” for the ones who obviously don’t have enough conflict in their real lives.
You can’t put a price on that kind of entertainment.
by bluekoolaide on Apr 23, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
lol on the entertainment.
I’m just assuming what people think about Blou because of the very large amount of negative posts that follow every one of his.
I know that I did the same with my negative post, however I hoped that I was expressing a new and different opinion.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton
I think the "high school herd mentality" is a bit of an overstatement. Sure, he has
his verbal sparring matches with the same people, but some of us get a bit perturbed when absolute statements are made with no basis of fact. An opinion is an opinion and just like assholes, we all all have them and they pretty much all stink. But don’t try and foist your opinion on me and present it as fact. I don’t care to hear that. If you have facts to backup your statements, fine. But don’t try and ram your opinions down my throat and them get pissed off if I don’t accept it.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 23, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
BlueMike
reaps what he sows.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
And you're ALWAYS around to light the match
without fail
by dr stabbingworth on Apr 23, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
nah
I let a lot of his crap go through, actually. But other people pick it up. Because, well, Blue Mike reaps what he sows.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 24, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
In this particular instance, I agree with you on how he presented this argument and was kind of middle of the road.. But ignoring this particular argument, most of his are usually pretty good. And I agree with bluekoolaide. I love the type of comments he evokes, it’s real entertainment.
by BadDecisions on Apr 23, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Very much agree, both about BLou and "Groupthink"
I don’t usually agree with BLou, and there are times where I think he deserves criticism for the manner in which he says some things. But I see a lot of times where people just go off on him (or try to incite him) no matter what he’s saying or how he’s saying it, because they already don’t like him. (I’ve never accepted the "well, you just weren’t here when BLou said “[insert stupid comment here]” so we’re justified being jerks now and forever….", though I’ve had people say it to me several times.
At any rate, as you said I like that at least some people bring different opinions from time to time.
I like BCB but I don’t like seeing people get ripped on just for having the temerity to present a viewpoint that the majority of people don’t like…. And like you I’m sure my commenting here isn’t going to earn me any friends either…
by CubsWin!Oregon on Apr 23, 2009 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions
That's OK. All of us in the "Groupthink" group don't like anybody anyway. You really
don’t have to worry about earning any friends around here. We just sit around in our little circle think of ways to insult BLou. We realize that he is a very sypathetic figure and we run the risk of be labeled as bad guys for ganging uo on him, but we do it antway. It’s what we live for.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 23, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Gotcha! Just yankin' your chain man.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 23, 2009 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 23, 2009 10:46 AM CDT reply actions
We can always depend on SWL to put things back into perspective. WTF?
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Apr 23, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions
giggling @ the egg yolk.
forgot all about that.
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions
From Wittenmeyer
via twitter — Bradley is not in the lineup for the day. Also, he’s still not talking to the media.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
The only point that is notable in this post
is that Bradley should have been DL’ed so his roster space could have been utilized.
Now, I await the personal attack.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 23, 2009 12:07 PM CDT reply actions
can you imagine
this board would have been in utter free-fall.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
No, I'd agree with that
In retrospect, I’m sure the Cubs would like to have DL’d him.
I just think it’s too early to worry about it.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Agreed!
But there is no use crying over spilled milk
by BadDecisions on Apr 23, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
anyone else like the fact that injured or not
he wants to play and earn his contract, instead of sitting on the DL being paid to watch from home? This tells me a lot about his wants to compete.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
But if you can't play...
…the Cubs have an obligation to the team to have a full roster. This is no slam on Bradley. He’s going to play. Let him take his time and get healthy.. It’s not a matter of ‘wanting to compete.’ He has more than proven his competitiveness in his career.
Not DL-ing him handicaps the team.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 23, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I am not going to argue that, cuz I agree 110%
it is just nice to see someone wanting to earn hus $$$$$$ instead of sitting and watching with a smile all the way to the bank (that is all I was saying)
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
You'd be referring
to Mark Prior, obviously.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Apr 23, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions
well, there are many like that
for examples of both types
Pierre is happy sitting on the bench in LAD collecting a check
Lil sarge in LAA wants to play and earn it.
It is just the mentality of different players. I prefer a player who will die on the field trying, with bad results, than a player who is happy sitting with no results. That tells me who wants to be part of winning, versus those who are happy being part of a winning team even if they are just an "over priced cheer leader: so to speak..
Bradley is in a damned if you do, damned if you dont situation. He sits everyone says he is injury prone and doesnt care about earning his check. He plays and he is ripped for playing thru the injury trying to help the team and earning his check, while still being labeled injury prone. I am sure we all see the difference.
I hope this way of viewing bradley might help to calm some of those who are having a heart attack 3 weeks into a season over him.
And is it me, or the (some of the) same people ripping into MB here on BCB the same people who will rip the media for ruipping into MB.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Actually, Pierre has asked to be traded.
The problem is, no one wants him.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I had not heard that
but I do hope that my point was understood enlight of that change
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
So blade
I say we ban "small sample size" and call it lack of statistical information or LOSI
"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"
can we use it as a Stat?
“Hoffpauir could be a great player, but our LOSI on his fielding ability means that we can’t accurately predict when Lou will play him.”
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 23, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
LOSI
I thought that was for Cotts
LEFTY ONE SINGLE I’M-Gone.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Bad News Bradley
Man… we all want Bradley to do well, but, we shouldn’t be surprised by any of this. If Bradley does well, then he is a benefit to the team. But, why should we expect everything will go well with Bradley? His history shows that we should expect him to be hurt… Personally, I expected this and am not surprised in the least. I thought he would last longer than this.. but it’s obvious Lou isn’t too happy with him. If that’s true, it probably not about the same exact things we are aggravated at. He talks with him, listens to him… and obviously something is rubbing him wrong about the guy.
Anyway… None of this should be a surprise. The signing of Bradley reminds me of some of the signings the Cubs did back in the 90’s. ex: Danny Jackson… he was somebody who COULD benefit the Cubs…. the same with Bradley, he COULD benefit the Cubs if he stayed healthy and kept his nose clean.
Why couldn’t we sign someone who WILL benefit the Cubs?
Ugh.
I thought repeats started in May or June
As someone responded in some other thread — anyone they sign COULD help the Cubs.
No guarantee of health.
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 23, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions
lets not forget there was a kid who stared 1-24 batting
we should have cut him too…….
btw his name is Ryne Sandberg
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
A whole blue mike thread
and no pounding sand. What is bcb coming to?
"So chicks dig guys who TAKE AWAY the long ball, too? " by dat cubfan daver
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 23, 2009 10:05 PM CDT reply actions
Get stuffed!
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Apr 24, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions
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