A Premptive Strike Against Those Who'll Crucify Bradley...

I once left work, on my first day no less, five minutes early and got harangued for it the next day.

In all honestly, I was laughing when he did that

…and calm, contemplative silence at this very difficult time.

But I am not going to expect anything from him when he is at the plate. I am usually one of the more positive Cubs fans. I still think some people can turn it around. But I am hoping off the Milton train. He has only come to disappoint me over and over again. He was signed as someone who was going to come in and seriously help us win, he hasn’t done that

…..at some point Bradley apologists are going to have to realize that there is a point -- yes, there really is -- when we CAN criticize Milton Bradley without being too “hasty,” ’"judgemental," or “impatient.”

There was an awful lot of money, and two guarantetd years, given to Milton Bradley to perform — not to mention (as inherent by said signing) a TON of grace given him in overlooking his history. What has been reapt so far is return is worthy of criticism, and heavy criticism at that.

“It was a bad day” just doesn’t quite cut it when used so often to try and quash criticism of a player who has been consistently bad.

he’s adding a lot of stories to “Cubs lore”. In ten years we’ll be laughing about it.

As for crucifying him…I’m not in the mood to crucify any one person (not even Hendry). We had our window, it’s closed now. It’s getting to be time to admit the obvious; this team is going nowhere. Hopefully the ownership gets sorted out soon and Rickett’s (or whoever) backs up the truck and starts over. Maybe we’ll get lucky. After all, look at how quickly Dallas Green turned around the Cubs in the early 80’s.

1) Comparing what Bradley does for a living to the average joe is a false comparison. Bradley plays at a level – and is compensated at such a level – that mistakes like he made today shouldn’t be acceptable. I’ll agree with the notion that even the best humans have bad days, that’s fine, but don’t shroud it in this fabrication.

2) it didn’t alter the game.

3) It’s not Lou’s job to keep the guy in RF apprised of how many outs there are. As a manager I would expect that. Especially with everyone from the infield shaking fingers at me from the last out to make sure I knew.

D) Don’t be so sure about that microscope. I’d bet a lot of people would love to trade places with Milton Bradley.

All that said, the guy was bad today. Let it go and move on to tomorrow.

no one would be sympathetic.

Did we expect anything else from Milton? His career has been nothing but conterversy. He has been abused by the press and fans, some justified some not. He has always been hurt which has led to speculation of his desire to play. This is just par for the course.
 I did not want him here. I do not feel sorry for Milton the majority of his problems he brings on himself.
 He is a Cub, I hope he helps the Cubs win, but this won’t be the last time Milton takes the headlines in a negative way. Get use to it.

2009 Cubs With Milton Bradley playing in a game = 19-26
2009 Cubs Without Milton Bradley playing in a game = 10-3

Milton Bradley 2-4 (.500) with 2 RBIs

Rest of the Cubs offense: 4-29 (.138) with 2 RBIs from D. Lee

his post-game response is not

is what Bradley needs more than anything. The guy is under absolutely immense pressure to perform and needs some time off to unload and get refocused. If we’d cool off a little and not be so hard on the guy, maybe he’d start to pick it up. I think that our expectations are causing him to try too hard.

I’m not excusing what he did in the field today, but I’m not going to act like this is the final straw or anything. Anyone who calls him a defensive liability but supported signing Dunn or Abreu is a hypocrite.

but as a ballplayer, he’s the type of guy I’d have stayed ten miles away from if I’d been wearing Hungry Jim’s roomy trousers last off-season. I prefer calm, measured players like Aramis, Sandberg and Maddux. Not that I think anyone can easily match their stats, but I’d look for guys who match their disposition. Lilly, too. Bradley looks like a 7th grader with ADD when he’s on the bench. He expends every once of energy every second of the game. That saps the player throughout the long season. The most successful players know how to parcel out their exertions in order to have reserves in the long run.

So they went in a different direction in the off-season to make themselves “edgier”. You reap what you sow.

My issue with yesterday’s game was that Bradley’s actions were a symptom of a larger problem.

This team is playing “station to station” baseball hoping for a 3 run homer. They are unfocused, inattentive and frankly, appear unmotivated. They seem to be going through the motions and it manifests itself in their play this season.

And this isn’t new. This started back in Spring Training. I saw them play in 3 games in March. They lost all 3. I know “it’s only ST”, but the seeds of a winner are sown in ST.

I’m not a ledge jumper. I believe there is still time to correct this. But it has to start TODAY – not “hope things will eventually turn around”.

I’m glad to hear that apparently Lou has finally seen enough and is going to make changes.

We’ll see what those are in the next few days.

But it all starts “between the ears”.

But Bradley has performed consistantly poorly all year long. He was an injury prone DH when we got him so the results should not suprise anyone. I had hopes he would step things up after ARam got hurt but he continues to disappoint.

…millions of people don’t watch me work. Pressure to perform is part of the game, especially when you get paid multi-millions per year. The over-reactions might be less likely had he conducted himself in the past in a more professional manner. Aside from that, he had a bad day on the bases and in the field yesterday, but produced at the plate. All he can do is try again today and play smart and approach the game as a pro. I hope that he pulls it off because we have taken a huge risk with bringing him in and we need the returns like right now.

It makes me feel sick thinking that professional athletes may actually rely on the scoreboard to inform them of the number of outs in the inning.