Milton Bradley

[Soul]

I'll just agree that both guys share some blame and leave it at that.

 

That's gotta completely suck to blow out your knee getting restrained by your own coach though. I didn't see the replay but wow he must have been freaking out to the nth degree to tear a ligament like that.

 

I hope the ump receives appropriate punishment, there's got to be some accountability for these guys beyond being left off the playoff crews (i.e. essentially a longer vacation).

[Stu]

Dude reminds me so much of Ron Artest it isn't even funny. Both are very intelligent, well-spoken guys, thought of very highly by teammates, described as kind, caring, generous "Off the field/court." But they just some how attract trouble.

[CuseCubFan69]

Mistakes made by both parties. Apparently the umps were ticked off at Bradley's 5th inning antics.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3033679

 

We have seen Bradley snap before, almost always after someone makes the mistake of pushing his buttons. But this latest incident set new standards in the annals of bizarre and inexplicable snap-outs.

 

It started, apparently, with a fifth-inning called strikeout that ended with Bradley's flipping his bat and initially refusing to leave the batter's box. Three innings later, with Bradley on first, first-base umpire Mike Winters and Bradley began debating that bat flip until, out of nowhere, Winters uttered the mysterious words that lit Bradley's fuse.

 

Next thing we knew, his manager, Bud Black, was sprinting toward his left fielder in a furious attempt to serve as the last line of defense between Bradley and the inevitable suspension that clearly would have awaited him if he'd ever made it to Winters' little patch of dirt.

 

Black yanked. And tugged. And pushed. And pulled. Did everything, in fact, but call out the National Guard. Until finally, he and Bradley twisted wildly.

 

And down went Bradley with one of the strangest injuries we've ever witnessed -- a right knee possibly seriously injured in a wrestling match with his own manager.

 

We're still not sure who started what. Or who was right or wrong. But it doesn't matter. Not really. At this time of year, no matter what was said or what was done, a player that important can't afford to lose control the way Milton Bradley did.

 

Since Bradley arrived from Oakland on July 7, he has batted .313 and led the Padres in both on-base percentage (.414) and slugging (.590). He has the same number of RBIs (30) as Brian Giles, but in about 100 fewer at-bats. Clearly, Bradley has been their most consistent and most important hitter. So don't underestimate what his loss would mean to this team if he's out for all of this final week.

 

 

"They can't hit," said one scout Sunday night. "The only guy on that club who is really swinging the bat well right now is [Kevin] Kouzmanoff. The other guys -- Giles, [Adrian] Gonzalez, Khalil Greene -- are incredibly streaky."

 

So losing Bradley in an incident this strange and unnecessary might have "just sabotaged what little offense that club has," the scout said. What a shame.

 

The bolded part is the only thing that matters. That's all I'm trying to say.

 

The fact that it was an ump that got him peeved like this is just plain wrong to me. Again, if that ump or any other had a problem with Bradley they should have said something when the alleged bat flip took place.

 

Or if Bradley just kept his mouth shut and wait until the game (He already waited 3 innings) was over, none of this would've happened. Whatever the case I hope it was worth it for the ump (it might cost his job) or Bradley (playoffs). In both cases it was poorly handled.

 

I agree it was handled poorly by both parties but I still would like to see all the facts. This ump has changed the outlook of this team by opening his mouth which he should have never done. It would be one thing if it was Helton but to me having an ump do this is so far from his job description it isn't even funny. If Bradley was the first to say something it would one thing but to have an ump yap at him and continue to do so just amazes me.

[jaydee]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

[jaydee]

Torn ACL. What a complete idiot Bradley is. C'mon! Your team is in the race and you're worried about what a umpire says?

 

yah, i can't imagine why a black man would get upset when a white authority figure taunts him using racial overtones :roll:

[C.C.]

Torn ACL. What a complete idiot Bradley is. C'mon! Your team is in the race and you're worried about what a umpire says?

 

yah, i can't imagine why a black man would get upset when a white authority figure taunts him using Allegedly racial overtones :roll:

 

Fixed.

[NewUserName]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

[jaydee]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

 

there clearly are excusable reasons to behave the way bradley did. he was a lot more mature and civil than winters.

[C.C.]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

 

there clearly are excusable reasons to behave the way bradley did. he was a lot more mature and civil than winters.

 

Damn straight! Bradley showed him how to handle the situation in a mature and civil manner. Oh wait...

[NewUserName]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

 

there clearly are excusable reasons to behave the way bradley did. he was a lot more mature and civil than winters.

 

Our actions cannot be dictated by the actions of others. People need to control themselves in all circumstances. Truth is Bradley isnt behaving like that if its Lennox Lewis he has to go after. He was trying to physically intimidate or attack someone for something the person said. Sticks and Stones.

[Guest]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

 

The problem with this is it ignores the person who is in a position of authority and has abused his power. You're sweeping what the ump has done aside to solely fault Bradley.

 

Milton Bradley is a guy who was run out of Cleveland and LA with the help of the front office and team, now he's being defended his own teammates for doing something that looks pretty stupid (but has more than one party to blame). I'll say it again, it's easy to criticize when you're afar, especially when it's someone who has a (deserved) poor reputation like Bradley and we don't have all the facts yet. What say those of you who ignore that his first base coach said he'd have attacked the ump much earlier than Bradley did?

[NewUserName]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

 

The problem with this is it ignores the person who is in a position of authority and has abused his power. You're sweeping what the ump has done aside to solely fault Bradley.

 

Milton Bradley is a guy who was run out of Cleveland and LA with the help of the front office and team, now he's being defended his own teammates for doing something that looks pretty stupid (but has more than one party to blame). I'll say it again, it's easy to criticize when you're afar, especially when it's someone who has a (deserved) poor reputation like Bradley and we don't have all the facts yet. What say those of you who ignore that his first base coach said he'd have attacked the ump much earlier than Bradley did?

 

 

So it is ok to act the way he did because he wasnt going to get his way? Because someone said something? Someone in Authority? Where do we draw the line that it is ok to physically attack someone? Would it have been ok for him to do what he did to a female umpire who may have said the same things? Would it have been ok if he actually hit Winters and Winters was killed or seriously injured?

 

I am not attacking Bradley because of who he is. I am judging his actions in this incident. I would say the same thing about Dereck Lee if it was him. To react the way he did was not right. If the umpire was out of line with what he was saying there were 2 other witnesses and I am sure the umpire could have been punished.

[Guest]

I really can't blame Bradley. The ump clearly had an agenda and acted way out of line. Getting his ACL torn was just a bizarre accident. Hopefully the ump gets some heavy penalties and is forced to find a new profession. Knowing MLB though, the ump will probably get a lighter penalty than Bradley.

 

 

There is never a excusable reason to behave the way Bradley did. One of the sadest thing in this country is that somehow that type of behavior is ok as long as the circumstances are right. Well who is to judge if the circumstances are right. I am not excusing Winters part in this. I am just saying there is no excuse for Bradleys.

 

The problem with this is it ignores the person who is in a position of authority and has abused his power. You're sweeping what the ump has done aside to solely fault Bradley.

 

Milton Bradley is a guy who was run out of Cleveland and LA with the help of the front office and team, now he's being defended his own teammates for doing something that looks pretty stupid (but has more than one party to blame). I'll say it again, it's easy to criticize when you're afar, especially when it's someone who has a (deserved) poor reputation like Bradley and we don't have all the facts yet. What say those of you who ignore that his first base coach said he'd have attacked the ump much earlier than Bradley did?

 

 

So it is ok to act the way he did because he wasnt going to get his way? Because someone said something? Someone in Authority? Where do we draw the line that it is ok to physically attack someone? Would it have been ok for him to do what he did to a female umpire who may have said the same things? Would it have been ok if he actually hit Winters and Winters was killed or seriously injured?

 

I am not attacking Bradley because of who he is. I am judging his actions in this incident. I would say the same thing about Dereck Lee if it was him. To react the way he did was not right. If the umpire was out of line with what he was saying there were 2 other witnesses and I am sure the umpire could have been punished.

 

I didn't say it was ok what Bradley did, there are far better ways to handle a situation like that. I have criticized 1) those who have said they would handle a situation better than that (because they are saying that from afar and don't know that) and 2) faulting those who are just blaming Bradley while ignoring the umps share of blame in this matter.

 

Where have I absolved Milton Bradley?

[NewUserName]

I wasnt ignoring the ump.

 

Anyway I have been in jail twice in my life for beating people up. Been in several more scraps. I understand how emotions can get the best of us. What I have learned though is to control my emotions in these circumstances. Also if I was to tell you what happened that caused me to beat up the guys who I got arrested for beating up, most people would think I was justified. I know now that I wasnt.

[imb]

If the ump was black and the player was white, there would be a whole different attitude towards this.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Milton's a thug?

[Magnetic Curses]

wow, i'm shocked yet again.

 

black person claims to have been the victim of racism or racist speech, white people claim that racist names do not exist and disavow any knowledge that racism itself has actually ever existed--go on to call said black person crazy.

 

breaking news.

[Magnetic Curses]

I wasnt ignoring the ump.

 

Anyway I have been in jail twice in my life for beating people up. Been in several more scraps. I understand how emotions can get the best of us. What I have learned though is to control my emotions in these circumstances. Also if I was to tell you what happened that caused me to beat up the guys who I got arrested for beating up, most people would think I was justified. I know now that I wasnt.

 

i beat people up so bad that the cops take THEM to jail.

 

this one guy i beat up claimed that i was six black men.

[DiamondMind]

This is one of those situations, in my opinion, that proves that sometimes bad things happen to bad people.

 

100% how I feel about this situation. Bradley did nothing wrong here except let his temper explode again, but, he was baited. Baited by (supossedly) impartial umpires who are supossed to have no interest in the game other than making sure it's called fairly and correctly. What business does this guy have berating Bradley at first in the middle of a ball game!?

[CuseCubFan69]

If the ump was black and the player was white, there would be a whole different attitude towards this.

 

Not from me. I can handle a bad ump but I can't handle one that thinks he bigger than the game or has some stupid agenda/attitude that effects the game. That's when I don't forgive.

[chuckywang]

wow, i'm shocked yet again.

 

black person claims to have been the victim of racism or racist speech, white people claim that racist names do not exist and disavow any knowledge that racism itself has actually ever existed--go on to call said black person crazy.

 

breaking news.

 

Milton Bradley has not said anything about racism. In everything I've read about this, only one line was quoted about racism. That was from 1st base coach Meacham, and was only because he was asked.

[RynoRules]

If the ump was black and the player was white, there would be a whole different attitude towards this.

 

Not from me. I can handle a bad ump but I can't handle one that thinks he bigger than the game or has some stupid agenda/attitude that effects the game. That's when I don't forgive.

 

+1

[B]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/bnance82/jesse.jpg

[RyneSandberg]

Milton wasn't in the wrong on this one, the first base umpire obviously provoke Milton and egged him on.

[questionmarkgrace]

I've seen alot of umps do less to difuse a situation and more to fuel it than in past years. most of the umps do a good job. but there are a few that incite problems on the field by showing guys up on what should be ball four or by arguing with players instead of calming them down. im glad SD's first base coach backed Bradley on this because most people, including me, would not have believed him.

 

I dont know if selig can or will take action but something needs to be done. In general, a uniform strikezone would probably ease relations between umps and player/coaches.