Milton Bradley Appreciation Thread

[weis21]

Either way, the point that I was trying to make is that since Dero is already gone like it or not, if (and only if) Miles is used solely as a platoon to Fontenot then he will not be a bad option given his high OBP and Fontenot's lack of success vs. LHP/time logged as a MLB regular.

 

He'll hit some singles. I guess that'll be moderate enough production.

 

I'd still rather have saved the $4 million over the next two years and gave German a shot at being just as good as Miles for a fraction of the cost. Or signed one of the few better options at a cheaper cost than Miles. But, oh well.

 

Yeah, here I am definitely with you. I would have loved to sign Grudzielanek to a 1-year deal for 1-2 million. But, given the current, albeit "less than perfect" scenario, we could do worse than Miles. He is more or less another Ryan Theriot playing second base for Fontenot when he sits versus LHP.

 

Yeah, and that's not particularly good. Theriot is a really nice player to have who will produce something for a cheap price. And if Miles was making Theriot's money, I wouldn't have the slightest problem with him here.

 

Problem is, he'll produce around what Theriot gives us (if he repeats last year's career year) at a much larger cost.

 

You're probably right. But guys posting a .380 OBP aren't really that common regardless of the price, are they? I know it would be better if he could slug his way out of a wet paper bag, but getting on base at that clip is still not terrible. I guess I'm just hardened by the Neifi Perez days and always look for the silver lining.

 

Nonetheless, I'm pumped for Cubs baseball right about now and I can't wait for the season to start!

[weis21]

Has it been confirmed by someone with the Cubs Hendry/Kenny that trading DeRosa was just for monetary reasons? Is it possible it could have been done for a expected Peavy deal? I mean it's not like we got a a guy in the deal that will help us out this year or ever even get to the majors. It's not like we owed DeRosa a big deal he only had 7ish left and was a FA after the year, likely type-a. After showing we were willing to spend money giving Demspter and Bradley big deals and signing Miles to a decent sized contract I find it hard to believe we traded DeRosa to save 2-3 mil (taking in Miles contract) for the year. Maybe is was just Hendry/Piniella wanted to get Fontenot in there more and see what he can do with 400-500 ab's.

I think, if I remember correctly, that Bruce Miles basically insinuated as much around this board. I always kind of thought that it was a trade to either replenish the farm after a Peavy trade or to get prospects that the Padres specifically wanted.

Found Bruce's insinuation:

 

 

Even if this isn't [DeRosa Trade] related to Peavy, they needed to clear up money for Bradley.

 

Exactly.

[dew1679666265]

Either way, the point that I was trying to make is that since Dero is already gone like it or not, if (and only if) Miles is used solely as a platoon to Fontenot then he will not be a bad option given his high OBP and Fontenot's lack of success vs. LHP/time logged as a MLB regular.

 

He'll hit some singles. I guess that'll be moderate enough production.

 

I'd still rather have saved the $4 million over the next two years and gave German a shot at being just as good as Miles for a fraction of the cost. Or signed one of the few better options at a cheaper cost than Miles. But, oh well.

 

Yeah, here I am definitely with you. I would have loved to sign Grudzielanek to a 1-year deal for 1-2 million. But, given the current, albeit "less than perfect" scenario, we could do worse than Miles. He is more or less another Ryan Theriot playing second base for Fontenot when he sits versus LHP.

 

Yeah, and that's not particularly good. Theriot is a really nice player to have who will produce something for a cheap price. And if Miles was making Theriot's money, I wouldn't have the slightest problem with him here.

 

Problem is, he'll produce around what Theriot gives us (if he repeats last year's career year) at a much larger cost.

 

You're probably right. But guys posting a .380 OBP aren't really that common regardless of the price, are they? I know it would be better if he could slug his way out of a wet paper bag, but getting on base at that clip is still not terrible. I guess I'm just hardened by the Neifi Perez days and always look for the silver lining.

 

It's worth something, but again he can't slug and is pretty mediocre defensively (terrible at short). He is better than Neifi, though.

 

Nonetheless, I'm pumped for Cubs baseball right about now and I can't wait for the season to start!

 

That I can agree with!

[Cubswin11]

Has it been confirmed by someone with the Cubs Hendry/Kenny that trading DeRosa was just for monetary reasons? Is it possible it could have been done for a expected Peavy deal? I mean it's not like we got a a guy in the deal that will help us out this year or ever even get to the majors. It's not like we owed DeRosa a big deal he only had 7ish left and was a FA after the year, likely type-a. After showing we were willing to spend money giving Demspter and Bradley big deals and signing Miles to a decent sized contract I find it hard to believe we traded DeRosa to save 2-3 mil (taking in Miles contract) for the year. Maybe is was just Hendry/Piniella wanted to get Fontenot in there more and see what he can do with 400-500 ab's.

I think, if I remember correctly, that Bruce Miles basically insinuated as much around this board. I always kind of thought that it was a trade to either replenish the farm after a Peavy trade or to get prospects that the Padres specifically wanted.

Found Bruce's insinuation:

 

 

Even if this isn't [DeRosa Trade] related to Peavy, they needed to clear up money for Bradley.

 

Exactly.

I have a hard time believing that, if we were really trying to pinch pennies we wouldn't have given Miles a 2 year $5 mil. deal. We probably would have just signed a guy like Grudzielanek to a deal under $1 mil.

[dew1679666265]

Has it been confirmed by someone with the Cubs Hendry/Kenny that trading DeRosa was just for monetary reasons? Is it possible it could have been done for a expected Peavy deal? I mean it's not like we got a a guy in the deal that will help us out this year or ever even get to the majors. It's not like we owed DeRosa a big deal he only had 7ish left and was a FA after the year, likely type-a. After showing we were willing to spend money giving Demspter and Bradley big deals and signing Miles to a decent sized contract I find it hard to believe we traded DeRosa to save 2-3 mil (taking in Miles contract) for the year. Maybe is was just Hendry/Piniella wanted to get Fontenot in there more and see what he can do with 400-500 ab's.

I think, if I remember correctly, that Bruce Miles basically insinuated as much around this board. I always kind of thought that it was a trade to either replenish the farm after a Peavy trade or to get prospects that the Padres specifically wanted.

Found Bruce's insinuation:

 

 

Even if this isn't [DeRosa Trade] related to Peavy, they needed to clear up money for Bradley.

 

Exactly.

I have a hard time believing that, if we were really trying to pinch pennies we wouldn't have given Miles a 2 year $5 mil. deal. We probably would have just signed a guy like Grudzielanek to a deal under $1 mil.

 

That's my thoughts exactly.

 

The only way Hendry could figure out to save $3 million was to downgrade from DeRosa to Miles? He couldn't have tried to move Gaudin for A-ballers or restructure a deal or something?

 

I just don't buy it.

[Cubswin11]

And looking at the two contracts, DeRosa is owed $5.5 mil. this year and Miles will get $4.9 over the two years here. I pretty sure $600,000 wasn't going to hold Hendry up in signing Bradley. I guess you could make a argument it saves us money this year and makes us a little more flexible, but big picture we are going to end up paying close to what DeRosa was owed this year. Like I also said it's not like we got a great prospect or two from the Indians they are all likely career minor leaguers and maybe 1 will turn into a league average MR. I would have taken our chances next year getting a supplemental pick in the draft and drafting someone over the 3 guys we got. To me it comes down to two things either Hendry was expecting/preparing for a Peavy deal that never happened or Hendry/Piniella wanted to get Fontenot more ab's.

[dew1679666265]

And looking at the two contracts, DeRosa is owed $5.5 mil. this year and Miles will get $4.9 over the two years here. I pretty sure $600,000 wasn't going to hold Hendry up in signing Bradley. I guess you could make a argument it saves us money this year and makes us a little more flexible, but big picture we are going to end up paying close to what DeRosa was owed this year. Like I also said it's not like we got a great prospect or two from the Indians they are all likely career minor leaguers and maybe 1 will turn into a league average MR. I would have taken our chances next year getting a supplemental pick in the draft and drafting someone over the 3 guys we got. To me it comes down to two things either Hendry was expecting/preparing for a Peavy deal that never happened or Hendry/Piniella wanted to get Fontenot more ab's.

 

The minor leaguers we got in return are better than that. All three look like they have decent shots of reaching the majors at some point and it wouldn't surprise me to see one of them turn into a pretty solid MLer. It wasn't a deal you just had to take, though.

[17 Seconds]

You guys are forgetting about the main theme of this offseason..... the "we need to get more left handed" obsession. I think they got rid of DeRosa for that and for the money. They wanted Fontenot's LHB in there every day vs righties and they liked Miles ability to "hit" from the left side.

 

I don't agree with it at all, but I think that's one of the main reasons they udmped DeRosa.

[Bull]

Here's to Milton Bradley, there's been quite a bit a talk about what the Cubs have lost in DeRosa but, for me it's simple - Bradley' bat > DeRosa bat' regardless of DeRosa' versatility and leadership.

 

Bradley's bat is obviously much better than DeRosa's, but Bradley isn't taking DeRosa's ABs. He's taking Edmonds' ABs from last year.

 

DeRosa's ABs will be taken by Aaron Miles and whoever replaces Bradley in right when Milton gets hurt.

 

But I do appreciate Bradley's bat - I hope he's healthy all year.

 

 

Mike Fontenot says, "Hi."

 

Fontenot will take Fontenot's at bats, and some of DeRosa's. But my bet is Miles will have more PA than Fontenot will have increased PA.

That's fine...but an awful lot of Miles' at bats will be replacing Ronny Cedeno.

Right on Tim. Jersey, if you do that you have to go all the way, because looking at it that way, Bradley will take some of derosa's at bats. in fact, Bradley, Fuku, Fontenot, Miles, and Gathright will take the at bats of Edmonds, Derosa, Fukudome, Fontenot, Cedeno.

 

Bottom line is its the dispersion of the positions CF, RF, 2B. If Fukudome performs and Bradley stays healthy its a non-issue. If either do not, then it becomes an issue. Personally, all things considered I prefer the 2008 5-some over the 2009 version, but not over the projected performance of the 2008 group in 2009.

[radarluv1]

i guess miles does compare favorably to neifi. it sure seems like he got a lot of AB's at 3B.

[Guest]

DeRosa's contract was the only significant contract they could move. He didn't have a no trade clause, didn't hit right handed and they had someone that appeared ready to step in and play 2b.

 

I still think Hendry made all of those moves with Peavy in mind, and maybe it will still happen at some point.

 

The reason Miles was a poor choice is that there are many players now being cut by their teams that could provide similar production for the major league minimum.

[YearofDaCubs]

DeRosa's contract was the only significant contract they could move. He didn't have a no trade clause, didn't hit right handed and they had someone that appeared ready to step in and play 2b.

 

I still think Hendry made all of those moves with Peavy in mind, and maybe it will still happen at some point.

 

The reason Miles was a poor choice is that there are many players now being cut by their teams that could provide similar production for the major league minimum.

Wigginton would have made a lot more sense than Aaron frickin' Miles.

[Roast]

DeRosa's contract was the only significant contract they could move. He didn't have a no trade clause, didn't hit right handed and they had someone that appeared ready to step in and play 2b.

 

I still think Hendry made all of those moves with Peavy in mind, and maybe it will still happen at some point.

 

The reason Miles was a poor choice is that there are many players now being cut by their teams that could provide similar production for the major league minimum.

 

I agree on almost all counts, except the idea that he did it with peavy in mind. Hendry usually seems pretty straight forward with us (us=fanbase) about what he's thinking. That is, he may not always be forthcoming with info but when he does talk about transactions he usually doesn't B.S. us. Or so it seems.

 

Anyway, my point is that every time I heard him talk this offseason (mainly at the convention) the way he explained it was that he moved DeRosa out of necessity - not related to Peavy. The way he put it was that there was a general consensus that we needed to be more 'left handed.' That means saying goodbye to at least one of the righties on the team. Obviously Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano weren't going anywhere. That left DeRosa, pretty much. (or theriot, I guess).

 

Getting rid of DeRosa was essentially a way of putting two lefties in the lineup for the price of one righty in that Fontenot could step into his place at second plus it freed up the money for Bradley. Certainly I think Hendry wanted Peavy but the more I hear Jim talk the more I believe that his intentions in trading DeRosa actually did not involve Peavy.

[Guest]

You may be right. But, I keep holding on to the fact that all the trades that happened seemed to be right on target with what the Padres needed to make a deal happen.

[17 Seconds]

You may be right. But, I keep holding on to the fact that all the trades that happened seemed to be right on target with what the Padres needed to make a deal happen.

 

Just because they are young pitchers? You can only get 2 different kinds of young players. Young pitchers, and young hitters. It's not like it would be some huge coincidence if the Padres wanted young pitching and so did the Cubs... for themselves.

[radarluv1]

DeRosa's contract was the only significant contract they could move. He didn't have a no trade clause, didn't hit right handed and they had someone that appeared ready to step in and play 2b.

 

I still think Hendry made all of those moves with Peavy in mind, and maybe it will still happen at some point.

 

The reason Miles was a poor choice is that there are many players now being cut by their teams that could provide similar production for the major league minimum.

Wigginton would have made a lot more sense than Aaron frickin' Miles.

wigginton doesnt cover ss, though.

i really wish we could've taken last years team, and swapped bradley for edmonds and called it an offseason.

[Cynosure]

Milton Bradley will hit the first home run in New Yankee Stadium.

[Cynosure]

.000 AVG

 

.350+ OBP = WIN

[cubbinalltheway]

lovin the swagger he brings, loving the patience he displays... can't wait til he starts showing that power. i'm a fan.

[Rob]

Each time they pitched him inside tonight after the beaning, I was sure he was going to rush the mound. It was glorious.

[Roast]

Each time they pitched him inside tonight after the beaning, I was sure he was going to rush the mound. It was glorious.

+

[E.J.]

Yeah, he seems like he could blow up at any minute. He is definitely intense. I love it.

[Roast]

Yeah, he seems like he could blow up at any minute. He is definitely intense. I love it.

I liked his reaction on the shot down the 1b line that should have been called fair.

 

For those who didn't see it. He threw his hands up but quickly turned around and walked back to the plate. (and Lou then gave the ump an earfull from the dugout). Milton ended up walking and when he did he flipped his bat so hard i'm pretty sure it could have been used as an airplane propeller.

[Derwood]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that his .350 IsoD leads the majors at this point.

[treebird]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that his .350 IsoD leads the majors at this point.

 

jamie moyer is 0-0 with a bb.

 

that's going to be tough to beat.