Bradley "never comfortable" playing at Wrigley

[mlarner]

That he's happy when he gets on base and shows it, therefore shows that he cares. One of the problems people have with Bradley is that he looks like he doesn't care. I'm saying this isn't true.

Caring and hustling are 2 different things. Milton may care, but he certainly doesn't hustle or stay in the game mentally.

 

 

Im not sure exactly what team you are watching because Bradley hustles his ass off.

 

X 2

Bradley can obviously be a pain in that he does wear his heart on his sleeve (as his comments here prove he can be a big distraction) but you cannot deny that he cares and plays hard. I was at all 4 of the games at Coors recently, and he was the ONLY player that stood out in terms of hustle and giving a crap that the team was playing terribly. He was visibly frustrated with their performance, and as a fan that made me love him even more because it was affecting him so much. It was painful for me to see a team with so much talent throwing it away and it was clearly painful for him too. I am not saying the other players didn't care or cared any less, but watching them I could not tell if they were feeling the same way or not. As much trouble as it gets him into, you do not have to wonder how Bradley is feeling at any given moment and for me, anyway, it makes it really easy to identify with him. I was not real excited about his signing, but at this point he is one of my favorite Cubs.

[jersey cubs fan]

That he's happy when he gets on base and shows it, therefore shows that he cares. One of the problems people have with Bradley is that he looks like he doesn't care. I'm saying this isn't true.

Caring and hustling are 2 different things. Milton may care, but he certainly doesn't hustle or stay in the game mentally.

 

 

Im not sure exactly what team you are watching because Bradley hustles his ass off.

 

I don't know about hustling his ass off. He hustles as much as most, but not some super high level. He's had a few standing around brain farts.

[CUBZ99]

Crane Kenney should hire Dr. Phil to help Milton Bradley work through his issues.

[Sammys Boombox]

I'm probably in the small group of people that didn't want Bradley when we got him but now wants to keep him.

 

I understand his frustrations with umpires. I honestly think he very seldom gets the benefit of the doubt. I often see him taking pitches that aren't even close and they are called strikes. For some reason the pitch that is BOTH up and away gets called on him a lot. If you take pride in something you do at work like Milton does with his pitch selection and you executed perfectly but you still "failed," wouldn't you be ticked?

 

I think Milton should just shut-up sometimes, but you know reporters egg it on. The time he claimed to not notice the cheers when he scored from first on a double by Soriano in the late July game where the Cubs overtook the Cardinals for first place would have been a great time to shut-up and let the fans warmup to him. Of course, a reporter did ask him if he heard them.

 

Is he perfect? No. But can he really contribute to a good team? Yes.

 

If the rest of the team didn't tank the last few weeks, everybody would be singing the praises of Milton and Fukudome.

[CyHawk_Cub]

I love me some Milton...sure, his horrid start was difficult to watch, but I hope he is not traded this off-season.

[JonnyRed]

What I can't understand is how he truly feels slighted and surprised that the public has this reaction to him. He doesn't grasp that a person's past actions do in fact influence how they feel about you. And, as a professional athlete, you're paid to produce. When you are trending towards having less than 50 RBI, you're going to catch heat.

 

Regarding being welcomed at Wrigley, he didn't exactly get off to a good start by:

 

a) taking a called third strike with the bases loaded in a close game

b) getting thrown out, which further guarantees he won't get close calls by the umps

c) refusings to just take his suspension when he was injured, out of principle, further hurting the team

d) all of the above

 

The guy is a tool, and unfortunately Hendry selected the worst possible choice for OFs this past offseason.

[JonnyRed]

Also, anyone else think it was a little odd that he took a catcher's indifference to 2B last night when we were down 9 runs? Is that hustle, or an unwritten no-no?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Some T-Shirts in St. Louis told me on good authority that Zambrano is running some kind of landscaping business on the side. Isn't that against his contract, too?

[erik316wttn]

Unless Bradley played at an all-star level this season, the fans decision was already made for them by the media.

 

I don't buy that at all. The media reported the truth about Bradley's history. Maybe we should have listened. They didn't make anything up about him -- he's been a cantankerous jerk everywhere he's been. Did you expect the writers not to question whether he would be a good fit or whether he was worth the headaches?

 

This. There's a reason he's been through so many different teams in his career. Nobody wants to put up with his crap.

 

Except for all of his teammates that loved him. Since ya know, he gives his all and tries to win every game.

 

Just seems odd that you can get all pissy and offended that Milton is complaining about the fans or the umps, oh grow up Milton, stop complaining Milton!!

 

How bout you grow up? How bout you stop complaining about how a guy carries himself? Why does it bother you that he's upset by fans not liking him? Why does it bother you that he gets pissed about a bad strike zone? Why does Milton have to be this virtuous individual and you can go on season over rants around the 2nd week of the season and do nothing but pout about virtually everything?

 

Wow. who pissed in your cheerios this morning?

 

Read the thread. I am by FAR not the only one to criticize Milton, and yet you choose me to go off on? Before you advise me to grow up I suggest you do the same.

 

I just think it's an obvious answer that he's overlooking: The fans are getting on his case because he's having a bad season, plus the fans are finally getting frustrated en masse over 100+ years without a championship. The Cubs aren't the "Lovable Losers" anymore, and the fans expect better than they did in the 70's and 80's.

 

Milton brought a lot of this upon himself, as others have said. He's had a long history of on-field craziness that precedes him. If it were any other Cub who got thrown out of the game for arguing with an umpire, fans would say "Oh, well it was a bad call" or "Oh, well he's just frustrated with his slump/the team's play lately" or whatever. However, since it's Milton, with his history, people think back to his past acts. His reputation is not undeserved.

 

I wouldn't trade him just to trade him, but if it somehow can make the team better, then I'm all for it.

 

I'd be all over Fukudome/Bradley as the 1-2 next year. If we could focus on trading an OF though, I'd rather it be Soriano because of his contract. However, Milton is just the most movable. If he could stay healthy, even if his power doesn't come back, he still gets on base at a good clip and would be a very good number 2 hitter. If he'd only shut up, he'd have no problems.

Edited August 26, 2009 by erik316wttn

[WilcoFan]

As a season-ticket holder for several years, I can say with good authority that Bradley has gotten none of the treatment that Jones, Hundley or Hawkins got. Not anywhere close.

 

In fact, he's actually probably gotten off light this year, given what Soriano, Fontenot, and Dempster have gotten in terms of fan reaction. Those guys have gotten murdered. Bradley gets more indifference than anything. The only time he got really torched was for about a week after the "thought there were three outs" moment.

 

In other words, he needs to quit whining. This one isn't on the fans.

[treebird]

Unless Bradley played at an all-star level this season, the fans decision was already made for them by the media.

 

I don't buy that at all. The media reported the truth about Bradley's history. Maybe we should have listened. They didn't make anything up about him -- he's been a cantankerous jerk everywhere he's been. Did you expect the writers not to question whether he would be a good fit or whether he was worth the headaches?

 

This. There's a reason he's been through so many different teams in his career. Nobody wants to put up with his crap.

 

Except for all of his teammates that loved him. Since ya know, he gives his all and tries to win every game.

 

Just seems odd that you can get all pissy and offended that Milton is complaining about the fans or the umps, oh grow up Milton, stop complaining Milton!!

 

How bout you grow up? How bout you stop complaining about how a guy carries himself? Why does it bother you that he's upset by fans not liking him? Why does it bother you that he gets pissed about a bad strike zone? Why does Milton have to be this virtuous individual and you can go on season over rants around the 2nd week of the season and do nothing but pout about virtually everything?

 

oh my god i love this post so much

[Larry Horse]

If this same scenario was going on with another team, the reaction by most Cub fans would be: "What did they expect? The guy has been on a lot of teams for a reason. They should have known this would have happened."

 

But since he's now on the Cubs, he's admired by some Cub fans.

 

Same with Zambrano. If he was on any other team and punched a teammate or threw a ball into left field or admitted he was lazy or continued to take batting practice after hurting his back, Cub fans would be railing on what an ass this guy was.

 

But somehow all is forgiven when the Cub is on the front of the uniform.

[Fanatic3332000]

i love milton in the 2-hole. .327/.431/.509/.940. Don't get rid of him. I'd rather get rid of Fukudome then him.

[kujay]

Unless Bradley played at an all-star level this season, the fans decision was already made for them by the media.

 

I don't buy that at all. The media reported the truth about Bradley's history. Maybe we should have listened. They didn't make anything up about him -- he's been a cantankerous jerk everywhere he's been. Did you expect the writers not to question whether he would be a good fit or whether he was worth the headaches?

 

This. There's a reason he's been through so many different teams in his career. Nobody wants to put up with his crap.

 

Except for all of his teammates that loved him. Since ya know, he gives his all and tries to win every game.

 

Just seems odd that you can get all pissy and offended that Milton is complaining about the fans or the umps, oh grow up Milton, stop complaining Milton!!

 

How bout you grow up? How bout you stop complaining about how a guy carries himself? Why does it bother you that he's upset by fans not liking him? Why does it bother you that he gets pissed about a bad strike zone? Why does Milton have to be this virtuous individual and you can go on season over rants around the 2nd week of the season and do nothing but pout about virtually everything?

 

oh my god i love this post so much

 

I didn't think it was serious. If it was, it's all-time stupid.

[imb]

Unless Bradley played at an all-star level this season, the fans decision was already made for them by the media.

 

I don't buy that at all. The media reported the truth about Bradley's history. Maybe we should have listened. They didn't make anything up about him -- he's been a cantankerous jerk everywhere he's been. Did you expect the writers not to question whether he would be a good fit or whether he was worth the headaches?

 

This. There's a reason he's been through so many different teams in his career. Nobody wants to put up with his crap.

 

Except for all of his teammates that loved him. Since ya know, he gives his all and tries to win every game.

 

Just seems odd that you can get all pissy and offended that Milton is complaining about the fans or the umps, oh grow up Milton, stop complaining Milton!!

 

How bout you grow up? How bout you stop complaining about how a guy carries himself? Why does it bother you that he's upset by fans not liking him? Why does it bother you that he gets pissed about a bad strike zone? Why does Milton have to be this virtuous individual and you can go on season over rants around the 2nd week of the season and do nothing but pout about virtually everything?

 

oh my god i love this post so much

 

love it so much my heart skipped a beat

[Old Style]

9 HR and 31 RBI's

 

Let's give him an extension!

[fromthestretch]

I didn't think it was serious. If it was, it's all-time stupid.

 

Explain how it's "all time stupid".

 

Yes, Bradley has brought a lot of this on himself due to his past behavior. That being said, he's in a no-win situation here. If he keeps his mouth shut and his head down, fans will accuse him of not caring. If he shows some frustration after questionable calls, constant injuries, and his own lack of production, he's apparently a whiny jerk. If he stays away from the media, they'll accuse him of being unapproachable and uncooperative. If he answers their questions honestly, he's labeled as unhappy and a malcontent. His teammates typically have nothing but great things to say about the guy, and compared to things that he's done in previous seasons, his behavior hasn't exactly been terrible this season.

[Geech]

9 HR and 31 RBI's

 

Let's give him an extension!

 

Haha! Capital observation, old chap, and clever use of sarcasm to convey the point!

 

Indeed, Bradley is wanting in a few statisticianal respects. An even more fundamental problem, however, are the bumps on his skulls which suggest enlarged propensities for haughtiness, vanity, carnivorous instinct! He is hardly a fellow I would care to encounter in a dark alley, I can assure you of that!

 

http://mcvey.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/phrenology.jpg

[laurens]

Am I the only one that thinks Bradley looks like a nice, friendly guy?

[SouthSideRyan]

Am I the only one that thinks Bradley looks like a nice, friendly guy?

 

http://chicagocubsonline.com/miltonbradley.jpg

[Vanilla Ice]

I, also, [expletive] love Milton Bradley. I love the passion

[Sammys Boombox]

This may be one of the most divisive topics on this board. It's been an interesting read.

[kujay]

I didn't think it was serious. If it was, it's all-time stupid.

 

Explain how it's "all time stupid".

 

Yes, Bradley has brought a lot of this on himself due to his past behavior. That being said, he's in a no-win situation here. If he keeps his mouth shut and his head down, fans will accuse him of not caring. If he shows some frustration after questionable calls, constant injuries, and his own lack of production, he's apparently a whiny jerk. If he stays away from the media, they'll accuse him of being unapproachable and uncooperative. If he answers their questions honestly, he's labeled as unhappy and a malcontent. His teammates typically have nothing but great things to say about the guy, and compared to things that he's done in previous seasons, his behavior hasn't exactly been terrible this season.

 

He's in a no-win situation because of his past. And that's his fault. Because of that, he needs to work extra hard to make everyone happy. That post was stupid because it disregards the fact that he is a professional athlete making an obscene amount of money. Comparing him to you or me or anyone else is stupid.

[Rob]

Anybody complaining about Bradley is racist. There, I said it.

[SouthSideRyan]

Because of that, he needs to work extra hard to make everyone happy.

 

Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others! As has been stated by others he can't win. If Milton just went about his business, never showing any emotion, gave the cliches after the game, he "wouldn't care" now that he's gotten his big contract.

 

That post was stupid because it disregards the fact that he is a professional athlete making an obscene amount of money.

 

I don't see what his salary has to do with anything. The guy's not out there punching teammates and giving up on the season. He's doing exactly what he's paid to do to the best of his ability. The fact that he's not happy with fan's reaction to him is an issue because he makes 10M? If Koyie Hill complained about how people react to him it wouldn't be as big of a deal?