Bradley Suspended for the Rest of the Season

[jersey cubs fan]

Absolutely. Somebody above Lou, Hendry, and Ryan Dempster needs to take charge of the situation, be it Crain Kenney or Ricketts himself. When a new regime comes in to takeover, the last way you want to start off is by flushing 20 million down the [expletive]. They have 6 months to hug it out.

 

Of course the first thing a new regime wants to do is clear out the trash.

[Little Slide Rooter]

As I keep saying, there's likely more to it than appears on the surface, but a suspension for criticizing fans for booing and for saying you're miserable doesn't seem justified.

I've wondered this myself. It may have been the media prying information from players, but....it honestly seemed like there were several players that quickly had similar comments saying...."he brought this on himself....". I'm wondering if there were bad clubhouse issues. I hope Bradley isn't being made to be the scapegoat for a poor season though. He certainly played his part, but it took poor seasons from Soriano, Soto and Fontenot, as well as steps backward for Z and Dempster as well. IMO, Soriano and Soto had more to do with the poor season that Bradley.

 

I think Id put Bradley after Soriano, the Ramirez injury, Soto, Fontenot, Gregg, and Lou as far as the order of blame.

[C.C.]

I dont so much disagree with the suspension, nor do I care about it at this point. What I do care about is eating the contract and paying him to play elsewhere. That solution is nonsensical at best. Whatever happened happened, and they should be able to rectify the situation between now and next year. If they want to trade him and get something in return, fine by me, but you dont eat the contract. If Milton is so miserable that he absolutely wants out, give him the opportunity to opt out of the contract. We'll see if has has 20 million dollars worth of hatred for Chicago and Cubs fans.

 

 

Do you honestly see any hope of this situation being rectified at this point? It's not happening.

 

Absolutely. Somebody above Lou, Hendry, and Ryan Dempster needs to take charge of the situation, be it Crain Kenney or Ricketts himself. When a new regime comes in to takeover, the last way you want to start off is by flushing 20 million down the [expletive]. They have 6 months to hug it out.

 

I can guarantee, if Milton Bradley helps the Cubs to the 2010 World Series, all will be forgiven. Hell, MB can bring Louis Farrakhan as his guest of honor to the celebration for all I care.

 

Until the next time he gets booed. When a player is this miserable it won't take much to set him off again.

[rocket]

Hell, if I were him, for that kind of money the entire right field bleacher seats could show up in KKK hoods and Id not only get over it, but refer to them as massa the enitre season.

 

you're an idiot

[SouthSideRyan]

Assuming the whole front office/management stays on:

 

I'd organize a meeting between Hendry, Piniella, Bradley, and Lee(maybe have Kenney in there, I dunno). They'd need to express to Bradley that they want him to be a part of the Cub family, but that he needs to buy into it himself. They'd have to agree to some sort of PR apology to the fans from Bradley, about how he wants a fresh start, and understands where he went wrong.

 

Of course, I think Hendry, Piniella, and Bradley are all have too much pride, arrogance, and tough guy inside them to even agree to such a meeting, so we'll trade him for Ordonez and be worse off for it.

[Garwilly]

Hell, if I were him, for that kind of money the entire right field bleacher seats could show up in KKK hoods and Id not only get over it, but refer to them as massa the enitre season.

 

you're an idiot

 

 

I would do many very bad things for 30 million dollars.

[soapy]

Was Lee Elia suspended for his rant? Honestly curious on this. As I keep saying, there's likely more to it than appears on the surface, but a suspension for criticizing fans for booing and for saying you're miserable doesn't seem justified.

 

 

Elia was fired the year he made those comments, later on. But the situations are quite different. First, it was 1983, there was minimal coverage. Second, there was a lot less business to lose. And third, it was a one-time rant.

 

Bradley has been pulling this crap all season. He plays poorly and blames others, including fans and his fellow employees.

 

I really couldn't care less about the suspension at this point, but why do you keep saying this? Bradley's production has been a big let down, but he hasn't blamed others for his poor play.

 

Regardless, it doesn't really matter as he's caused enough other trouble. I just keep seeing this whole "he blamed others for his poor play" thing and I don't remeber it.

[abuck1220]

hendry is so pathetic.

 

"Recently, it's become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has," Hendry said. "We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season."

 

hey fans, look at jim hendry stick up for you...you don't want that guy fired, do you?

[treebird]

hendry is so pathetic.

 

"Recently, it's become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has," Hendry said. "We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season."

 

hey fans, look at jim hendry stick up for you...you don't want that guy fired, do you?

 

http://www.christinaappleberry.com/cms2/uploads/pitpat.jpg

[Tarver]

There's pit pat!

 

This team's so good, they're [expletive] good!

[Guest]

hendry is so pathetic.

 

"Recently, it's become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has," Hendry said. "We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season."

 

hey fans, look at jim hendry stick up for you...you don't want that guy fired, do you?

 

I cannot defend Bradley's actions this year. However, in what way are Hendry's comments any different than Bradley's?

 

Using the media to communicate with each other is not just a horrible idea, but just plain stupid. Bradley proved that. Hendry only further illustrates that. Hendry and Bradley deserve each other, but...somewhere else.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Wow, I had nearly forgotten all about pit pat.

[C.C.]

hendry is so pathetic.

 

"Recently, it's become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has," Hendry said. "We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season."

 

hey fans, look at jim hendry stick up for you...you don't want that guy fired, do you?

 

I cannot defend Bradley's actions this year. However, in what way are Hendry's comments any different than Bradley's?

 

Using the media to communicate with each other is not just a horrible idea, but just plain stupid. Bradley proved that. Hendry only further illustrates that. Hendry and Bradley deserve each other, but...somewhere else.

 

They are different.

[jersey cubs fan]

hendry is so pathetic.

 

"Recently, it's become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has," Hendry said. "We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season."

 

hey fans, look at jim hendry stick up for you...you don't want that guy fired, do you?

 

I cannot defend Bradley's actions this year. However, in what way are Hendry's comments any different than Bradley's?

Using the media to communicate with each other is not just a horrible idea, but just plain stupid. Bradley proved that. Hendry only further illustrates that. Hendry and Bradley deserve each other, but...somewhere else.

 

In what way are they similar?

[cardinalsfan]

This was quite a thread. I read up to pg 5, so if this has already been said.....As to the OF vacancy: I would not rule out Ryan Ludwick as a possibility. He was missused by LaRussa all year, and if Tony stays with the team I can see him asking out.

 

They have a lot to pull off after the season is over. How to keep Piniero, Holliday and DeRo is the main concearn. Ludwick, ignored all year will be a minor concideration.

 

I wonder who the Cards would want in a trade?

Ludwick is 4th among most ABs by any Cardinal players and 1st among outfielders. That too after he was out to DL for 15 days. Ludwick will stay with Cards next year regardless of who the manager will be.

[Andy]

hendry is so pathetic.

 

"Recently, it's become intolerable to hear Milton talk about our great fans the way he has," Hendry said. "We pride ourselves on having the greatest fans in baseball, so at this time we felt it was best to send him home for the rest of the season."

 

hey fans, look at jim hendry stick up for you...you don't want that guy fired, do you?

I wonder if he has any sense that his job is on the line, or if this sucking up to the fans is just a way to make the decision easier. I don't see why he'd have to appeal to them right now regarding Bradley, everyone's about ready to stone him.

[Jehrico]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4496640

 

Bradley wants to stay. Apparently his child expierenced the racism at school.

 

When racism hit his 3-year-old baby in school, he couldn't take that," Rector said in a radio interview earlier this week, according to the Sun-Times. "Parents, teachers and their kids called him the n-word. He didn't even know it was a bad word until his mom told him.

 

First of all I don't think adults are calling a toddler the n word. I tried to picture a scenario in which an adult could direct that kind of angry aggression towards a little tyke. All I could picture was a 3 year old version of MB brooding and stomping around which could totally be reality but I still can't see that prompting racial slurs upon him.

 

Or this is MB's kid. http://slicedbreadtwo.com/images/uploads/thats_racist.gif

 

I really hope no one believes this BS.

First off, the kid is 3. He's not in school. He'd be in daycare or something like that. I have a hard time believing someone that makes as much as Milton doesn't have his kid in a high-priced private setup, if not a live-in nanny, or some other arrangement where he could very, very easily get results after complaining about an issue such as this. I totally agree, this is total BS.

[Backtobanks]

Assuming the whole front office/management stays on:

 

I'd organize a meeting between Hendry, Piniella, Bradley, and Lee(maybe have Kenney in there, I dunno). They'd need to express to Bradley that they want him to be a part of the Cub family, but that he needs to buy into it himself. They'd have to agree to some sort of PR apology to the fans from Bradley, about how he wants a fresh start, and understands where he went wrong.

 

Of course, I think Hendry, Piniella, and Bradley are all have too much pride, arrogance, and tough guy inside them to even agree to such a meeting, so we'll trade him for Ordonez and be worse off for it.

 

Why can't people understand that a "PR apology" can't happen because Bradley can't help himself, he has serious mental health issues. If he swallowed his pride and made the apology, it would last about 2 weeks before he would explode again. As soon as fans taunt him (which they will) or a member of the media asks a tough question (which they will), he will go into a frenzy again. If it was a matter of apologizing to the front office, his manager, the fans, the media, OR his team mates he might stand a chance, but he has burned bridges with the front office, his manager, the fans, the media, AND his team mates.

[Jehrico]

Why can't people understand that a "PR apology" can't happen because Bradley can't help himself, he has serious mental health issues.

Is that what happens when you name your kid after a company that makes board games?

[SouthSideRyan]

but he has burned bridges with the front office, his manager, the fans, the media, AND his team mates.

 

1. If the front office is professional and care about winning, they wouldn't allow a bridge to be burnt.

2. See #1

3. I don't give a [expletive] about the fans.

4. I care even less about the media.

5. See #1.

 

I don't necessarily disagree that the way Milton is might leave him beyond repair in this environment, but if he wants to come back and the Cubs don't have an open dialogue about it because he hurt somebody's feelings then they're idiots.

 

The best use of Bradley's 10M salary next year is it being spent on him playing for the Cubs, not being spent on him not playing for the Cubs, or being spent +8M more on Magglio Ordonez or whatever other overpriced crap is out there.

[RedFlash]

1. If the front office is professional and care about winning, they wouldn't allow a bridge to be burnt.

2. See #1

3. I don't give a [expletive] about the fans.

4. I care even less about the media.

5. See #1.

 

I don't necessarily disagree that the way Milton is might leave him beyond repair in this environment, but if he wants to come back and the Cubs don't have an open dialogue about it because he hurt somebody's feelings then they're idiots.

 

The best use of Bradley's 10M salary next year is it being spent on him playing for the Cubs, not being spent on him not playing for the Cubs, or being spent +8M more on Magglio Ordonez or whatever other overpriced crap is out there.

 

You may be right, SSR, but considering that both Hendry and Piniella are about as stubborn as a mule and so is Milton Bradley, I can't see how any of the parties are going to want to work together after what has happen this season.

 

I, for one, do not want the Cubs to trade Bradley, but it seems to me it is inevitable, or why else would the Cubs agree to give Bradley his final paycheck of the year just for him to stay away from the team? (Unofficial suspension, which means MLBPA can't file a grievance.) So trading Bradley after the season, will be the second time in Hendry's career in which he trades a RFer with the #21 who has had a contreversial finish to a season.

[Rob]

I, for one, do not want the Cubs to trade Bradley, but it seems to me it is inevitable, or why else would the Cubs agree to give Bradley his final paycheck of the year just for him to stay away from the team?

 

One way or another, the Cubs had to pay Bradley. If it's an official suspension, the MLBPA would have stepped in and filed a grievance they would have easily won (considering the complete lack of precedent for such a stupid suspension). If it's an unofficial suspension, they have to pay him.

 

Hell, even if Bradley came out and said he didn't deserve to get paid, the MLBPA still would have filed and won that grievance. They wont let there be a precedent set that will allow players to forgo guaranteed money.

[Backtobanks]

but he has burned bridges with the front office, his manager, the fans, the media, AND his team mates.

 

1. If the front office is professional and care about winning, they wouldn't allow a bridge to be burnt.

2. See #1

3. I don't give a [expletive] about the fans.

4. I care even less about the media.

5. See #1.

 

I don't necessarily disagree that the way Milton is might leave him beyond repair in this environment, but if he wants to come back and the Cubs don't have an open dialogue about it because he hurt somebody's feelings then they're idiots.

 

The best use of Bradley's 10M salary next year is it being spent on him playing for the Cubs, not being spent on him not playing for the Cubs, or being spent +8M more on Magglio Ordonez or whatever other overpriced crap is out there.

 

Let's pretend that Bradley and the front office come together and make up with Bradley apologizing to everyone. Do you really believe that Bradley can keep his head screwed on when the fans and the media get on him (which they certainly will). The first time he strikes out, misses a game, or is asked a question from the media, Mount Milton will erupt. BTW, I think everyone agrees that a mentally-controlled Milton Bradley is the best answer to the RF problem, but does such a person exist?

[C.C.]

If Bradley is still a Cub next year I give it exactly 2 weeks before he becomes a problem again, and that's counting ST.

[Little Slide Rooter]

but he has burned bridges with the front office, his manager, the fans, the media, AND his team mates.

 

1. If the front office is professional and care about winning, they wouldn't allow a bridge to be burnt.

2. See #1

3. I don't give a [expletive] about the fans.

4. I care even less about the media.

5. See #1.

 

I don't necessarily disagree that the way Milton is might leave him beyond repair in this environment, but if he wants to come back and the Cubs don't have an open dialogue about it because he hurt somebody's feelings then they're idiots.

 

The best use of Bradley's 10M salary next year is it being spent on him playing for the Cubs, not being spent on him not playing for the Cubs, or being spent +8M more on Magglio Ordonez or whatever other overpriced crap is out there.

 

Let's pretend that Bradley and the front office come together and make up with Bradley apologizing to everyone. Do you really believe that Bradley can keep his head screwed on when the fans and the media get on him (which they certainly will). The first time he strikes out, misses a game, or is asked a question from the media, Mount Milton will erupt. BTW, I think everyone agrees that a mentally-controlled Milton Bradley is the best answer to the RF problem, but does such a person exist?

 

Theres really no point in not giving him another chance. Hi trade value is as lo as it can possibly get, so why not let him com into spring training, start the season, and see what happens. If we get rid of him, were eating the contract, so why does it matter if that happens this winter or next summer?