Bradley Suspended for the Rest of the Season

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

[Keener98]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

 

In your opinion, and in our opinion he didnt.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

 

In your opinion, and in our opinion he didnt.

 

You have a ridiculous opinion.

 

A repeat a-hole got suspended toward the end of a wasted season. BIG FREAKING DEAL. Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

I've been the biggest anti-Hendry person on this board for several years but there's nothing wrong with how he's handled this so far. If he dumps the guy for nothing and pays him to play elsewhere, that's a problem. But he hasn't done anything worth whining about in regards to the suspension.

[fromthestretch]

Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

I don't think it's an issue that he doesn't want to talk to the media about it anymore. I think there is a bit of a issue with the fact that Hendry feels there's nothing to discuss with Bradley though, unless Bradley was 100% accurate when he said the air has been cleared.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

 

In your opinion, and in our opinion he didnt.

 

You have a ridiculous opinion.

 

A repeat a-hole got suspended toward the end of a wasted season. BIG FREAKING DEAL. Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

As Sheehan pointed out a couple days ago, suspending a player for negative comments to the media is pretty much unprecedented. He used the line that the last non-drug suspension of this length was when Albert Belle attacked a heckler.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

I don't think it's an issue that he doesn't want to talk to the media about it anymore. I think there is a bit of a issue with the fact that Hendry feels there's nothing to discuss with Bradley though, unless Bradley was 100% accurate when he said the air has been cleared.

 

"It's done," said Hendry, who seemed irritated with writers' questions. "There's nothing. It's over. There's no story. There's no story, just like I told you 48 hours ago there wouldn't be."

 

It looks to me like he's done talking to the media about the Bradley situation, but even if he is talking about Bradley, there really isn't anything to talk about right now. He's suspended until the rest of the year and his camp has agreed to the arrangement. When the time comes in the offseason they can decided what to do. There's no reason for Hendry to talk to Bradley about anything right now. If cooler heads are going to prevail, it's not going to happen a couple days after the suspension was handed down, it's going to come in October and November, after Hendry hears what he might get for Milton. It's not like Milton is a free agent who is at risk of walking away from the team. Who gives a crap if he ignores him for a few days?

[Wheelimus]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

 

In your opinion, and in our opinion he didnt.

 

You have a ridiculous opinion.

 

A repeat a-hole got suspended toward the end of a wasted season. BIG FREAKING DEAL. Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

I've been the biggest anti-Hendry person on this board for several years but there's nothing wrong with how he's handled this so far. If he dumps the guy for nothing and pays him to play elsewhere, that's a problem. But he hasn't done anything worth whining about in regards to the suspension.

 

This.

 

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't normally give a crap what Jimbo said here. My problem is that, knowing my cubs history like I do, Jimbo saying things like this at this particular time in the season makes him trading the "malcontent" for pennies on the dollar fairly likely. And that will be where the stupidity begins.

 

I honestly couldn't care if Jimbos statement was "I told Bradley to go home and [EXPLETIVE] himself"...if by next spring everyone came to their senses and realized they're being paid to play baseball and manage a roster, respectively. And that they should go back to their jobs. And barring a surprise due to the weak FA market, I just don't see trading Bradley being the best thing the club can do for itself.

 

Point blank, I wouldn't find a way to care less if Bradley arrived at a secret entrance next season, played, and then immediately left back through the secret entrance to avoid any mishaps. Assuming doing so lets him add 20 or 30 points to his OBP and get his slugging back to at least starting with a dot four something.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

 

In your opinion, and in our opinion he didnt.

 

You have a ridiculous opinion.

 

A repeat a-hole got suspended toward the end of a wasted season. BIG FREAKING DEAL. Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

As Sheehan pointed out a couple days ago, suspending a player for negative comments to the media is pretty much unprecedented. He used the line that the last non-drug suspension of this length was when Albert Belle attacked a heckler.

 

And it's also painfully obvious that Bradley's comments were not the only thing that got him suspended. It's an ongoing situation with repeat offenses that apparently included refusing to take the field and multiple run-ins with coaches. And on top of it all, Bradley has accepted the suspension and the MLBPA is not filing any sort of grievance, so we can all be pretty damn sure the suspension was warranted.

[Guest]

I can't believe someone hasn't been able to sit down with Bradley and ask him what he's so mad about. Criminy, he's getting paid millions of dollars to play a game that most of us would probably do for free if we were athletic and talented enough and had the ability to do so and we'd be smiling every moment of it.

 

If anything, he's cost himself several million by behaving like a jerk. There aren't many people out there that want a jerk sponsoring their products. Besides that, instead of having 30 teams interested in your services, you have a couple that might be interested as long as someone else is willing to pick up the bill. That should be embarrassing enough in and of itself.

 

Someday he's going to look back on this part of his life as one of the times that should have been the most enjoyable, and he spent the better part of that time creating an energy of hatred.

 

And what's really the point of it? Does he enjoy watching his name get muddied on all the tv sports shows, newspapers and web sites?

 

He isn't getting paid to run his mouth. He's getting paid to be good at baseball, something he really wasn't all that good at this year. Lots of people struggle. Take your lumps and hope and try to be better next year.

 

I guess I really just don't understand Milton's motivation to run his mouth when all it can really do is create problems for him. John Rocker ran his mouth right out of the league. By the time he recognized the error of his ways, his window of opportunity was already closed.

 

I'd love to believe that this can be repaired somehow, but the way Hendry used the media to retalliate, I don't see how this can be repaired.

 

Sometimes, it's not the nice guys who finish last.

[cheapseats]

And on top of it all, Bradley has accepted the suspension and the MLBPA is not filing any sort of grievance, so we can all be pretty damn sure the suspension was warranted.

 

More details are needed before drawing that conclusion. If Bradley is getting paid during the suspension, the MLBPA can't file a grievance.

[jersey cubs fan]

And on top of it all, Bradley has accepted the suspension and the MLBPA is not filing any sort of grievance, so we can all be pretty damn sure the suspension was warranted.

 

More details are needed before drawing that conclusion. If Bradley is getting paid during the suspension, the MLBPA can't file a grievance.

 

They can file anything they want, and they do. It's the most argumentative of all sports unions. They will stand up for guys who don't even want to be stood up for.

 

And no, we don't need more evidence. He's a complete jerk, was suspended and accepted it with an apology. Let's move on.

[fromthestretch]

And on top of it all, Bradley has accepted the suspension and the MLBPA is not filing any sort of grievance, so we can all be pretty damn sure the suspension was warranted.

 

More details are needed before drawing that conclusion. If Bradley is getting paid during the suspension, the MLBPA can't file a grievance.

 

I believe it has been stated that he is getting paid during the suspension.

[Rob]

I don't think anyone thinks Milton Bradley didn't act like an idiot this season. I think most of us (including myself) are pissed off at Jim Hendry for handling it like the little [expletive] that he is.

 

He handled it fine.

 

In your opinion, and in our opinion he didnt.

 

You have a ridiculous opinion.

 

A repeat a-hole got suspended toward the end of a wasted season. BIG FREAKING DEAL. Jim doesn't want to talk about it with the media anymore. BIG FREAKING DEAL.

 

I've been the biggest anti-Hendry person on this board for several years but there's nothing wrong with how he's handled this so far. If he dumps the guy for nothing and pays him to play elsewhere, that's a problem. But he hasn't done anything worth whining about in regards to the suspension.

 

This is absurd.

 

The fact that Bradley was suspended is Hendry handling the situation badly. That's all the proof that's needed. At best, Hendry doesn't screw up further by trading Milton, but even at that, he's turned the fans even further against a volatile player. At worst, he completely tanked Bradley's value and feels forced to ship him out of town for nothing to save face with the fanbase.

 

There is absolutely no valid case for this suspension from business or baseball perspectives... and Hendry's job is managing those two interests. He screwed up badly. The fact that a handful of players on a non-playoff team are going to be happier for the final three weeks of the season does nothing to alleviate that.

[jersey cubs fan]

This is absurd.

 

The fact that Bradley was suspended is Hendry handling the situation badly. That's all the proof that's needed. At best, Hendry doesn't screw up further by trading Milton, but even at that, he's turned the fans even further against a volatile player. At worst, he completely tanked Bradley's value and feels forced to ship him out of town for nothing to save face with the fanbase.

 

There is absolutely no valid case for this suspension from business or baseball perspectives... and Hendry's job is managing those two interests. He screwed up badly. The fact that a handful of players on a non-playoff team are going to be happier for the final three weeks of the season does nothing to alleviate that.

 

The fans already booed him every step he took. The status quo was unacceptable. They couldn't just have Milton repeatedly insulting the organization and the fans, refusing to play and fighting with personel.

 

It's a perfectly valid suspension and it's laughable that you think otherwise. Every team knew the Cubs/Milton relationship was growing sour, the fact that Hendry acknowledged it with a suspension is meaningless. Guys can't be given all the rope they want. At some point in time, you have to call them out. He didn't screw up a damn thing.

[Rob]

This is absurd.

 

The fact that Bradley was suspended is Hendry handling the situation badly. That's all the proof that's needed. At best, Hendry doesn't screw up further by trading Milton, but even at that, he's turned the fans even further against a volatile player. At worst, he completely tanked Bradley's value and feels forced to ship him out of town for nothing to save face with the fanbase.

 

There is absolutely no valid case for this suspension from business or baseball perspectives... and Hendry's job is managing those two interests. He screwed up badly. The fact that a handful of players on a non-playoff team are going to be happier for the final three weeks of the season does nothing to alleviate that.

 

The fans already booed him every step he took. The status quo was unacceptable. They couldn't just have Milton repeatedly insulting the organization and the fans, refusing to play and fighting with personel.

 

It's a perfectly valid suspension and it's laughable that you think otherwise. Every team knew the Cubs/Milton relationship was growing sour, the fact that Hendry acknowledged it with a suspension is meaningless. Guys can't be given all the rope they want. At some point in time, you have to call them out. He didn't screw up a damn thing.

 

Bradley could walk through Wrigley after every home game and personally flip off each and every single fan and I couldn't care less, just so long as he doesn't hurt himself walking up and down those stairs. He's paid for his production on the field.

 

Likewise, Hendry isn't paid to have the happiest team in the league. Hendry's entire job consists of getting the best team out on the field. This suspension is counterproductive to that end. And for what? What possible gain is there to be had from this? It's not even as if Bradley was breaking any laws... oh, which reminds me.

 

Players have not been suspended this long for beating on their wives.

 

In what world is this punishment remotely fair or justifiable?

[C.C.]

 

Bradley could walk through Wrigley after every home game and personally flip off each and every single fan and I couldn't care less, just so long as he doesn't hurt himself walking up and down those stairs. He's paid for his production on the field.

 

 

If you owned the team you'd have a different view. It's bad business to have anyone insulting your product. You have to have some kind of rules in place or your organization goes really bad in a hurry. The fact remains that Bradley was a bad business decision in every since of the word this year.

 

It's absurd that you think insulting fans and the organization is acceptable behavior.

Edited September 24, 2009 by C.C.

[flyseye]

This is absurd.

 

The fact that Bradley was suspended is Hendry handling the situation badly. That's all the proof that's needed. At best, Hendry doesn't screw up further by trading Milton, but even at that, he's turned the fans even further against a volatile player. At worst, he completely tanked Bradley's value and feels forced to ship him out of town for nothing to save face with the fanbase.

 

There is absolutely no valid case for this suspension from business or baseball perspectives... and Hendry's job is managing those two interests. He screwed up badly. The fact that a handful of players on a non-playoff team are going to be happier for the final three weeks of the season does nothing to alleviate that.

 

The fans already booed him every step he took. The status quo was unacceptable. They couldn't just have Milton repeatedly insulting the organization and the fans, refusing to play and fighting with personel.

 

It's a perfectly valid suspension and it's laughable that you think otherwise. Every team knew the Cubs/Milton relationship was growing sour, the fact that Hendry acknowledged it with a suspension is meaningless. Guys can't be given all the rope they want. At some point in time, you have to call them out. He didn't screw up a damn thing.

 

Bradley could walk through Wrigley after every home game and personally flip off each and every single fan and I couldn't care less, just so long as he doesn't hurt himself walking up and down those stairs. He's paid for his production on the field.

 

Likewise, Hendry isn't paid to have the happiest team in the league. Hendry's entire job consists of getting the best team out on the field. This suspension is counterproductive to that end. And for what? What possible gain is there to be had from this? It's not even as if Bradley was breaking any laws... oh, which reminds me.

 

Players have not been suspended this long for beating on their wives.

 

In what world is this punishment remotely fair or justifiable?

 

 

Punishment ?? In what world is suspending a player with full pay, who was not playing anyway, and made it clear he did not want to, at least with the Cubs, considered punishment.

 

Bradley acted like a child. Hendry decided to treat him like one.

[circlecitycub]

 

I honestly couldn't care if Jimbos statement was "I told Bradley to go home and [EXPLETIVE] himself"...if by next spring everyone came to their senses and realized they're being paid to play baseball and manage a roster, respectively. And that they should go back to their jobs. And barring a surprise due to the weak FA market, I just don't see trading Bradley being the best thing the club can do for itself.

 

Point blank, I wouldn't find a way to care less if Bradley arrived at a secret entrance next season, played, and then immediately left back through the secret entrance to avoid any mishaps. Assuming doing so lets him add 20 or 30 points to his OBP and get his slugging back to at least starting with a dot four something.

 

I would have actually gotten a nice chuckle if he did say that.

[Backtobanks]

I can't believe someone hasn't been able to sit down with Bradley and ask him what he's so mad about. Criminy, he's getting paid millions of dollars to play a game that most of us would probably do for free if we were athletic and talented enough and had the ability to do so and we'd be smiling every moment of it.

 

If anything, he's cost himself several million by behaving like a jerk. There aren't many people out there that want a jerk sponsoring their products. Besides that, instead of having 30 teams interested in your services, you have a couple that might be interested as long as someone else is willing to pick up the bill. That should be embarrassing enough in and of itself.

 

Someday he's going to look back on this part of his life as one of the times that should have been the most enjoyable, and he spent the better part of that time creating an energy of hatred.

 

And what's really the point of it? Does he enjoy watching his name get muddied on all the tv sports shows, newspapers and web sites?

 

He isn't getting paid to run his mouth. He's getting paid to be good at baseball, something he really wasn't all that good at this year. Lots of people struggle. Take your lumps and hope and try to be better next year.

 

I guess I really just don't understand Milton's motivation to run his mouth when all it can really do is create problems for him. John Rocker ran his mouth right out of the league. By the time he recognized the error of his ways, his window of opportunity was already closed.

 

I'd love to believe that this can be repaired somehow, but the way Hendry used the media to retalliate, I don't see how this can be repaired.

 

Sometimes, it's not the nice guys who finish last.

 

This is a great post BBB, but the bottom line is that Milton Bradley have severe mental and anger issues to the point of irrationality, so he can't explain his behavior or recognize the error of his ways. Whenever he "snaps" he can't control his mouth or his actions. I don't know if medication or therapy would work, but it's too complicated for any of us to really comprehend.

[Backtobanks]

Here's a crazy idea. How about we don't dump our $10 million outfielder for pennies on the dollar. How about instead, we just institute a media blackout next season for Milton Bradley?

 

Don't talk to the press. Ever. Just keep your mouth shut, do as your told by your coaches, come to play a game of baseball and then go home.

 

All problems solved! O:)

 

Why don't we keep Bradley and trade all 24 other players, replace all of the coaches, replace everyone in the front office, and move the team to some small town in Nebraska where there will be minimal fans and media to bother him.

All problems solved!

 

Why are you taking this so personally? you're acting like an idiot.

 

I think it's idiotic that people are looking for a way to smooth things over with Bradley and are jumping all over Hendry. Bradley has acted like a jerk and Hendry suspended him (with pay) and posters are upset that the GM of a team that's still playing wants to wait until the season is over (less than 2 weeks) to sit down and talk with him. Hendry was wrong for signing him and giving him that contract, but he's done nothing wrong in this situation. To tell the truth, if some GM had done this at the beginning of Bradley's career, he might be an angry greeter at Walmart instead of a ML ballplayer.

[Rob]

 

Bradley could walk through Wrigley after every home game and personally flip off each and every single fan and I couldn't care less, just so long as he doesn't hurt himself walking up and down those stairs. He's paid for his production on the field.

 

 

If you owned the team you'd have a different view. It's bad business to have anyone insulting your product. You have to have some kind of rules in place or your organization goes really bad in a hurry. The fact remains that Bradley was a bad business decision in every since of the word this year.

 

It's absurd that you think insulting fans and the organization is acceptable behavior.

 

In baseball, the fanbase is pretty much set already. The question is whether or not you can get them to pay attention. You know what accomplishes that? Winning. And like it or not, Bradley can help us win. I have a very hard time believing the millions upon millions he can help bring in if we get to the playoffs next year is really outweighed by a few inappropriate comments that probably wont have any effect upon revenues.

 

That's not to say I agree with what Milton is doing. He's a jerk, and I don't much care for him on a personal level. But this kind of decision is bad on the business end and the baseball end. If you feel the need to stop him from making those comments, you need to find a better way to accomplish it. This wasn't productive.

[SouthSideRyan]

To tell the truth, if some GM had done this at the beginning of Bradley's career, he might be an angry greeter at Walmart instead of a ML ballplayer.

 

Well that makes no damn sense.

[Backtobanks]

To tell the truth, if some GM had done this at the beginning of Bradley's career, he might be an angry greeter at Walmart instead of a ML ballplayer.

 

Well that makes no damn sense.

 

There are thousands of outstanding baseball players, football players, and basketball players who are playing pickup games because they couldn't accept the discipline necessary to fit into a team situation and follow some simple rules like play hard, shut up, show up, show up on time, and show respect your team mates and coach.

[TruffleShuffle]

I think it's idiotic that people are looking for a way to smooth things over with Bradley and are jumping all over Hendry. Bradley has acted like a jerk and Hendry suspended him (with pay) and posters are upset that the GM of a team that's still playing wants to wait until the season is over (less than 2 weeks) to sit down and talk with him. Hendry was wrong for signing him and giving him that contract, but he's done nothing wrong in this situation. To tell the truth, if some GM had done this at the beginning of Bradley's career, he might be an angry greeter at Walmart instead of a ML ballplayer.

 

why is this even relevant? he suspended him with pay because he didn't have a choice. if he'd tried to suspend him without pay it would've been overturned by the players' association in about 15 seconds.

[CUBZ99]

 

Bradley could walk through Wrigley after every home game and personally flip off each and every single fan and I couldn't care less, just so long as he doesn't hurt himself walking up and down those stairs. He's paid for his production on the field.

 

 

If you owned the team you'd have a different view. It's bad business to have anyone insulting your product. You have to have some kind of rules in place or your organization goes really bad in a hurry. The fact remains that Bradley was a bad business decision in every since of the word this year.

 

It's absurd that you think insulting fans and the organization is acceptable behavior.

 

In baseball, the fanbase is pretty much set already. The question is whether or not you can get them to pay attention. You know what accomplishes that? Winning. And like it or not, Bradley can help us win. I have a very hard time believing the millions upon millions he can help bring in if we get to the playoffs next year is really outweighed by a few inappropriate comments that probably wont have any effect upon revenues.

 

That's not to say I agree with what Milton is doing. He's a jerk, and I don't much care for him on a personal level. But this kind of decision is bad on the business end and the baseball end. If you feel the need to stop him from making those comments, you need to find a better way to accomplish it. This wasn't productive.

 

Well at least you are right about one thing... winning could have helped ease the situation. For one, I'm sure if the Cubs were headed to the playoffs, Bradley wouldn't have said "no wonder they haven't won in 100 years" Unfortunately the Cubs weren't winning. Other than that, you have to be kidding. A baseball franchise wants to alienate its fanbase? and they can because they are already built in? :rotfl: There is not an owner/GM in his right mind that thinks it is good business to have players making fun of or alienating the fans.