Milton Bradley Traded To Mariners For Carlos Silva

[Eric Clipperton]

Have a press conference with Hendry, Lou, Bradley, Jaramillo and Ricketts and make up some crap about putting everything behind us and moving forward and emphasize Jaramillio and him and Milton working together and Milton's year in Texas with Jaramillio and then tell everyone to STFU and move on. Bat Milton #2 and tell him he can refuse to talk to the press like he wanted to do in the first place when he got here.

 

I would be with you, but after I saw the way the players reacted with relief after Bradley was suspended at the end of the year, I am pretty certain it would be better for the team to play next year without Bradley.

 

For me the trouble with that is how much of that was truly directed at Bradley and how much was that just frustration over the crappy season and looking for someone to blame? Or how much of that was just based on the feelings at that moment due to a specific incident? Bradley made plenty of stupid comments/decisions, but I think it's reasonable to think that effectively starting fresh with a new season that it would be a much different situation. I think it would basically come down to how the 2010 season kicks off. If the team is winning and/or Bradley isn't ice cold again I highly doubt anyone on the team is going to have a problem with him.

 

If the team was winning, or Bradley started off the season well, it would mask a lot. But overall I see Bradley as a cancer to this Cubs team. The core of the team seems to strongly dislike Bradley, and while it won't directly affect their play, it will have an effect on the 2010 season. I do see your viewpoint though. Even if Bradley was only a minor nuisance with occasional outbursts, I'd be willing to keep Bradley because there's no way we'll be a better team on paper after trading Bradley for whoever they get. But I think the bridge has been burned, and having Bradley back next year would be horrible for the Cubs.

 

Baseball is an individual sport. Clubhouse cancer is just another excuse to point fingers.

[UMFan83]

Have a press conference with Hendry, Lou, Bradley, Jaramillo and Ricketts and make up some crap about putting everything behind us and moving forward and emphasize Jaramillio and him and Milton working together and Milton's year in Texas with Jaramillio and then tell everyone to STFU and move on. Bat Milton #2 and tell him he can refuse to talk to the press like he wanted to do in the first place when he got here.

 

I would be with you, but after I saw the way the players reacted with relief after Bradley was suspended at the end of the year, I am pretty certain it would be better for the team to play next year without Bradley.

 

For me the trouble with that is how much of that was truly directed at Bradley and how much was that just frustration over the crappy season and looking for someone to blame? Or how much of that was just based on the feelings at that moment due to a specific incident? Bradley made plenty of stupid comments/decisions, but I think it's reasonable to think that effectively starting fresh with a new season that it would be a much different situation. I think it would basically come down to how the 2010 season kicks off. If the team is winning and/or Bradley isn't ice cold again I highly doubt anyone on the team is going to have a problem with him.

 

If the team was winning, or Bradley started off the season well, it would mask a lot. But overall I see Bradley as a cancer to this Cubs team. The core of the team seems to strongly dislike Bradley, and while it won't directly affect their play, it will have an effect on the 2010 season. I do see your viewpoint though. Even if Bradley was only a minor nuisance with occasional outbursts, I'd be willing to keep Bradley because there's no way we'll be a better team on paper after trading Bradley for whoever they get. But I think the bridge has been burned, and having Bradley back next year would be horrible for the Cubs.

 

Baseball is an individual sport. Clubhouse cancer is just another excuse to point fingers.

 

 

Maybe. And I'm not a huge fan of accounting for chemistry or intangibles to affect team performance, but after seeing the crap everyone had to go through with Bradley last season, I think it would be better to not have Bradley on next years team.

[SweetZombieJesus]

and the common Cubs fan hates him as well.

 

The common cubs fan thinks Ryne Sandberg should be the manager of the cubs after Piniella's contract runs out. And thinks the reason the cubs stunk last year was losing Mark Derosa they also think organizational chaff like Greenberg and Fuld don't get a fair shot with this team.

 

The common Cubs fan sucks and I hate the common cubs fan.

[Cubswin11]

and the common Cubs fan hates him as well.

 

The common cubs fan thinks Ryne Sandberg should be the manager of the cubs after Piniella's contract runs out. And thinks the reason the cubs stunk last year was losing Mark Derosa they also think organizational chaff like Greenberg and Fuld don't get a fair shot with this team.

 

The common Cubs fan sucks and I hate the common cubs fan.

That is poetry to my ears :cray:

[DivineBovine]

Maybe. And I'm not a huge fan of accounting for chemistry or intangibles to affect team performance, but after seeing the crap everyone had to go through with Bradley last season, I think it would be better to not have Bradley on next years team.

 

 

 

 

Regardless of whether he was a clubhouse cancer or not. How dumb was it to air out the dirty laundry in public, suspend him, and tell everyone what a cancer he was. The season was over. The Cubs were done. They should have made nice and traded him to another unsuspecting team.

 

Now, we are going to get fleeced and pay another team so he can play for them. And he'll probably have a career year. Thanks Hendry. Thanks Cubs.

[cubsfan26]

The common Cubs fan sucks and I hate the common cubs fan.

 

 

LOL I agree with everything you wrote. The problem is alot of those people buy tickets, and the last thing Ricketts will want is those people booing Milton Bradley every game. Plus they will be flooding sports radio with dumb comments about the subject as well. This is just another reason why there's probably no chance Bradley is back.

[davearm2]

For me the trouble with that is how much of that was truly directed at Bradley and how much was that just frustration over the crappy season and looking for someone to blame? Or how much of that was just based on the feelings at that moment due to a specific incident? Bradley made plenty of stupid comments/decisions, but I think it's reasonable to think that effectively starting fresh with a new season that it would be a much different situation. I think it would basically come down to how the 2010 season kicks off. If the team is winning and/or Bradley isn't ice cold again I highly doubt anyone on the team is going to have a problem with him.

Albert Einstein would call you insane.

[inari]

The common Cubs fan sucks and I hate the common cubs fan.

 

 

LOL I agree with everything you wrote. The problem is alot of those people buy tickets, and the last thing Ricketts will want is those people booing Milton Bradley every game. Plus they will be flooding sports radio with dumb comments about the subject as well. This is just another reason why there's probably no chance Bradley is back.

 

 

I bet the last thing he wants is people booing the whole team because they suck because they ruined their financial situation even more.

[Eric Clipperton]

The common Cubs fan sucks and I hate the common cubs fan.

 

 

LOL I agree with everything you wrote. The problem is alot of those people buy tickets, and the last thing Ricketts will want is those people booing Milton Bradley every game. Plus they will be flooding sports radio with dumb comments about the subject as well. This is just another reason why there's probably no chance Bradley is back.

 

The great thing about sports radio is that when people are calling in with dumb comments, it takes them a lot more effort to add each additional comment to the idiocy than it would had they all been attempting to vent their frustrations on the high-tech system for spewing stupidity with unprecedented efficiency, the Internet.

[CubsWin]

Maybe. And I'm not a huge fan of accounting for chemistry or intangibles to affect team performance, but after seeing the crap everyone had to go through with Bradley last season, I think it would be better to not have Bradley on next years team.

 

 

 

 

Regardless of whether he was a clubhouse cancer or not. How dumb was it to air out the dirty laundry in public, suspend him, and tell everyone what a cancer he was. The season was over. The Cubs were done. They should have made nice and traded him to another unsuspecting team.

 

Now, we are going to get fleeced and pay another team so he can play for them. And he'll probably have a career year. Thanks Hendry. Thanks Cubs.

It's not like Bradley insulted Hendry in the clubhouse and Jim told the papers. Bradley mouthed off to reporters. His comments weren't kept a secret until Jim Hendry threw back the curtain. They made Sportscenter all on their own. The suspension was necessary and I'm glad it happened. It didn't out Bradley as a potential clubhouse problem. Teams were well aware of what he was capable of years ago. He had been well-behaved for a couple years prior to signing with the Cubs and clearly Hendry thought he was worth the gamble. Turns out he was dead wrong. And even after Bradley behaved the way he did, Hendry could have kept his mouth shut, but the moment he starts making calls to other GMs inquiring if they're interested in him, it's going to have the same effect.

 

Let's get real, it's Bradley's poor performance last season, his continued injuries and his poor behavior in front of the press that is making it difficult to deal him.

Edited December 10, 2009 by CubsWin

[CubsWin]

I hope agents and GMs can finally put to rest the whole "surprise team" ploy. It was obvious to me that the Cubs were pulling a Boras. And it seems like it was obvious to the other GMs, too.

[cubsfan26]

I bet the last thing he wants is people booing the whole team because they suck because they ruined their financial situation even more.

 

Well hopefully they won't suck, and if a few things go right they could be pretty good. But the Cubs won't really be hurting there financial situation that much worse. Since anyone they bring in this offseason will probably be on a one year deals(probably a CF, reliever and back up outfielder). Plus they will get back some money from the Bradley trade. If we do get Burrell, we will still be able to flip him to another team and get some money back for this year. Also I really doubt that the Cubs will have to pay the full 2011 salary. They hopefully will get at least 3m or so back there too. Overall they should hopefully at least get 6-7m back(otherwise they would consider releasing him), which will be at lot less then the 13-15m they hoped to get back going into the offseason.

[CoolHandLuke]

To me, the 2010 season is already over, so I want as much comedy as can be squeezed out of this team. Milton Bradley only serves to increase the hilarity quotient, so keep him aboard, I say!

[Little Slide Rooter]

To me, the 2010 season is already over, so I want as much comedy as can be squeezed out of this team. Milton Bradley only serves to increase the hilarity quotient, so keep him aboard, I say!

 

Its not like any of our already mediocre division rivals have made any massive moves. Sure, if the Cards re sign Holiday or get Bay, that could make them an easy favorite, but other than that, the NL Central will be business as usual, and I wouldnt go and give up on the season. Jim Hendry has made a mess, but we still have a team that should be able to compete barring another big time injury. The NL Central just wont be "The Cubs and everyone else" as it was predicted to be last year.

[CubColtPacer]

Maybe. And I'm not a huge fan of accounting for chemistry or intangibles to affect team performance, but after seeing the crap everyone had to go through with Bradley last season, I think it would be better to not have Bradley on next years team.

 

 

 

 

Regardless of whether he was a clubhouse cancer or not. How dumb was it to air out the dirty laundry in public, suspend him, and tell everyone what a cancer he was. The season was over. The Cubs were done. They should have made nice and traded him to another unsuspecting team.

 

Now, we are going to get fleeced and pay another team so he can play for them. And he'll probably have a career year. Thanks Hendry. Thanks Cubs.

 

As CubsWin said, the suspension didn't add much to the problems that were already public. Bradley's repeated comments to the media were the cause of the problems and every GM had access to those. The suspension only showed that the Cubs were likely not going to bring him back because of those, but as soon as Hendry started throwing Bradley into trade talks other teams would have realized the same thing even without the suspension. And then of course his value in trade talks would have started out even lower than it was last season just because of his play on the field and injuries even before the attitude was taken into account.

 

I don't really think the suspension did a lot of damage to Bradley's value because of how he responded to it. He was quiet and took it well. That made the Cubs look a little bit worse and Bradley look a little bit better.

 

It's really sad to think how close this situation was to working even after the rocky start. Bradley was starting to play better and the fans were finding new villans to worry about. If he hadn't made those comments in late July/early August about not wanting to play any longer than necessary, this spiral likely wouldn't have happened. If he hadn't continued to make comments in September, it probably could have been repaired. The team probably erred in making Bradley speak to the media on a day to day basis. Now it's too late to reverse that error because shielding Bradley from the media now just becomes a constant reminder of the comments that caused that change in policy in the first place.

[soapy]

There's no denying that Bradley brought much of it on himself with his stupid comments, but Hendry made this bed and now he has to lie in it. Bradley probably didn't have much value to begin with going into the offseason, but Hendry essentially announced to the entire planet that his number #1 priority was to get Bradley off of this team no matter what. Now their attempt (IMO) to create the illusion of some wide interest in Bradley isn't working and the entire thing is going to blow up in Hendry's face, just like the Sosa deal. You'd think he would have learned from that, but I guess not.

 

Now it appears that the Bradley situation has hijacked the entire offseason and Hendry is going to end up having to make a horrible trade to get out of it.

 

Regardless of the suspension, it would have been entirely reasonable to at least put on a show about wanting Milton back to start fresh in 2010 and at least creating the illusion that they were attempting to mend things between Milton, his teamates, the management and the fans. It's entirely possible that Milton would have gone public and blown the whole thing up, but they could have at least tried and attempted to reason with him. Based on their public comments that I've seen (I may have missed something), neither Lou nor Hendry have even contacted Bradley since the suspension but instead have spent plenty of time making clear their desperation to get rid of him.

[Soul]

Albatross. Around our necks. As expected.

[jersey cubs fan]

As was the case when the season ended, the only logical move is to keep Bradley on the team.

[kujay]

This offseason has been thoroughly dicked up by everyone in charge.

 

And I'm not impressed with our new owner tugging the pursestrings tight from day one. If he couldn't afford to build a winner, what the hell did he buy the team for?

[jersey cubs fan]

This offseason has been thoroughly dicked up by everyone in charge.

 

And I'm not impressed with our new owner tugging the pursestrings tight from day one. If he couldn't afford to build a winner, what the hell did he buy the team for?

 

Opening purse strings for Jim Hendry is just inviting the man to hang you with those purse strings. Available money only gets Hendry in more trouble.

 

It's not like he's forcing them to cut costs. They are increasing an already bloated payroll that is being wasted on loads of mediocrity.

[Backtobanks]

Maybe there's a chance of packaging Bradley with some interesting prospects (to entice the other team) and getting back a bad contract.

[jersey cubs fan]

Maybe there's a chance of packaging Bradley with some interesting prospects (to entice the other team) and getting back a bad contract.

 

Of course there's a chance of that. But why in the world would the Cubs want to do that?

[Guest]

Maybe. And I'm not a huge fan of accounting for chemistry or intangibles to affect team performance, but after seeing the crap everyone had to go through with Bradley last season, I think it would be better to not have Bradley on next years team.

 

 

 

 

Regardless of whether he was a clubhouse cancer or not. How dumb was it to air out the dirty laundry in public, suspend him, and tell everyone what a cancer he was. The season was over. The Cubs were done. They should have made nice and traded him to another unsuspecting team.

 

Now, we are going to get fleeced and pay another team so he can play for them. And he'll probably have a career year. Thanks Hendry. Thanks Cubs.

 

As CubsWin said, the suspension didn't add much to the problems that were already public. Bradley's repeated comments to the media were the cause of the problems and every GM had access to those. The suspension only showed that the Cubs were likely not going to bring him back because of those, but as soon as Hendry started throwing Bradley into trade talks other teams would have realized the same thing even without the suspension. And then of course his value in trade talks would have started out even lower than it was last season just because of his play on the field and injuries even before the attitude was taken into account.

 

I don't really think the suspension did a lot of damage to Bradley's value because of how he responded to it. He was quiet and took it well. That made the Cubs look a little bit worse and Bradley look a little bit better.

 

It's really sad to think how close this situation was to working even after the rocky start. Bradley was starting to play better and the fans were finding new villans to worry about. If he hadn't made those comments in late July/early August about not wanting to play any longer than necessary, this spiral likely wouldn't have happened. If he hadn't continued to make comments in September, it probably could have been repaired. The team probably erred in making Bradley speak to the media on a day to day basis. Now it's too late to reverse that error because shielding Bradley from the media now just becomes a constant reminder of the comments that caused that change in policy in the first place.

 

Agreed. There was no hiding what Bradley said to the media. And I don't disagree with the season ending suspension for Bradley. That served as his punishment for extra curricular activities at the expense of the team. However, there wasn't any need for it to go any further than that.

 

Sure, some of the players were probably annoyed with Milton's comments, but as was stated in a previous post, everyone here is a grown up (some more than others obviously), and you all have to work together. It behooves no one to take a previous season incident and drag it into the following season. That is not what should be on anyone's minds when that first game starts. And they meet up plenty of times prior to that first game, everyone apologizes and promises to never do it again and everyone moves on.

 

Hendry is proving once again (Sosa, Marquis, etc..) that if you run a player down with your mouth, you are not only hurting that player and yourself, but the team as well.

 

Sosa leaving that last game early was treated as if he just gave Hendry's wife gonorrhea or something. Sure, Sosa made a poor decision. But to pay most of his contract to play somewhere else the next year while taking back a bag of crap in the process isn't teaching Sosa any lessons. Unfortunately, the lesson Hendry could have learned with that deal continues happening today.

 

How nice would it have been to go into the winter meetings looking for ways of actually improving the team through common sense trades (not Milton Bradley must go trades) that can help both teams. Sure, he was pretty handcuffed for the most part, but in showing ridiculous desperation in attempting to move Bradley, he probably cost himself some credibility with some of the other GM's out there with the surprise teams. Assuming that some of these surprise team reports were coming directly from him, of course.

[Backtobanks]

Maybe there's a chance of packaging Bradley with some interesting prospects (to entice the other team) and getting back a bad contract.

 

Of course there's a chance of that. But why in the world would the Cubs want to do that?

 

To dump Bradley. I'm not saying it would happen, but I suggested a trade to the Yankees awhile ago that would be an example: Bradley + Marshall/Gorz + Colvin + Stevens/Atkins/Berg for Swisher + Marte. If the Yankees won't do Swisher, tweak the deal and make it for Cabrera while removing one of the pitchers from the Cubs. It's not pretty, but it's better than paying Burrell to sit on the bench and Bradley to play in Tampa.

[Guest]

This offseason has been thoroughly dicked up by everyone in charge.

 

And I'm not impressed with our new owner tugging the pursestrings tight from day one. If he couldn't afford to build a winner, what the hell did he buy the team for?

 

Opening purse strings for Jim Hendry is just inviting the man to hang you with those purse strings. Available money only gets Hendry in more trouble.

 

It's not like he's forcing them to cut costs. They are increasing an already bloated payroll that is being wasted on loads of mediocrity.

 

Exactly. All an owner has to do is look at the last several World Series participants and notice that money really isn't the main force behind building a World Series team. Ever since the Yankees tripled their budget, this is the first time they've actually won a World Series in several years. Tampa, Florida, Chicago Sox, St. Louis have all either gotten their or won with fairly small budgets.

 

It's not about throwing more money at a sinking ship. It's about getting the right captain aboard that ship, who will spend the money wisely and create a winning atmosphere every year, not just last year and 2 years from now.

 

If a GM can't win anymore games with a 130m payroll than he can with an 80m payroll, why should the owner dedicate 130m to that GM to build his team for next year?

 

Unfortunately for Ricketts, this is the problem he's facing this offseason. As a new owner, he probably didn't want to remove the top brass right away. He probably wanted the transition to be as smooth as possible, thereby allowing him to sit back and evaluate the production of his brass. He probably wasn't in a position to know where to look for replacements, or if any decent replacements would even be available when he took over, anyway.

 

But, I'm pretty certain he can see just how badly this offseason is turning out to be, and you can't really pin it all on Milton Bradley.