Anyone Want Bradley for a bag of balls?

[TheDude]

I was never able to understand what the attraction to Bradley is, exactly. While his 3-year splits show a .380 OBP, they also show 14 HR/53 RBI totals in 500+ ABs.

 

Those will suffice out of a CF, but not a corner OF (not with Murton in the other corner). So if the stance is Bradley in CF, it's ok. But in RF, he isn't nearly enough of a power impact to bat 5th.

[b_wiggy_66]

From Dodgers.com

 

"There is speculation that the Dodgers will deal outfielder Milton Bradley, whose controversies in two seasons included a run-in last year with teammate Jeff Kent and former manager Jim Tracy. Kent, who met with ownership two weeks ago, has told teammates he would ask for a trade if Bradley returns.

 

 

If that baggage hasn't made Bradley untradeable, his September knee surgery probably has. Club officials have said they are hopeful Bradley's repaired patellar tendon will be healed for the start of spring training, although it might not be until the All-Star break."

 

Interesting may or may not move him now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Offer them Wellemeyer for Bradley. If he doesn't work out, we cut bait and all we've lost is a pitcher we would have had to expose to waivers at the end of spring training anyway.

[JeffH]

But in RF, he isn't nearly enough of a power impact to bat 5th.

 

NL average for #5 spot in the batting order in 2005:

 

.271/.340/.454/.794

[rawaction]

I was never able to understand what the attraction to Bradley is, exactly. While his 3-year splits show a .380 OBP, they also show 14 HR/53 RBI totals in 500+ ABs.

 

Those will suffice out of a CF, but not a corner OF (not with Murton in the other corner). So if the stance is Bradley in CF, it's ok. But in RF, he isn't nearly enough of a power impact to bat 5th.

 

What has power done for the Cubs? They had 35 HRs from LF, RF, 1B and 3B in 04 and were a 3rd place team. They led the NL in HRs (I think) this year and were a 4th place team. Time for a new direction.

 

If you get 15 HRs from Bradley, Murton, Barrett, 40 from Lee, 30 for Ramirez that's enough power. The best thing is every player has a potential to get on base 35% of the time. You can score a lot of runs with singles with that team OBP.

[UK1679666180]

I was never able to understand what the attraction to Bradley is, exactly. While his 3-year splits show a .380 OBP, they also show 14 HR/53 RBI totals in 500+ ABs.

 

Those will suffice out of a CF, but not a corner OF (not with Murton in the other corner). So if the stance is Bradley in CF, it's ok. But in RF, he isn't nearly enough of a power impact to bat 5th.

 

He avg'd about a .290 EqA and his splits come out 18 HRs and 68 RBIs per 500 ABs over the last 3 years.

 

He'd be fine in RF depending on who else is out there and with Lee/Ramirez, Bradley would be fine in RF. I'd rather see him CF as he becomes a greater advantage, but Burnitz had higher power numbers, but I'd much rather have Bradley over Burnitz despite character flaws.

[E.J.]

Maybe the Cubs have interest in Bradley after all?? It's the NY Daily News though...

 

NY Daily News

 

Talented and troubled Milton Bradley could be a choice, but the Dodgers believe there will be an active trade market for him, a source said. It's believed that five other teams are interested - the A's, Cubs, Nationals, Pirates and Tigers. Jim Tracy, Bradley's former manager with the Dodgers, is now the Pirates' skipper and he thinks highly of the 27-year-old's talent.

 

The Cubs' Corey Patterson appears available in a trade, but his stock has plummeted despite hopes in Chicago that he would be the Cubs' next great player. He hit only .215 with 13 homers and 34 RBI in 126 games this year and has a lifetime on-base percentage of just .293 in six seasons. He also has struck out 286 times in 283 games over the past two seasons.

[rawaction]

Maybe the Cubs have interest in Bradley after all?? It's the NY Daily News though...

 

NY Daily News

 

Talented and troubled Milton Bradley could be a choice, but the Dodgers believe there will be an active trade market for him, a source said. It's believed that five other teams are interested - the A's, Cubs, Nationals, Pirates and Tigers. Jim Tracy, Bradley's former manager with the Dodgers, is now the Pirates' skipper and he thinks highly of the 27-year-old's talent.

 

The Cubs' Corey Patterson appears available in a trade, but his stock has plummeted despite hopes in Chicago that he would be the Cubs' next great player. He hit only .215 with 13 homers and 34 RBI in 126 games this year and has a lifetime on-base percentage of just .293 in six seasons. He also has struck out 286 times in 283 games over the past two seasons.

 

Hey, I'll take it. Any link showing interest in Bradley is good.

[Guest]

Maybe the Cubs have interest in Bradley after all?? It's the NY Daily News though...

 

NY Daily News

 

Talented and troubled Milton Bradley could be a choice, but the Dodgers believe there will be an active trade market for him, a source said. It's believed that five other teams are interested - the A's, Cubs, Nationals, Pirates and Tigers. Jim Tracy, Bradley's former manager with the Dodgers, is now the Pirates' skipper and he thinks highly of the 27-year-old's talent.

 

The Cubs' Corey Patterson appears available in a trade, but his stock has plummeted despite hopes in Chicago that he would be the Cubs' next great player. He hit only .215 with 13 homers and 34 RBI in 126 games this year and has a lifetime on-base percentage of just .293 in six seasons. He also has struck out 286 times in 283 games over the past two seasons.

 

Hey, I'll take it. Any link showing interest in Bradley is good.

If we go after Bradley I'd want to keep him in center rather than move him to a corner. If his pricetag is the same (or even lower) than Pierre's I'd go with board game boy in a heartbeat. As a centerfielder he's very good with a chance to be outstanding. As a corner outfielder he's just OK with a chance to be pretty good.

[rawaction]

Maybe the Cubs have interest in Bradley after all?? It's the NY Daily News though...

 

NY Daily News

 

Talented and troubled Milton Bradley could be a choice, but the Dodgers believe there will be an active trade market for him, a source said. It's believed that five other teams are interested - the A's, Cubs, Nationals, Pirates and Tigers. Jim Tracy, Bradley's former manager with the Dodgers, is now the Pirates' skipper and he thinks highly of the 27-year-old's talent.

 

The Cubs' Corey Patterson appears available in a trade, but his stock has plummeted despite hopes in Chicago that he would be the Cubs' next great player. He hit only .215 with 13 homers and 34 RBI in 126 games this year and has a lifetime on-base percentage of just .293 in six seasons. He also has struck out 286 times in 283 games over the past two seasons.

 

Hey, I'll take it. Any link showing interest in Bradley is good.

If we go after Bradley I'd want to keep him in center rather than move him to a corner. If his pricetag is the same (or even lower) than Pierre's I'd go with board game boy in a heartbeat. As a centerfielder he's very good with a chance to be outstanding. As a corner outfielder he's just OK with a chance to be pretty good.

 

Agreed. But if Hendry wants people who "can catch the ball" so bad, I can live with Bradley in RF. If Bradley in CF means bad RF. I'd take OK RF and decent CF (Pierre).

[erik316wttn]

If Hendry knows we can get Bradley for little more than a mid-level prospect and maybe a Rule 5 arm, then he'd be absurdly dumb not to jump on it.

 

not if he can get pierre from the fish for cp as has been rumored.

 

If I'm signing Furcal, as has been rumored, I'd rather have Bradley than Pierre. Also, trading for Bradley doesn't preclude you from trading for Pierre and moving Bradley to right.

 

Vance for GM, plz.

[Bgbird68]

Maybe the Cubs have interest in Bradley after all?? It's the NY Daily News though...

 

NY Daily News

 

Talented and troubled Milton Bradley could be a choice, but the Dodgers believe there will be an active trade market for him, a source said. It's believed that five other teams are interested - the A's, Cubs, Nationals, Pirates and Tigers. Jim Tracy, Bradley's former manager with the Dodgers, is now the Pirates' skipper and he thinks highly of the 27-year-old's talent.

 

The Cubs' Corey Patterson appears available in a trade, but his stock has plummeted despite hopes in Chicago that he would be the Cubs' next great player. He hit only .215 with 13 homers and 34 RBI in 126 games this year and has a lifetime on-base percentage of just .293 in six seasons. He also has struck out 286 times in 283 games over the past two seasons.

 

Those stats for Corey are horrific.

[CUBZ99]

The guy has had problems with almost every organization he has been with, he hits aroung .300 with little power and although he has some speed he can't steal a base. Why is everyone so interested in him?

[Guest]

The guy has had problems with almost every organization he has been with, he hits aroung .300 with little power and although he has some speed he can't steal a base. Why is everyone so interested in him?

He's got pretty good plate discipline leading to a career .350 OBP. His power is also actually pretty good, especially for a center fielder. His HR totals aren't impressive, but that's more a reflection of the time he's missed and the parks he's played in than anything else. If he'd played ful seasons in each of the past three seasons he probably would have hit 20-25 HR. Bradley also hits his fair share of doubles. He's no Babe Ruth, but he's far from a slap-hitter in the mold of Pierre, either.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

OK fellas. If we don't get Furcal and get Bradley for CF, where are we going to get our leadoff hitter from?

 

btw, i really like Bradley in CF.

[E.J.]

OK fellas. If we don't get Furcal and get Bradley for CF, where are we going to get our leadoff hitter from?

 

btw, i really like Bradley in CF.

 

That's what Hendry re-signed Neifi for...

 

*ducks*

[Guest]

OK fellas. If we don't get Furcal and get Bradley for CF, where are we going to get our leadoff hitter from?

Walker or Murton. Heck, Bradley wouldn't be such a bad option there as long as he understood he shouldn't even attempt to steal. Any of those guys could probably get on base just as much as Furcal would. They wouldn't have the ability to steal, but they'd also be better bets to put themselves in scoring position via the XBH.

[Diffusion]

The guy has had problems with almost every organization he has been with, he hits aroung .300 with little power and although he has some speed he can't steal a base. Why is everyone so interested in him?

 

Because he's 27 years old, has hit .290/.379/.463 over the last three years (in pitcher's ballparks no less) and plays a well above average centre field, a position where we have considerable room for improvement. Furthermore, the Dodgers are giving him away.

 

Certainly Bradley isn't the perfect ballplayer. He's been injured more than you'd like, he does have personality issues, his power is considerable but not prodigious, his plate discipline isn't perfect. All the same, he is in my opinion the best CF option out there (improvement over what we have now relative to cost in resources), assuming of course that Baker deserves his reputation as a good player's manager. If that proves untrue, then at least Bradley ought to be the final nail in Dusty's coffin, seeing as there's absolutely nothing else Mr. Toothpick's particularly good at.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

OK fellas. If we don't get Furcal and get Bradley for CF, where are we going to get our leadoff hitter from?

Walker or Murton. Heck, Bradley wouldn't be such a bad option there as long as he understood he shouldn't even attempt to steal. Any of those guys could probably get on base just as much as Furcal would. They wouldn't have the ability to steal, but they'd also be better bets to put themselves in scoring position via the XBH.

 

In all likelihood, Walker is gone. I'd have no problem starting him at 2B and having him leadoff or batting 2nd. With defense being the new in thing with Hendry and Baker, it's more likely Neifi starts at 2B (if Cedeno moves to SS w/o Furcal in the mix) and Walker is sold down the river.

 

Murton can't be counted on to put up solid enough numbers to pencil him 1 or 2. We should have a lineup where he can bat 6, 7, or 8. If he performs well, we can juggle the lineup, but to count on a young guy's performance (limited # of ABs to judge from) is risky.

 

I'm very interested to know Hendry's backup plan if Pierre's price is too steep and Furcal doesn't become a Cub. We could have one crappy ballclub in a hurry, especially with Baker filling out the lineup card.

[UK1679666180]

The question with Bradley and his attitude is whether or not it can be fixed and if not, do you still go after him and how much damage would his bad personality hurt the team?

 

Personally, he needs a character adjustment and I think he has ability to change.

 

Now, if the Cubs did get him (which I highly doubt) and he conts. his poor behavior, do I fault Dusty? Of course not, regardless of his rep. as far as dealing w/players.

 

But, it is worth the risk to find out if Bradley can become a teammate that won't rock the boat, since his production will be there despite potential behvaior problems.

[RockTheIvy]

I would love to see Bradley in CF. He is a good offensive player, and an excellent one when compared to other CFers. I think it is difficult though to make good judgements about his personality. IMO, bring him aboard. He got into with a fan, who threw something at him. I would do the same thing if someone chucked something at me. Also, this clubhouse stuff has a lot to do with Jeff Kent, who as far as I can tell, can easily rub people the wrong way. I know he had a battle with the Indians manager (was it Wedge?) anyone care to share what that was about?

 

I would love to have Bradley. The concern though for me if we sign him is who will DUSTY bat leadoff? Maybe trade for Castillo?

[rawaction]

I would love to see Bradley in CF. He is a good offensive player, and an excellent one when compared to other CFers. I think it is difficult though to make good judgements about his personality. IMO, bring him aboard. He got into with a fan, who threw something at him. I would do the same thing if someone chucked something at me. Also, this clubhouse stuff has a lot to do with Jeff Kent, who as far as I can tell, can easily rub people the wrong way. I know he had a battle with the Indians manager (was it Wedge?) anyone care to share what that was about?

 

What if a fan decides to throw something at him every game? Is he entitled to go after a fan every game? And you know he hears stuff all the time. Imagine a Cubs/Sox game on the South Side.

 

The fact is, Bradley has had go-arounds with fans, coaches, teammates (albeit just 1 minor incident with a jerk), his wife, and the legal system. It's not that difficult to make judgements about his personality.

 

That being said, I know he's getting help for his problems, and am willing to take a shot on him as a Cub.

[RockTheIvy]

I would love to see Bradley in CF. He is a good offensive player, and an excellent one when compared to other CFers. I think it is difficult though to make good judgements about his personality. IMO, bring him aboard. He got into with a fan, who threw something at him. I would do the same thing if someone chucked something at me. Also, this clubhouse stuff has a lot to do with Jeff Kent, who as far as I can tell, can easily rub people the wrong way. I know he had a battle with the Indians manager (was it Wedge?) anyone care to share what that was about?

 

What if a fan decides to throw something at him every game? Is he entitled to go after a fan every game? And you know he hears stuff all the time. Imagine a Cubs/Sox game on the South Side.

 

The fact is, Bradley has had go-arounds with fans, coaches, teammates (albeit just 1 minor incident with a jerk), his wife, and the legal system. It's not that difficult to make judgements about his personality.

 

That being said, I know he's getting help for his problems, and am willing to take a shot on him as a Cub.

 

Damn. I didn't know he had the legal stuff or the spouse stuff. Hopefully he straightens it all out wherever he goes because he is a pretty good ballplayer.