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Last updated 3-17-2024
 
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Milton Bradley's Losing Friends

A few stories have popped up since I wrote the last one, so let me update.

Bruce Miles at the Daily Herald:

"I told him to take his uniform off," Lou said. "He threw his helmet and smashed a water cooler, water flying all over. I just told him to take his uniform off and go home. I followed him up into the clubhouse, and we exchanged some words."

Lou added that he had seen enough and that he'd talk more with Milton tomorrow.

Apparently, the Cubs feel that Bradley is acting selfishly. GM Jim Hendry talked with us in the runway after the game and said he wanted players to be "all in."

I pressed him on that, and he said that "all in" means all for the team. Some of Bradley's teammates also are beginning to wonder.

Alright, so we know for sure Lou sent him home. The "acting selfishly" perked up my ears though and that teammates are beginning to wonder. That led me to this gem from Alfonso Soriano courtesy of Muskat.

Alfonso Soriano said he'd never seen a player and manager fight the way Piniella and Bradley did.

"I hope he comes back and he can help the team to win," Soriano said of Bradley. "If he's not that way, we don't need him. We have 25 players, we have to be on the same page. If he's not 100 percent to help the team to win, we don't need him. If he's 100 percent and he comes and wants to play, he's more than welcome."
Hey pot, meet the kettle.  Let's start with Soriano refusing to move to left field a few years back for the Nationals before finally relenting... a real team player moment. Next there's Soriano's loose insistence on batting leadoff. Oh sure, he's stated in public he doesn't care where he bats as long as he stays in the same place but there's certainly some resistance on Soriano's part to get moved. If he was 100% on helping the team win, he'd stop trying to hit a home run every at-bat and would have asked long ago to get dropped to the bottom of the order to stop taking precious at-bats while he swings at everything that's pitched to him. There's also the part where he's worked on his defense so much that he's making Adam Dunn look like a good idea.

Moving back to Bradley, Lou's press conference highlights via Cubs.com can be seen here. Piniella indicates it's been a "common occurrence", although it's not clear whether he's suggesting it's common with just Bradley or the entire team, but it seems more like it's directed right at Bradley and he's been throwing these fits for awhile (most likely down in the clubhouse away from the cameras).

Comments

"The Hills" starring the Chicago Cubs http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-27-cubs-milton-b… "We just don't have that bond," he replied. "'D-Lee' is cool. He's quiet. But things change. I had a good rapport with [fired hitting coach Gerald Perry]. I trusted Gerald and I could talk to him, and he's gone. I think I clicked with [ex-Cub outfielder Joey] Gathright, and he's gone. So you just kind of feel like you're on an island, and trying to stay afloat." a whole "woe is me" article about not having anyone he trusts on the team to vent to and how he wants to go unnoticed (try hitting and then try not throwing tantrums).

FYI not one player has ever complained about Soriano. And every manager he has ever had agreed. Even in Washington, Frank Robinson (IIRC) said great things about him even with the whole left field thing.

[ ]

In reply to by Chad

this is the first time I recall a player bad-mouthing Bradley, I know Eric Wedge doesn't like him. Bud Black, most of the A's and Ron Washington had good things to say.

Buck Showalter didn't like Soriano, fwiw...of course Buck didn't get along with a lot of players.

Nonetheless, It's not a personality contest...Soriano has no right to be bitching about what's best for the team, when he's constantly put himself above the teams he's played on...

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

He sulked when the Rangers moved him down in the order and refused to move to the outfield for them. Then held the Nationals hostage until they couldn't find a trade partner that was willing to play him at 2b. So no, I don't think the spots have changed on this leopard. 

Is he a terrible teammate that doesn't care at all about winning? No, I don't think that at all. Should he be bitching about the desire and committment to win of other players? Only if he wants to be a hypocrite...

"Constantly" was a bit of an overstatement though...I'll go with a "pattern of"...

Well I think it was quite obvious that he was losing friends/creating enemies in the clubhouse when this story came out in the middle of the game. I mean Sullivan and Miles likely needed this to be confirmed by team sources before they publlished it, since if they went live with a press box rumor before confirming it and it was wrong they would lose the trust of the organization and hence their job, since there job is access to the team. Anyways Lou seems the most at fault here. Why not just pull him out the game and tell him to stay in the clubhouse or go down to the batting cages? My guess is that is was the Sosa style departure that tipped of the media's attention to this incident anyways.

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In reply to by Chifan

any time you see a player leaving in street clothes in the middle of a game something's wrong. the blowup leaked before he left...him leaving in street clothes is just a huge "oh shi...!" you just don't send a benched player home. you send him to the showers, to the clubhouse, but not home. that's a pretty huge "screw u." that said...bradley...for all his blowups...the past many years he tends to understand the consequences of them. now, i dunno how serious this crap got, but if lou kept it clean and "real" milton might accept his role as the bad guy in this and make his statement accordingly. i wouldn't expect perfection after the fact, though.

Who else thinks Jim Hendry is on the phone right now talking to any AL GM who will listen? This does seem revealing to me that this story about Bradley broke DURING THE GAME (though I guess the in-game reporting could be as much a reflection of the explosiveness of the story as it is a result of the speed of the Tweeter Age). In any case, these comments from Piniella, (Bruce) Miles, Soriano, et al. make it seem to me like Bradley is as good as gone, which I actually don't mind. I imagine a Hoffpauir/Fox platoon in RF certainly could outplay what Bradley's been doing this year. I say trade him and get whatever you can, let the team be better without him, and give the fucking Gatorade cooler a damn break.

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In reply to by Romero

I don't think that. Probably the fact that Freel inexplicably found himself in right field during the game lead to the story being broken more than anything else. Had Lou let Bradley go back in, we may have never heard anything. What we need now is someone to grab a couple of Soriano's bats and smash up something in the clubhouse, then leave the broken bats behind as evidence.

Milton being...Manny? Frankly, I'm tired of the Lou deadpan. Shouldn't he kick butt every once in a while? Starting with walk-a-thon Marmol, who has done what he did in today's game throughout the year? Heilman warming up for the 8th and he sticks Carlos in there knowing 2 walks were coming? Everyone watching the game saw Carlos throw 1 pitch and knew he didn't have control. And you are claiming Milton is at fault? Seems like he's the only one with fire. Question - what's this ----> O O Answer: Rothschild in the headlights. Either Lou doesn't care any more or he's just waiting for something obvious to wake this team up, and maybe it just did and we have MB to thank.

Let's see -- Bradley gets off to a slow start, pulls the ultimate bonehead move in RF (HOW many outs?), the fans get on him, and he implodes. Anyone, including Hendry, who is surprised by this has not been paying attention the past few years. The $100MM+ 2009 Cubs have come to this: - They are counting on Jake Fox's offense. - Randy Wells is their best starter. - Angel Guzman is their best reliever. Aye Carumba.

Stupid article. We all knew MB was a FAIL. Well, i didn't fershure, but I'm old, and blue. Very sick of this shit. Long history of fuck.

Open letter to Milton Bradley: Dear Milton Bradley, It's not about you, motherfucker. Keep your head down and do your fucking job best you can. Do it for the team. Ryan

Wow. I know Sori is having a crap year, but I've never heard him say anything critical of anyone. He's like the bad English-speaking Dominican Ernie Banks. And for Hendry to hint that there's a problem is surprising too, since he is so shielded about criticizing anyone. Maybe we'll luck out and they'll cut bait with Bradley, one way or another. I do agree with what several people, including Rob said, that it does seem that Bradley is getting the short end of the stick. Other people do similar stuff (Like Marmol throwing his glove and knocking down a small cooler after being removed in the 8th), yet Bradley gets blamed. But maybe there is stuff going on with Bradley that we don't see or hear about. There must be for Hendry and Sori to be openly critical.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

I have a great idea on how to fix all of this - each guy take a long, hard look in the mirror and then get your shit figured out, and start hitting/pitching. The entire season feels like a huge train wreck after 70 games, and we're only 2.5 games out. That's what expectations will do for you, I guess... All we need to do is get our shit together! This means you, Soriano, Fukudome, Fontenot, Harden, Marmol and BRADLEY!! I understand that guys are going to slump, but when you know you are struggling, is there anything wrong with bunting or hitting behind the runner or trying to work the count? That's what a team player does. I'm sure Bradley is frustrated with his current level of play, but being negative about it all of the time around your teammates is cancerous. If he doesn't get that, you need to cut out the cancer... way to go after the sure thing, Hendry!!

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

good, good, and thank god hendry decided to take care of that statement real quick before people had much of a chance to kick that around...

[ ]

In reply to by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree

can't say it makes much sense for the Yanks as a backup infielder and the cost in prospects that it's going to acquire. Other teams probably have him as a starter or semi-regular and could justify the haul.

But you never know...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think with Nady officially out for the year the Yanks are looking for a RH OF bat, and they've cried wolf about their payroll. DeRosa comes cheap salary wise for any team, which probably means he'll cost even more in prospects. If the Cubs do trade for him I hope they intend to sign him to an extension.

it was just yesterday i made a post about how i hadn't heard much at all about rumors/facts of clubhouse tension...what a difference 24 hours makes. now we got both fact and rumor. =p

My lineup for Saturday's game: Fuld (Miles to DL),Theriot,Fukudome,Lee,Hoffpauir,Fox,Soto,Bradley,Blanco Then bench Bradley for Soriano Sunday.

I don't think that Bradley's behavior should be condoned. Yet isn't Piniella being inconsistent here? Does he respond the same way when Z has a temper tantrum? I'm not convinced that Lou treats everyone the same. BTW, Sorryano should be the last to comment about anything with the kind of year he is having. He should have been benched long ago...or at the very least moved down in the order.

From the Sun-Times article: "But an apparent preoccupation with his individual issues over the team's efforts to shake a first-half malaise has worn on teammates, even down to things as simple as working close pitches for walks with runners on base when putting the ball in play with less than two outs might score a rare and needed run." Yes Milton, please quit taking walks and just strike out like your teammates. That's a much better idea.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

The implication, if you ready the whole article, is that he ends up taking some strikes on 3-2 counts, striking out with men in scoring position. He was hired as a free agent to be a run producer, and he should not be looking to walk when the situation calls for being aggressive and putting the bat on the ball. The other Cubs players have noticed this 'me first' attitude. No one said it is better to strike out than to take a walk.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

Sorry, but this makes no sense. He's up there trying to hit. He's not looking for walks. If he's got 2 strikes, and he thinks the pitch is a ball, he should take it. Compare it to Soriano, who gets two strikes and swings at the pitch regardless of it's location. I can't honestly believe that the players on the team really think that. What they are saying is they rather have Joe Carter hitting 3rd on their team than Barry Bonds. If anyone around the team actual thinks that, they should probably try to go play for the Reds. With a 3-2 count: Soriano has struck out 13 times in 37 PA's, once every 2.8 chances Bradley has struck out 12 times in 41 PA's once every 3.4 chances

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

You've taken this so far to the extremes that it loses the original point. Should you always take a pitch if you think it's a ball? How about a borderline fastball that you think is off the plate, but could be called a strike and you could potentially drive for a hit to the opposite field and knock in some runners? If it's close enough to be called a strike maybe you should try to hit it - especially with runners on base - rather than risk taking a called third and ending the rally. I think his teammates just want him to do that. Joe Carter or Barry Bonds? How many called strike three did Bonds take in his prime. Either they were pitching around him way outside and he was walking, or he was hitting with RISP. Bradley is emphatically NOT Barry Bonds. How about Joe Carter or 2009 Milton Bradley? - I take Carter. Carter had only 11 seasons with more RBI than Bradely's career high. Only 11.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

not that I think Barry Bonds is a great example, he was on a whole other playing field...

but Bradley isn't doing anything he hasn't in the past imo, Cubs should have known what they were getting and if they don't think he's suited for the middle of the order, change the lineup instead of blowing up about it and utilize his talents correctly. Because if you want to talk about changing their approaches at the plate, there's a few guys I'd start with before getting on Bradley's case.

Fukudome pretty much does the same shit and they moved him around in the order, why the fuck are they suddenly on Bradley for being the same player he's been since he joined the league?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

"But an apparent preoccupation with his individual issues over the team's efforts to shake a first-half malaise has worn on teammates, even down to things as simple as working close pitches for walks with runners on base when putting the ball in play with less than two outs might score a rare and needed run." You guys are taking one example, simplifying it and saying 'that's ridiculous, that's the type of player he is'. The quote implies that he is concerned mostly with himself and lists one 'simple' example. I absolutely do not condone what Lou (apparently) said to Bradley, but it is clearly something that has been building over a long time and would certainly be a result of multiple issues. They're tired of his shit and this is one of the things that has been bothering them. It reminds me of when I was ready to break up with a girlfriend and every minor little things was annoying to me. If I told you one of them, you'd say it was a ridiculous thing to complain about, but compounded it all adds up.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Agreed. Exc. point. I don't think Fukudome complains in English, either - which probably let's him get away with more. I have read he was more cantankerous with the Japanese Umps. In any case - indeed - he's batted 2nd, 7th, 5th, 1st, and it hasn't been a real issue. I think when Aramis gets back, "IF healthy", Bradley could eventually start hitting provided this whole event blows over. Jim Hendry really signed a deal with the Devil on this one though.

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In reply to by Rob G.

I agree. I don't think that he is a middle of the order hitter, and I would not have signed him this off season. With Fukudome's production always in question and DeRosa traded, I would not sign an oft-injured DH with a career high of 77 RBI who walks a lot. I didn't think it made sense. But I have to agree with the point below. This is just one example of something they don't like about Bradley, one example of about a dozen things. I wish pitch selection with RISP was the only thing that was going on with Bradley. Oh what I would give for that to be our main worry this season...

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

To quote somebody near and dear to me, Bradley is
a (highly remunerated) victim of the OBP era in baseball, an era that finally elevated walks to the status of hits, a status that they never enjoyed before. Bradley says, “I demand that base on balls. I earned it!”
Hitters used to protect the plate with two strikes, and thus avoid inevitable wrangles with umps. No wonder Bradley likes Gerald "Moneyball" Perry.

[ ]

In reply to by Pat Kane

he was hired to put up the numbers that he did in the past, and yeah, he's struggling, but I don't think he's really changed his approach to the plate. Cubs should have known what they're getting. And if they don't like it, move him in the order and put his talents to use.

Soriano was hired to steal bases (among other things that he's not doing right now), wonder what the team thinks about his "me first" attitude and if Lou calls him a piece of shit.

 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I doubt Lou called Bradley a piece of shit because he isn't hitting. He said he was not a "ball player" which means he does not act professionally, does not carry himself well, does not respect the game, acts like a spoiled brat, etc. Soriano is not getting ejected from games, is not crying about an umpire conspiracy in the papers, is not throwing tantrums and beating up equipment every time he struggles, is the first (rather than the last) player in the clubhouse, continues to talk to the media, etc. It's that shit that gets you called a piece of shit by your manager, not a slump.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

When you swing at everything, it's probably hard to think you're the victim of a strike-zone conspiracy. Bradley has quotes from yesterday's game, doesn't he? Soriano also doesn't get singled out for not hitting, like Bradley does by his boss. Soriano has hit .173 .283 .288 against lefties this year... why is he in the lineup? Why doesn't he get dropped down like Bradley did?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

That's right, Bradley is just one of MANY major leaguers who publicly complain of umpire conspiracies. Ha! Also, I must have also forgotten the many media interactions like this that many other players have: "Bradley was expressing his unhappiness in Chicago during a contentious session with reporters. As he walked away, the oft-injured Bradley was asked: How do you feel? 'I feel like 30 million bucks,' Bradley said over his shoulder, not missing a beat." Stay classy! Where has Lou singled Bradley out for not hitting? He singled him out for being a whiny tantrum-thrower. The comparison with Soriano is dumb. Pick any player on the Cubs who has struggled. Most of them have. Your point? Lou has stuck with them all season, waiting for them to break out of their slumps. He did so with Lee and it worked. Now Soto is coming around. Soriano will too, and you know this. He has also stuck with Bradley. How many games has he actually sat because he wasn't banged up? Pretty much everyday he has been healthy he has been in there batting 3rd, 4th, or 5th. This is despite his average defense, bone-headed plays, arguing with umpires, and tantrum throwing. And because he does all of that shit he has gotten a few days off to refocus from time to time (which he clearly hasn't fully utilized). If you want to jump on the "poor-me-the-world-is-out-to-get-me-bandwagon" Milton Bradley would love to have you aboard. There's plenty of room and right now he is the only one on it.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

"Where has Lou singled Bradley out for not hitting?" Lou has been talking this week about how Bradley has struggled against righties, and benched him Thursday for it. When is Soriano's benching coming? It's almost like Lou is using Bradley as an excuse. If Bradley's been blowing up in the dugout repeatedly, who's job is it to correct that? What Bradley now can see is 1. He struggles and gets benched and criticized. Soriano struggles and it's no problem. 2. Zambrano and Dempster blow up and it's no big deal. He blows up and he's a 'piece of shit'. 3. He tries make friends and the Cubs get rid of them. Now, put yourself in his place. Wouldn't you start thinking that someone is out to get you? Lou needs to man up for his own shortcomings before taking it out on others.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

1) He got a day off. Wow. Didn't Soto sit multiple games to regroup and Hill played just a couple of weeks ago? Didn't Soto then rebound? Fukudome has sat too. The idea that Bradley is somehow the only one that has struggled or that Lou has said struggled, or that Lou has given a day off to regroup is ridiculous. Why the comparison to Soriano? Maybe Lou thinks some people like Soto and Bradley need days off because they are pressing and others like Lee and Soriano need to play through it. It worked for Soto and Lee. Maybe Lou knows these players better than we do. 2) If Zambrano and Dempster blow up a dozen times or so then come back and make this comparison. As of right now it's apples to oranges. 3) That's right, the Cubs conspired to trade or fire the people he made friend's with. You advocate keeping Gathright on the team because Bradley likes him? We should have kept Taguchi on the big league roster then so Fukudome had someone to talk to. There are 24 other guys there, here's a thought, make more than ONE friend. I like how a team pays $30 million dollars to you to do a job for three years, but then your first response within a couple of months of being there is to assume that they are conspiring to see you fail at that job. Yeah, the Cubs really wanted to sign Abreu, but then Hendry said, "no, wait, why win a championship, you know what would really be better, we sign Bradley, then fuck with him, that will be so much more rewarding, we'll just conspire against him to make his life a living hell, it'll be great!"

I've been a Bradley defender cuz of his sucky life history, but truth is, I've had a sucky life history too. Both parents dead early, yada yada. At some point, you just have to quit whining and deal with it. I was 30 before I really got my shit together but if I had Milton's baseball talents I think it would have taken me a lot less time. Fuck you Milton. Life is hard but you have a fucking gift a million people would die for. So for you, life is easy. Suck in your gut and play some fucking baseball, or get out and sit on a couch somewhere and drink yourself to death like other people who feel sorry for themselves.

Yes Milton, please quit taking walks and just strike out like your teammates. That's a much better idea. --- Obviously walks are good. Opposed to Dusty's base clogging theories, this actually is a little different focus in that working the count also leads to strikeouts, particularly K's with RISP hence the lack of rbi's, as in 16 this season. It also shows the problem of Bradley's baggage with umpires who will squeeze his strike zone as much as possible, making strike zone judgement with two strikes more problematic say than other high obp hitters. It's a catch-22 except that the anger management is what has lead to almost all of Bradley's problems and because people remember and he continues to show he's not improved, he won't get this ugliness to go away. --- from the Chris De Luca article in the sun-times, he elaborates on a previous incident with Piniella and Bradley: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/1642006,CST-SPT-deluca27.article Bradley's selfish attitude has resulted in chats with veteran teammates, Piniella and Hendry. There is a feeling in the Cubs' clubhouse that Bradley's zeal for drawing walks -- which can up his on-base percentage but runs the risk of all those 3-2 strikeouts, such as his first-inning at-bat -- don't fit the mold of a middle-of-the-order slugger who could help shake a team out of its doldrums with runners in scoring position. And don't think Friday was the first time Piniella's emotions concerning Bradley bubbled over for public consumption. While Bradley was spending a series in San Diego griping about close calls at the plate, Piniella was overheard airing out his frustrations to since-fired hitting coach Gerald Perry. ''We pay the guy $30 million,'' Piniella's voiced echoed that night in the clubhouse, ''and nothing's ever his fault.''

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

That quote is more hypocritical than anything Soriano has said. If you rank the highest paid players in the game and then rank the highest paid Managers in the game, Hitting-coach-firing- nothing-is-ever-my-fault-saying Lou Piniella rankes much closer to the top of his list than our $8 million outfielder. Why are we paying you all this money Lou, if you have no effect on the outcomes of the games? Here's some other guys that aren't middle of the order hitters: David Ortiz Alex Rodriguez Mark Teixeira Jim Thome Ryan Howard Adam Dunn Jason Bay Chase Utley Dan Uggla Adrian Gonzalez Matt Kemp Ryan Ludwick Carlos Pena Jack Cust Evan Longoria David Wright Prince Fielder Maybe, Bradley should be allowed to swing at the pitches he thinks he can drive, and if he walks... I dunno, maybe the guy behind him can be a team player and hit the fielder's choice if it's so god damned easy. Turns out the Cubs' dugout doesn't just have two hypocrites in it, it's full of them.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Bwahahahahaha!!

You have Bradley taking too many walks and taking too many close pitches. Okay, fine...I sort of see the point on why you'd prefer he maybe try and take a hack on some of those pitches with runners on...someone has to bring them in. Then you got another player who hacks at everything in sight (apparently the more ideal middle of the order hitter, not that I agree with that) batting at the top of the order? How about changing the fucking batting order then?

How about utlizing the talent you have in the best way instead of bitching about?  Isn't that the one damn thing a manager is suppose to do?

 

and Soriano's quotes make more sense from that article. It's not that he's innocent of being the primadonna, so it has an odd sound to it. Those quotes would have had better impact if they came from DLee. --- Veteran Alfonso Soriano, who doesn't get the credit he deserves for being a true team leader, said he had never seen anything like it during his nine-year career. And then Soriano -- always one of the first Cubs in the clubhouse -- put the onus on Bradley to shape up or ship out. ''That's my first time to see a manager fighting with a player; get mad with a player,'' Soriano said. ''Sometimes you can get mad, but not like that. It's something new for me every day. ''We are 25 players, and we have to be on the same page. If he is not 100 percent to help the team win, we don't need him. If he's 100 percent and he wants to play, he's more than welcome.''

Finally, the article implies that Lou showed that he can be a Dragon with fire in the belly. This stuff is getting to remind me of Lou's response to the Zambrano-Barrett fight. How he handled the team from that point forward changed the outcome of the 2007 season. Hopefully, he gets things right this time too. --- ''We exchanged some words,'' Piniella said. This is the fire from Piniella we have been talking about. Privately, the players in the Cubs' dugout wanted to give Piniella a standing ovation.

supposedly Wittenmyer in the sun-times reports this was the tunnel interchange between Piniella-Bradley: According to sources, Piniella then shouted at Bradley, ''You're not a player! You're a piece of sh--!'' Bradley then said, ''I have too much respect for you to respond to that,'' a source said. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1641809,CST-SPT-cub27.arti… if GW's sources are accurate it sounds like Bradley's temper is aimed at busting things up but Lou's got the verbal knives.

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

I hate to say this as I'm generally a Milton partisan, but that response would've seemed a lot classier from someone who hadn't just erupted and bashed things like a three-year-old. I will defend Milton on the "30 million dollars" comment though. I'm sure it didn't seem this way to members of the judge-first-think-later Chicago sports media, but maybe just possibly it was a...joke? A jerky, unfunny joke, but a joke nonetheless?

How about chaning the fucking batting order then? --- Exactly, that's the simple solution. Take the easy way out Lou. Of course it's the "old school" vs the modern era issues methinks. Where did the reward a player for good performance go? Did that go away when huge contracts arrived? Kind of like Lou reminiscing about the days when Billy Martin or Leo Durocher could argue with the umps. Hello Dolly (carol channing?)

All Bradley's baggage not withstanding, two facts everyone can agree on make it pretty understandable why he doesn't feels accepted by the team. One, he's in the first half of the first year with a new team plus two, he hasn't produced or contributed, much less as advertised. If he had been producing so far, his acceptance in the clubhouse would've come much faster - it's just natural. On top of that, you have all the other debateable factors: Cub fans' expectations, his personality, his attitude, his fits, other players not in a good mood due to their own frustration, on and on. Now, it seems like a viscious cycle.

per Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000... Soriano, Theriot, Bradley, DLee, Soto, Fox (DH), Freel (3B), Fukudome, Blanco (vs LHP-Buerle) vs Podsednik, Ramirez, Dye, Thome, Konerko, Pierzinski, Getz, Beckham, Wise (vs-Dempster)

With TheRiot in the lineup, at least I can fain interest. I know the expectations for 09 are higher...and rightfully so, but does anyone feel as "meh" about this series as I do? Can't IL games, just be 6 games vs 2 rivals and we can move on? I'd rather watch more games vs STL and MIL.

Joe and WISCGRAD,

Fair enough points and I'm not gonna try and pretend that Bradley is just some innocent victim. Trouble follows him and there's plenty of his own doing behind it.

My points though are...

1) Soriano should shut up. He's shown plenty of "me first" tendencies throughout his career and with the Cubs.

2) Lou should shut up. His anger towards Bradley seems terribly misguided and hypocritical.

3) Bradley should start hitting...so should Soriano.

I'll happily agree to disagree at this point, although I think point #3 is pretty rock solid.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think that's fair enough. Soriano should certainly have kept his mouth shut. Though I don't personally have much problem with the content of what he said. I think Lou should NOT shut up. It's kind of his job not to. If Bradley is a problem and has been for some time, then something needs to be said. But, if the reports are accurate, what Lou said was clearly NOT appropriate. I'd prefer to avoid judging the explosion without knowing the content of the build up, as well, though.

Wellemeyer with 68 pitches in 2.1 IP before being taken out for Kinney. Now that's his Cub roots showing through Minn 3-2 so far.

lost in the crap storm du jour is that this edition of the Cubs is sorely lacking on so many levels required of a championship team that even though they're only 2.5 GB it's like when a golfer's only a couple strokes off the pace but there are a half a dozen guys between him & the lead - objects up ahead are really further away than they appear...to name one GLARING problem: doubt there's a major league pitcher, let alone one counted upon in key situations, who's averaging a walk per inning besides Marmol...if every other thing wrong clears up & that doesn't, we're going nowhere...

from Wittenmyer: Bradley: 'I'd be surprised if I didn't play pretty well today.' glad everyone seems to have moved on....

Angels vs. Diamondbacks on Fox in LA. Now that the I can't watch Cubs vs. White Sox anywhere even though I'm willing to pay for that privilege, I'm absolutely going to watch that game instead.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/06/m… Milton Bradley spoke to Cubs beat reporters before Saturday’s game and confirmed that manager Lou Piniella called him a "piece of [expletive]" during their confrontation Friday at U.S. Cellular Field. “It’s Lou Piniella,” Bradley said. “To me, Lou Piniella is somebody. If it’s a motivating tactic, taking a different switch because people say he didn’t have fire, I understand.” Piniella said Saturday he apologized to Bradley for the remark. He said it was “made in the sanctity of the clubhouse” and was upset it was leaked to the media. Cubs think WSox security leaked it...Desipio thinks Milton Bradley did. http://www.desipio.com/?p=2205

David Patton is warming up for the Cubs in the 5th. Granted he has pitched mostly in low pressure games, but since April 29th he has a 3.00 ERA in 12 IP with 10 Ks.

just what the I-Cub brass need; possible Ramirez rehab when they're already looking @ 4th of July-related packed houses next week w/ fireworks scheduled on both the 2nd & 3rd...

I know that this Cubs team is very flawed, even for a .500 team hovering within striking distance. But I don't think it was too much to ask that they win this game. That White Sox team merits their record completely, and they made three errors. You cannot let a mediocre team performing badly win a game like that.

[ ]

In reply to by Pell Mell

They just don't win close games like these. Haven't been all year. Even more so on the road. The homestand comebacks were kind of a one time thing, I think. At least they are now scoring a few runs, of course now whats happening is that the pitching isn't as good as when they weren't scoring runs. I knew it would happen this way. BUT still they are hanging on to the race, A-ram comes back as old A-ram, make a trade here and there and this team has a chance. Yes Marmol needs to be taken out of the 8th inning, todays game wasn't so bad but batters just don't seem to be buckling their knees like they used to.

This year's team, from top to bottom, has become an embarrassment. It is almost impossible to like or root for any of these people. On top of shitty play the players keep acting like they are 12. I don't even think ARam can stop this train wreck. This season has all the looks of being a very disappointing season. I think it is time to change the signature back...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Yeah, if a young pitcher of Perez' quality was part of the final price, we just don't have that to spare. Trading Marshall or Wells and someone else would make little sense. I'm ok with not paying that price, not happy Derosa's a Cardinal. Now watch they'll resign him and we'll have 2-3 years of this. Wonderful. Can we still get rid of Hendry? At least tie him up in a closet and smack him around.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

well, he like 34...if they wanna keep him a 2-3 deal i'd be for it. he's lost his middle IF step. yes, i think he could play 2nd well enough and etc etc, but he seems to be a guy who's future is RF/3rd/LF...maybe 1st if he can quit doing stupid stuff with his feet.

[ ]

In reply to by SotoBunts

This is a double blow as now Dero gives the Cardinals there answer to either 2nd or 3rd and the Indians got there third prospect (according to BA's pre-season rankings) for him and another player. I still dont get why Jimbo took 3 average prospects for him instead of one top talent player. Also it looks like there still in it for Holliday, so this division race could be over. As for Cubs rumors, Gammons tweets were looking at Teahan. I hope he has atleast entertained the idea of being a seller. Given the weak market I think Harden and Gregg could really be turned into something good. I would also see if Dlee or Lilly would waive their NTC and see what I could get for them, but I would only move them if I could get 2 of somebodys top 20, with one of them being a top 5 guy.

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

I can't see the Cubs turning into sellers. As for the weak market, I think one of the reasons it's a weak market is that most teams have no budget room to add salary, and most teams still think they are in the race and are unwilling to trade away players. We might see mostly lower salaried guys moved, and probably not a lot of them. It will be interesting to see how many deals get made and if any big salary guys are dealt. I'm suspecting it's going to be very few if any.

Ronnie Cedeno just got IBB'd by LAD. (1st base open, hitting in front of Felix Hernandez. Still....)

[ ]

In reply to by O.Julius

In other ex-Cub news, Aardsma has been awesome this year. Just wicked stuff as Seattle's closer. Note: Though he just gave up a double and a walk. I wish we could trade Heilman back to Seattle for him. They can have Miles too.

heilman looks terrible and he along with marmol are way to predictable hell we all no they will walk one batter a inning , if hielman was any good he would have marmols spot , and if marmol was any good he would have greggs spot. the cubs will start hitting but at that time the cubs will stop pitching.

teahan why what is he gonna give us. lets get aram back then we have 2 to 3 weeks to see where we are, if no better off sell sell sell or maybe zell will sell before trade deadline.

Hey more Milton Drama, when does it stop being about him and more about the team? Ohhhh right that would be never. I was tired with the Milton drama like 3-4 years ago, just like i was tired of Dusty drama about 3 years before he was a Cub. It's always about massaging the ego of Milton Bradley, for ounce i would like him to return the favor to his team-mates. Who the hell am i kidding, Bradley is a me me me type player, fuck everyone else. How many times do you Bradley supporters need to make excuses for him?

The problem With Milton is easy to understand!! He is a paranoid personality - people have known this for years. He thinks people are conspiring against him, that is a sign of a paranoid. Furthermore, he thinks his teammates, Umps, the fans, everyone is out to get him. He needs medicine for paranoid people. He forgets hes in the entertainment biz. Baseball is entertainment, you will always have people watching you in Major league baseball.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?