Milton Bradley Can’t Play Nice, Gets Sent Home by Pinella
Bradley says he’s feeling isolated on this team (photo by Jacob Soboroff)
Milton Bradley Sent Home by Pinella
I almost didn’t want to post about this because I didn’t want one players antics to outshine a great team effort in the Cubs 5-4 win against the White Sox. It was a big win. But for those of us who were looking for a little tirade from Pinella, we got the closest thing we’re likely to see from him this season.
After Milton Bradley popped out in the sixth inning (making him 0-3 for the day with two strikeouts) he returned to the dugout, threw his helmet down and slammed the water jug to the dugout floor. Piniella then called Bradley into the clubhouse tunnel, with Carlos Zambrano joining him, to give Milton Bradley a tounge lashing outside the gaze of the TV cameras.
What happened then, only the players involved can say for sure but we do know they argued - and Pinella told him to take his uniform off and go home. Bradley followed his managers orders and left, with reports confirming seeing him leave the stadium.
“Unnamed sources” say that Pinella may have said to Bradley, ”You’re not a player! You’re a piece of sh–!” to which Bradley replied ”I have too much respect for you to respond to that” which was actually possibly the best possible thing he could have said given the circumstances.
Pinella said after the game: ”Look, I’m not happy that this thing happened. I’m really not. But at the same time, it was time.” From what we’ve heard from behind the scenes, the rest of the team is on Pinella’s side.
Although the team will try and minimize this incident, it is a big deal. Rarely do players get ejected from the stadium by their manager, so it’s serious. That’s not to say it won’t all be settled, I truly hope it will be but the fact of the matter it is a big deal. This was essentially a message to Bradley. Noone wants to see him acting up any more. He can play and hit and be a teammate or he can be shown the door.
Bradley said before the game: ”I just know that it sucks when you had a guy here in DeRosa that you know the guys loved, the media, I guess, liked him as well, and the fans liked him. And he was good and productive and still is. And you come in and essentially replace him and you’re sucking it up. It’s not a good feeling. When you see the response that the fans give him and then the response that I get, I deserve it.”
To be fair, I understand where Bradley is coming from. He’s frustrated after having such a disappointing start to his season. He’s a player who does want to hit and perform and takes pride in his game. But he’s a hothead and an emotional guy. Nobody should be surprised by that part. One thing that always cures clubhouse problems: Winning. Winning cures all. So would some hitting on Bradley’s part. If he can hit like he has in the past and help the Cubs win, then all will be forgotten.
Sure he didn’t do anything that other Cubs players haven’t done. But win Big Z has a tirade, at least he’s a franchise player who has been with the Cubs for seven seasons. Bradley is a rookie on this team, and one who could learn a lot from the true rookies like Wells and Fox, who keep a level head, work hard and have made the most of every opportunity they’ve received.
So Milton Bradley, here’s what you need to do: ONE - Shut up and play. Take a lesson from your locker neighbor Lee who lets his play on the field do most of the talking. TWO - Just hit. That’s it, it’s that simple. If you can hit you will be embraced by the fans. The fans welcomed thier former hated enemy Jim Edmonds to the Cubs in 2008 because he came in and won our respect and contributed. So much so that many fans wished he had come back.
That’s all Bradley. I really have no desire to write posts about your drama. I passed up writing about your one earlier in the year and your suspension. I don’t care. All I care about is the CUBS WINNING. Just hit and everyone will love you. It’s really that simple.
GO CUBS!
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[...] It’s hard if not nearly impossible to find a Cubs fan who thought the trade of Mark DeRosa was a good idea. If he was on the Cubs right now, DeRosa would lead the team in both home runs and RBI’s, which sure would help our weak hitting offense. He also would have filled in perfectly at third for Aramis Ramirez’s injury. It also didn’t help this week when DeRosa’s replacement Milton Bradley was sent home for a temper tantrum. [...]
[...] of those would be manager Lou Pinella, who called Bradley a “Piece of s***” before sending him home early during a game in June of [...]