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Friday, June 26, 2009

Milton Bradley Departs Stadium Early After Confrontation With Lou Piniella

Scattergories!

I guess the Milton Bradley haters are all going to be basking in all their glory now. According to a report on Chicagosports.com, Bradley was taking out some frustration on the Gatorade cooler in the Cubs dugout when approached by his manager, Lou Piniella. Apparently the two exchanged “angry words” and Bradley was removed from the game.

In news much more disconcerting, though, Bradley was seen in street clothes leaving the stadium and is now gone from the premises. You might recall Sammy Sosa left Wrigley Field during the last game of the 2004 season and it was the last time he ever played for the Cubs. The Bradley situation will obviously conclude differently, because the Cubs signed him to a three-year contract this offseason and likely can’t get a good return on him via trade.

Repoz Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:06 PM | 44 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:12 PM (#3234608)

That's just Bradley's will to win. He kindly left it behind, so the club won without him.

2. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:14 PM (#3234610)

I've been a defender of his throughout this whole mess. I could tolerate the slow start. It happens. I could tolerate the minor injuries. We knew it'd happen. I could even defend him still hitting in the .240s as we head into July. He's still drawing walks and had been hitting better.

But this? #### him. Same old story with this guy. Great talent and a little leaguer attitude.

3. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:21 PM (#3234612)

And those poor Gatorade dispensers are just not safe in the Cubs' presence. Had the machine at all resembled a baseball, it would've probably been safe from Milton's swing.

4. Duffy Duff Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:24 PM (#3234613)

All that apparently happened according to Lou is that Bradley hit the Gatorade machine (because he struck out or whatever). Lou has had enough of that stuff, so he confronted MB and told him to go home. Bradley will be in the lineup tomorrow, and it's over...

5. Rich Rifkin Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM (#3234615)

That Milton is Crazy. This Milton is a nice guy.

6. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:30 PM (#3234618)

Rich, much like midway through today's game, "Milton" was "not found."

7. Jeff K. Posted: June 26, 2009 at 10:37 PM (#3234623)

Jesus Rich, you're just a glutton, aren't you? Stronger man than I.

8. ColonelTom Posted: June 26, 2009 at 11:21 PM (#3234649)

Milton's clearly in need of therapy and probably medication, if he isn't receiving both already. I don't get the impression he's just being obnoxious from sheer ego. Hopefully he gets the help he needs.

9. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: June 26, 2009 at 11:34 PM (#3234673)

As #4 mentioned, it's being reported now that Lou told Milton to go home because he was fed up with all of the outbursts. Better than Milton just high-tailing it out of the ballpark, but still something to watch.

10. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 26, 2009 at 11:42 PM (#3234684)

I am looking forward to Lou referring to Milton as an "uppity Negro".

I can dream........

11. Crashburn Alley Posted: June 26, 2009 at 11:53 PM (#3234695)

Milton's clearly in need of therapy and probably medication, if he isn't receiving both already. I don't get the impression he's just being obnoxious from sheer ego. Hopefully he gets the help he needs.

Ahh, amateur psychoanalysis. (bonus: amateur precription-writing!)

Where would teh Internets be without it?

12. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: June 26, 2009 at 11:56 PM (#3234699)

You know what? Some people are hot-tempered. They don't need medication, they simply have what's known as a personality. And if the people who employ them don't like their personality, they find themselves unemployed. If the people who employ them tolerate the personality in return for the work they do, they stay employed. No fricking problem.

13. Spivey Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:22 AM (#3234731)

I'm so glad the Rangers didn't do something retarded like resign this guy.

14. Roy Hobbs of WIFFLE Ball Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:25 AM (#3234733)

#4 is right. Lou told him to take off his uniform and go home. So, whatever else is to be said about Milton, he didn't duck out Sammy-style today.

15. Rich Rifkin Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:28 AM (#3234737)

Tom Cruise tells us:

Some people are hot-tempered. They don't need medication, they simply have what's known as a personality.

A crazy personality. Milton needs something. Maybe not drugs. I don't know. But he's not right. He's played for 6 franchises and had blow-ups with each. He left his first five franchises on bad terms due to his "personality" disorder; and it would be a surprise if he does not leave the Cubs on bad terms. If you've ever heard Milton interviewed, you can't help but be struck at how bright and articulate a calm Milton Bradley can be. Yet the nutty Milton eventually comes out; and that ain't normal, Mr. Cruise.

16. Spivey Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:31 AM (#3234740)

I'm pretty sure that Milton Bradley didn't leave the Rangers on bad terms. the fact that he had a career year and was in a contract year probably didn't hurt his attitude problems.

17. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:32 AM (#3234741)

They can probably come up with a medication to handle that sense of humor, too.

18. AndrewJ Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:38 AM (#3234748)

That Gatorade cooler was just two days away from retirement, dammit.

19. ColonelTom Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:54 AM (#3234767)

Ahh, amateur psychoanalysis. (bonus: amateur precription-writing!)

Where would teh Internets be without it?

Oh, right. Back to your regularly scheduled snark and ripping apart a clearly unbalanced guy. Maybe we can all laugh at him when he goes and hurts someone else or himself. That'll be fun, huh?

20. SouthSideRyan Posted: June 27, 2009 at 01:06 AM (#3234790)

If the someone else is Aaron Miles or Paul Sullivan it will be fun. A lot of fun.

21. Jeff K. Posted: June 27, 2009 at 01:30 AM (#3234831)

That Gatorade cooler was just two days away from retirement, dammit.

It was getting too old for that ####.

22. J. Michael Neal Posted: June 27, 2009 at 01:58 AM (#3234875)

#4 is right. Lou told him to take off his uniform and go home. So, whatever else is to be said about Milton, he didn't duck out Sammy-style today.

Note that #4 also noted that Piniella said that all that happened was that Bradley hit the Gatorade cooler. If that's the case, then this doesn't really qualify as any sort of excessive temper. Baseball players do that all the time. It sounds more as if this is a case of Lou having enough of the team's behavior, and Bradley was the guy he made an example of. I don't have a problem with that; if he's had enough, someone has to be the example, and there's no reason for it not to be Bradley. Hell, Bradley didn't even manage to hurt himself, which is quite an accomplishment, really.

23. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:03 AM (#3234881)

You know what? Some people are hot-tempered. They don't need medication, they simply have what's known as a personality. And if the people who employ them don't like their personality, they find themselves unemployed. If the people who employ them tolerate the personality in return for the work they do, they stay employed. No fricking problem.

Marge: Why is he attacking all those other elephants?
Warden: Well, animals are not like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they've had a hard life, or have been mistreated. But, like people, some of them are just jerks--Stop that, Mr. Simpson.

24. Esoteric Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:29 AM (#3234893)

Note that #4 also noted that Piniella said that all that happened was that Bradley hit the Gatorade cooler. If that's the case, then this doesn't really qualify as any sort of excessive temper. Baseball players do that all the time. It sounds more as if this is a case of Lou having enough of the team's behavior, and Bradley was the guy he made an example of.

Does this really seem very likely to you? Piniella doesn't strike me as the sort of guy to "make examples" of players (umpires, that's a different story), especially someone as hotheaded as Bradley. No, I suspect that Lou really was pissed at Milton, and that it was probably because Milton was mouthing off in an unacceptable way. Lou has no problem dealing with a guy like Zambrano -- who may throw tantrums but seems like a pretty good teammate otherwise -- so I'm thinking the Bradley think is worse. I wish it wasn't. But I've got a feeling this won't end well.

25. ...even Chuck Norris was afraid of Jim Rice Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:35 AM (#3234896)

Oh, so Milton Bradley might be a short-tempered db? Could've fooled me.

26. twon8 Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:37 AM (#3234897)

I think Milton needs to hang around with Soto for a while, chill out a bit.

27. DCW3 Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:49 AM (#3234900)

If the someone else is Aaron Miles or Paul Sullivan it will be fun. A lot of fun.

You know, when you think about all the crazy guys like Bradley who have played in the majors, it's almost ironic that little, mild-mannered Aaron Miles is responsible for causing the most severe injury to a teammate of any player in many, many years.

28. jolietconvict Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:50 AM (#3234901)

Note that #4 also noted that Piniella said that all that happened was that Bradley hit the Gatorade cooler. If that's the case, then this doesn't really qualify as any sort of excessive temper. Baseball players do that all the time. It sounds more as if this is a case of Lou having enough of the team's behavior, and Bradley was the guy he made an example of. I don't have a problem with that; if he's had enough, someone has to be the example, and there's no reason for it not to be Bradley. Hell, Bradley didn't even manage to hurt himself, which is quite an accomplishment, really.

Lou also said that Bradley through his helmet. Lou was asked if he was referring only to Bradley's behavior or the team's and he did not answer.

29. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:23 AM (#3234961)

Hendry has just hired a phrenologist to help him diagnose the problem

30. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:41 AM (#3234967)

Seems to me the most likely thing is that this went down about how you'd expect with Milton, but Lou's not going to run to the press and say he's a prick who walked out and make the thing even bigger. So he says he asked Milton to leave.

And it probably is over. He's a first time offender with the Cubs (I think), and they need his bat or any bat for that matter, so they'll let it slide for the most part and hope nothing else happens.

31. wjones Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:11 PM (#3235048)

IIRC, isn't there a story in Sparky Lyle's book The Bronx Zoo, where Lou Piniella, after a disappointing AB, goes into the clubhouse and completely destroys the new coffeemaker?

32. AJM Posted: June 27, 2009 at 12:50 PM (#3235064)

One crazy nutjob gets into confrontation with another crazy nutjob. Shocking.

33. virginiasteve Posted: June 27, 2009 at 01:28 PM (#3235082)

I can't stand Bradley, so this is way off the norm for me..but didn't Lou have a guy named O'Neill with the Reds who did this kind of thing regularly? Definitely more of a cumulative thing than this one incident and I have no problem with Lou having enough of this guy at this point.

34. vigaro Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:09 PM (#3235113)

here's some interesting historical MLB stats...
# crushed water coolers, gator aid machines, walls, benches, etc during course of mlb game.
8645,32484331,3114,,,,//542141...
# times manager throws out water cooler etc tormentor during course of MLB game.
1
way to alleviate feelings of persecution in order to extract better performance from your resident jackwacko Lou

35. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:19 PM (#3235121)

I can't stand Bradley, so this is way off the norm for me..but didn't Lou have a guy named O'Neill with the Reds who did this kind of thing regularly?

I don't know if O'Neill was in his cooler smashing phase at that point, but he and Piniella just hated each other. Lou thought O'Neill couldn't hit lefties at all, which was part of the reason he got dealt.

After the trade, O'Neill used to accuse all the Mariner pitchers of throwing at him, and Piniella used to call O'Neill--if not quite in these words--a whiny little baby.

36. Spivey Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:44 PM (#3235129)

Piniella used to call O'Neill--if not quite in these words--a whiny little baby.

Well, he got that much right.

37. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:46 PM (#3235131)

Lou thought O'Neill couldn't hit lefties at all, which was part of the reason he got dealt.

Well, that was actually true - O'Neill couldn't hit lefties.

38. RJ in TO Posted: June 27, 2009 at 02:48 PM (#3235132)

Piniella used to call O'Neill--if not quite in these words--a whiny little baby.

Well, he got that much right.

Not really. O'Neill was 6'4".

The rest of the description is pretty accurate.

39. Jeff K. Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:19 PM (#3235151)

Hmm, I guess my post from a while ago got ate. Perhaps by Cookie Monster. Anyway:

I don't know if O'Neill was in his cooler smashing phase at that point

O'Neill with the Reds was at the height of his cooler smashing phase. The Paul O'Neill that came to the Yankees was the mature one.

40. Rich Rifkin Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:35 PM (#3235166)

IIRC, isn't there a story in Sparky Lyle's book The Bronx Zoo, where Lou Piniella, after a disappointing AB, goes into the clubhouse and completely destroys the new coffeemaker?

Yes, but the tragedy of that story is that Joe DiMaggio was in the clubhouse setting up his Mr. Coffee coffeemaker, hoping to sell Sparky and his teammates on the wonders of the Mr. Coffee brand. Joe had been in there for hours, getting the styrofoam cups arranged, the sugar and sugar-substitute packages set out, the half-and-half and the non-dairy creamer in place and making sure plenty of Mr. Coffee coffee was made for all the Yankees, the press and anyone else who would want some delicious Joe.

Then Lou came in the clubhouse and grabbed the brand new Mr. Coffee coffeemaker and smashed it up against Billy Martin's liquor cabinet and then he kicked over the cups and sugar cubes and creamer packages. The once prisitine room was now a huge mess.

Joe DiMaggio, the greatest living Mr. Coffee pitchman, went into a severe depression he never came out of. Joe moved back to San Francisco and enjoyed his coffee from then on in solitude, and there's never been a Mr. Coffee coffeemaker ever again in the Yankee clubhouse.

41. Gaelan Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:42 PM (#3235169)

Piniella is a hypocritical piece of crap. He tolerates it with a cancer like Zambrano and then picks on the one guy the media will be sure to side with him (Piniella). This is a low class move. Bradley did what I see happen in every single game and was singled out simply because he is Milton Bradley. #### Piniella this is 100% his fault.

42. Dan The Mediocre Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:53 PM (#3235174)

Piniella is a hypocritical piece of crap. He tolerates it with a cancer like Zambrano and then picks on the one guy the media will be sure to side with him (Piniella). This is a low class move. Bradley did what I see happen in every single game and was singled out simply because he is Milton Bradley. #### Piniella this is 100% his fault.

Two assertions I see no evidence for: Zambrano being a cancer and this happening to Bradley because he's Bradley rather than something else.

43. Gaelan Posted: June 27, 2009 at 03:55 PM (#3235175)

Zambrano does worse than Bradley every day of the week.

44. FBI Regional Bureau Chief GORDON COLE!!! Posted: June 27, 2009 at 04:21 PM (#3235192)

Two assertions I see no evidence for: Zambrano being a cancer

Zambrano does worse than Bradley every day of the week.

Unresponsive.

To say nothing of "unsupported" and "hopelessly vague."

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Friday, June 26, 2009

Milton Bradley Departs Stadium Early After Confrontation With Lou Piniella

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