"Is it game over for Milton Bradley?" -- Mychael Urban
And so it begins.
After stumbling while rounding first base on Wednesday, Bradley appeared to be injured, and badly. So pronounced was his limp that he that he didn't even try to get back to the base, so the throw from the outfield to shortstop to first base got there in plenty of time for Bradley to be tagged out.As he was being carried off the field, it looked like Bradley was headed for another stint on the DL. But no. There must have been some kind of medical magician in the dugout, because Bradley was back out on defense the next inning, even diving for a ball.
So the fans let him have it, and rightly so.
It put a huge damper on a nice win for the A's, and while none of his teammates would go on the record (nor would Bradley, who didn't talk after the Boston game, either), it was clear that they are tired of Bradley's act.
They're also tired of Macha playing the role of enabler.
Weird... Until Saturday, Bradley had been on his best behavior. Of course, it's easy to behave when you're on the disabled list, which is where Bradley has been for most of the year.
Is anyone else confused by that? He was on his best behavior until Saturday, but the team is already tired of him? So, the incidents since that day have been such an annoyance that Bradley is...
...becoming a bigger problem by the day. And if the problem isn't nipped in the bud, the A's won't be in first place much longer. Is there more to this story? And have certain players actually gone to Urban and told him how they felt?About a month ago, Urban wrote this:
Bradley, meanwhile, is now on the DL for the second time this year. He's missed 44 of Oakland's 72 games, and he's still looking for his first double the season. On the bright side, he hasn't bitten anyone's head off, and that was a legitimate fear when the A's picked him up. His teammates seem to genuinely like him, too.Then again, if you can't make nice with everyone while batting .213 and spending more time in the trainers' room than on the field, you really ARE crazy.
(emphasis mine)I am very confused. And unfortunately, I'll be away for most of the day.
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Blah blah blah
I respect Mr. Urban and appreciate his "inside-the-clubhouse" access. But the tone of this article makes it seem like Urban has a bone to pick with Bradley. In particular, "...it's easy to behave when you're on the disabled list, which is where Bradley has been for most of the year" comes off as unneccesarily aggressive.
If true, however, I can't help but to call the team out on this one. What exactly needs to be nipped in the bud? What are his teammates growing tired of? Offensive production? Good at-bats? Occasional flashes of power? A strong throwing arm? Without these things, the A's won't be in first place much longer.
Don't even get me started on Macha-as-enabler. If these comments originated from Kotsay and Kendall, as I suspect they did, then they'll be on my shit-list. Mssrs. Kotsay and Kendall have been the ultimate beneficiaries of Macha-the-enabler; Kotsay volunteering to play first and then bitching about it later and Kendall continuing to catch an ungodly number of innings despite the weakest bat in the league.
by salb918 on Jul 20, 2006 7:00 AM PDT 0 recs
If it was Kotsay...
He seemed supportive of Bradley yesterday, and I'll be annoyed if he was one of the players.
That being said, I found it weird that Kotsay's "bitching" wasn't more of a story. Urban's recap was the only one that made it seem like it was an issue.
by Sharon on
Jul 20, 2006 7:07 AM PDT
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Kotsay quote
"I don't think this club feels it's a distraction whatsoever,'' Kotsay said. "I like his fire. This club the last couple of years hasn't had that kind of fire from an individual.''"
by eamb on
Jul 20, 2006 7:13 AM PDT
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If it was Kendall ...
I'm not saying it is Kendall, though. Nor am I saying that even if it is that Bradley should do anything.
by monkeyball on
Jul 20, 2006 10:16 AM PDT
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Last month . . .
by bluelightrain84 on
Jul 20, 2006 12:59 PM PDT
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I was there too, saw the same thing...
I think this was the getaway game, the Thursday afternoon game, which we won with Esteban on the mound. It was a dull, hot afternoon at Milton's old stomping grounds, and it looked like he just wanted to have some fun with the crowd.
Fine.
The problem, however, lays in situations like Boston and Baltimore, where Milton's antics are returned with swearing, slurs and objects thrown at him. That's when Milton gets distracted and, even worse, when his teammates get distracted as well.
I don't have the answer to this, but from the looks of things, Milton being unable to "take it as well as he gives it out" is the problem.
Fun with fans is fine for Milton, as it has been with hundreds of other ballplayers over the years. But when it gets personal, it looks like Milton doesn't know how to put on the earmuffs. My best answer is what he did the other night: alert the authorities.
But that gets old, other fans take note, and it then happens everywhere. I guess earmuffs are the only option.
by RyanFromBonas on
Jul 20, 2006 4:35 PM PDT
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I got . . .
by bluelightrain84 on
Jul 20, 2006 6:55 PM PDT
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call the TEAM out?
But I agree 100% with you on the putative Kendall-Kotsay-Macha issue.
by monkeyball on
Jul 20, 2006 10:14 AM PDT
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A bit harsh
I mean, everything was fine till Saturday, using Urban's words, and now it's an unmitigated disaster? Seems a little strong to me...
by EastCoastA on Jul 20, 2006 7:01 AM PDT 0 recs
This is from the Urban Files: Gossip Corner
by eamb on Jul 20, 2006 7:02 AM PDT 0 recs
Urban probably didn't like Bradley
by franks a lot on Jul 20, 2006 7:19 AM PDT 0 recs
Hit the nail on the head
by ohtobe21likehuston on
Jul 20, 2006 9:10 AM PDT
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Found this in an old Urban "Mailbag"
"Easy choice: Milton Bradley not talking to the media the day he reported. For a guy who (a) has image problems and (b) said, on the day that he was acquired, that he was approachable, it seemed like a really odd move. The way I see it, the only way to get skeptical fans on your side is to let them get to know you, and speaking to the media is the easiest way to do that."
by franks a lot on
Jul 20, 2006 9:55 AM PDT
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this sounds right on to me
by monkeyball on
Jul 20, 2006 10:17 AM PDT
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I'm confused too...
"...while none of his teammates would go on the record (nor would Bradley, who didn't talk after the Boston game, either), it was clear that they are tired of Bradley's act."
But from this article by Susan Slusser...
Sorry, but isn't that two of Bradley's teammates going on the record?
And THIS was in Urban's own piece on the A's website:
Kotsay said the comments he's heard hurled Bradley's way are "as antagonizing" as he's ever heard, "mainly about incidents from his past; just comment after comment after comment."
And this (also from Urban):
"You've just got to leave them alone and let them be who they are," Thomas said. "All the fiery guys I've played with, they play better when they're like that."
Mychael's contradicting himself. Does he mean that no one will go on the record with criticism ? Because that's not how the sentence reads, to me. Maybe I'm misreading it.
by Poppy on Jul 20, 2006 7:19 AM PDT 0 recs
This is what caught my attention, too
by ArakSOT on
Jul 20, 2006 7:28 AM PDT
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Another thing that bothers me...
It was "clear" to whom? If none of the players will go on record about how "tired of it" they are, shouldn't Urban illustrate the point for us, as to why it seems to be "clear" to him? He's a writer, ffs. Write about it.
by Poppy on
Jul 20, 2006 7:34 AM PDT
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And in the examiner piece
by ArakSOT on
Jul 20, 2006 7:45 AM PDT
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I hate to admit, but
Watching Ethier rake for the Dodgers has got to be one of the hardest things for me this year - With Bradley's injury problems and Perez' plate problems, it feels like we gave up all our minor league depth for a few band-aids for our beat-up starters.
Bynum, Rheinecker, Ethier, Watson to Japan, ... all those guys, left this year. And what happened to Ginter?
If my trust in Beane has ever been challenged, this year has been it.
by popcornjames on
Jul 20, 2006 10:06 AM PDT
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More
Since then, he's continued to prove he's Milton Bradley, showing moments of great athletic talent, and a fiery demeanor that teammates say -- at least publicly-- brings the best out of his performance.
(Emphasis mine)
by Jennifer on
Jul 20, 2006 7:33 AM PDT
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None of us expect good teammates...
by Poppy on
Jul 20, 2006 7:40 AM PDT
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Well, sure...
by Poppy on
Jul 20, 2006 8:02 AM PDT
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When I was in college,
by salb918 on
Jul 20, 2006 8:08 AM PDT
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What was that middle part again?
by McFood on
Jul 20, 2006 8:33 AM PDT
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Huh?
by salb918 on
Jul 20, 2006 8:39 AM PDT
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clearly
by ArakSOT on
Jul 20, 2006 8:41 AM PDT
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It's a reference to the movie...
by McFood on
Jul 20, 2006 10:05 AM PDT
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ca-ca-cahhh-carhhhh-carhhhhhhh
by ak_A on
Jul 20, 2006 10:23 AM PDT
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Poppy's quote
I was thinking the same thing. I've read the excerpt a couple times now and each time I've read it it seems more and more like Urban is creating a story rather than just reporting one that's already there.
I know there's a lot we don't see, but I'm willing to give Bradley the benefit of the doubt until a name (teammate, Macha, Beane) is attached to one of these criticisms.
by TurnTwo on
Jul 20, 2006 9:33 AM PDT
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Why? THAT's an excellent question...
by Poppy on
Jul 20, 2006 7:30 AM PDT
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have you heard of
by xbhaskarx on
Jul 21, 2006 5:57 AM PDT
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My Take
Bradley's emotional baggage makes me think that he externalizes his emotional fire in the form of injury. His attention-getting behavior does two things. It makes players and fans think, "what's wrong," first and then they see he's okay. His acts of "crying wolf" have grown old with previous team-mates. He couldn't be in a more supportive environment in Oakland.
Kotsay's comments to the press reveal that players are aware of his thin skin, and were actually upset at Baltimore management for not stoppping the chirping from the crowd. Players appear to still support him and rightfully so. His previous charges of bigotted teammates hasn't surfaced nor will it.
Milton Bradley remains an immature athlete who has great talent. As long as he doesn't start blaming the A's front office for his issues, his "act" will continue to be tolerated. This team needs his kind of productivity. If Beane can replace him, I suggest sooner than later, before he becomes untradeable.
by Gerard on Jul 20, 2006 8:11 AM PDT 0 recs
He may have
by ohtobe21likehuston on
Jul 20, 2006 9:12 AM PDT
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It's possible that he indeed
He couldn't be in a better situation and I am still inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
When he gets back to Oaktown, let's get his "back" and let him know he's supported and appreciated. IF he knows we are in his corner, a lot of the emotional "stuff" may simply go away. If his issues are too big to overcome, then Beane will take the appropriate steps.
At this point, more inuendo and conjecture has taken place than fact.
by Gerard on
Jul 20, 2006 9:54 AM PDT
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Macha seems to annoy
The media is not the outlet to handle things such as saying that "Kiely was hurt" so they moved Kotsay back to the outfield. He should have said that he wanted to improve the defense as a whole and made a light joke about Kotsay's fielding ability. I get the feeling that his indirectness gets on some of their nerves but that could just be me??
by ohtobe21likehuston on
Jul 20, 2006 11:28 AM PDT
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Ew.
The fact that it's 'magically, out of nowhere, a problem' just strikes me as way too odd of a problem. Shit like that needs some kind of buildup.
Yes, no teammate is gonna call out their guy publically, but I seriously question whether the situation is absolutely dire and horrible, as this makes it sound.
Bizarre.
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on Jul 20, 2006 8:28 AM PDT 0 recs
Trashy, maybe; unnecessarily controversial, YES
by rcb on
Jul 20, 2006 9:10 AM PDT
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Ratto is 100 times the writer
by rubin sierra on
Jul 20, 2006 12:03 PM PDT
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Ratto > Urban
by FreeSeatUpgrade on
Jul 20, 2006 12:20 PM PDT
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methaphors?
by monkeyball on
Jul 20, 2006 12:22 PM PDT
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A jolt of imagery shot through his veins
by FreeSeatUpgrade on
Jul 20, 2006 12:31 PM PDT
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HITHEREI'MPAULJOHNSTON
by monkeyball on
Jul 20, 2006 12:33 PM PDT
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Key word "trying"
by rcb on
Jul 20, 2006 12:26 PM PDT
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Magician in the dugout
by rcb on
Jul 20, 2006 12:30 PM PDT
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Agreed--
"No. It's Oakland."
by Kyli on
Jul 20, 2006 10:15 PM PDT
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Screw Urban!!!
It's about time!!! I have been waiting for someone to return Derek Lowe's favor!!!
Red Sock fans are the most venomous and filthy trash talking jerks in all of baseball!!!
Boston is also a very racist town, I wonder what was said to Milt?
As far as his "antics", it is obvious to me that Urban is really full of himself.
Has he ever played baseball beyong Little league?
Has he ever tweaked something that is a MAJOR PROBLEM and then been ready to go in 5 minutes?
I was warming up last week and felt a tweek in my left knee that sent me to the ground. It was my MCL ripping a bit because I caught a spike.
I couldn't stand on it for two minutes.
I got up, walked it off, put on my catcher's gear and caught 9.
This article makes Susan Slusser look like George Plimpton!!!
I hope that Urban gets 10 times the heat for this garbage than Sluss did for printing that Swish likes a good party!!!
by saint on Jul 20, 2006 9:10 AM PDT 0 recs
Bravo!
by rcb on
Jul 20, 2006 9:11 AM PDT
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Just settle down there, Saint or you're liable
I know if Bradley played for the Angels and given his easily aggitated track record, most everyone on this site would heckle him (and the ones that say they wouldn't are full of she-ot).
by DeeWayne on
Jul 20, 2006 9:37 AM PDT
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Lord knows I would heckle him:
"Your own teammates are sick of you"
"Yeah, fake an injury you bum"
"Head CASE, HEAD CASE"
Get it?
by saint on
Jul 20, 2006 9:42 AM PDT
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Sure:
"Where does your chin end and your chest begin"
I'll rub my belly and look at him exclaiming, "Beisbol been bery bery good to me"
by saint on
Jul 20, 2006 9:59 AM PDT
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Why, because it's the dog days of summer and
Bradley's a ticking time bomb waiting to explode (kinda like Ditka, TO, B Knight, Woody Hayes, etc.).
by DeeWayne on
Jul 20, 2006 9:52 AM PDT
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News...Slow???
Big Hurt gets 3 RBI!!!
Barry throws a gem!?!?!
A's are 5-2 on this trip?!?!?
Tejada is slumping!!!
by saint on
Jul 20, 2006 10:01 AM PDT
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And where does this rate nationally? Right below
by DeeWayne on
Jul 20, 2006 10:17 AM PDT
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That is true:
by saint on
Jul 20, 2006 10:19 AM PDT
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One correction, Saint
by jeepers on
Jul 20, 2006 10:08 AM PDT
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A-HA:
As you know I think that all USF pitchers are overrated and should never be drafted?!?! :)
BTW, have you seen this?
He cam in yesterday with his team on the ropes and k'd the two batters he faced!!!
by saint on
Jul 20, 2006 10:18 AM PDT
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Spot on, Saint.
Not once in the entire piece does he find a single person who can go on the record with anything negative about Bradley. Not once. Instead, it's all "obviously" and "clearly".
Well, I write a freaking blog, and I wouldn't write crap like that and expect that it passes as decent bloggery, let alone journalism.
For shame. If you can't find someone to back up your stance, don't write the piece - simple as that.
by Ozzz on
Jul 20, 2006 11:59 AM PDT
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MB probably wouldn't give Urban
Baby shit.
Maybe Urban got a crotch salute?
by A s Eh on
Jul 21, 2006 7:06 PM PDT
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yes....
by willem20 on
Jul 20, 2006 7:44 PM PDT
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Just curious...
by PositionPlayerProd on
Jul 21, 2006 2:34 PM PDT
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i was an
by willem20 on
Jul 21, 2006 10:07 PM PDT
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I had the exact same thought
by luvsthecurveball on
Jul 21, 2006 11:49 AM PDT
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One thing has become apparent though...
Urban hasn't shown us to be the guy to right about flippant topics, so if he says there is an issue, I kind of believe him.
I think all of us here don't want to hear what he has to say, because it isn't good. We can only hope things somehow smooth over, but history would suggest it's probably going to get worse.
by Freefall on Jul 20, 2006 9:11 AM PDT 0 recs



