Milton Bradley Blogs on New York Times

by DiegoSegui on Jul 7, 2008 11:00 PM PDT

Sweet little piece from our old pal Milton Bradley. I guess there's some mixed feelings about him here, though it seemed like people were pretty gung-ho on him for the most part. The part about the hug from Ron Washington is one of the more poignant things I've read recently, certainly on the sports page. Good to see him doing well (as long as the Rangers keep pitching like the Rangers, that is.)

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/07/milton-bradley-what-have-i-done-now/index.html?hp

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That is a sweet article

(although I laughed at the commenter who wondered what happened when Milton didn’t like an edit).

Don't blame me, I voted for Ice Cream

by Englishmajor on Jul 7, 2008 11:47 PM PDT reply actions

Daps for Milton Bradley.

I think he gets a bum wrap.
At least once a game the announcers feel the need to remind the viewers of all of his “attitude problems”.
I am happy to see him given a forum to let people get to know him.

by A's bum on Jul 8, 2008 1:54 AM PDT reply actions

I've been a Milton fan since he was in Cleveland

for me his biggest problem is an inability to stay healthy. There are plenty of characters in MLB who have more “attitude problems” than Milton.

by OaklandSi on Jul 8, 2008 4:16 AM PDT reply actions

Seems like a good guy

with anger management issues. Intriguing

Let's have our Piazza and eat the Cust too - SPWC

by closetasfan on Jul 8, 2008 7:22 AM PDT reply actions

still pissed about what happened with the A's though

i don’t get it, and probably won’t, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth about how we had to essentially dump him, and now, he’s an All-Star. He was hands down my fave, and carried the A’s, but whatever soured, happened really fast, and we basically gave him away. The comments after (the “trade”) were the antithesis of this article so, I just don’t get it.

Mike "lego my" Gallego

by catfish hunter on Jul 8, 2008 8:32 AM PDT reply actions

+1

I was really mad we let him go too. I knew he had talent (if not quite this much) and we could certainly use him.

by nevermoor on Jul 8, 2008 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I love him.

I can’t help but root for him and he has been one of my favourites to come through the Oakland revolving door of players recently. I still wear my Bradley shirt (just…can’t…let…it…go) and I’ll definitely be rooting for him at the ASG. thanks for posting this.

"Ryan [Sweeney] has got the perfect baseball body..." -Mike Sweeney

by Christine on Jul 8, 2008 10:17 AM PDT reply actions

Milton has two problems

One of them is the anger management issue, which (as I’ve noted before) I sympathize with. He’s not a bad guy.

The other is the injuries, which I found a zillion times more bothersome. He—just—could—NOT—stay healthy. I dunno. Maybe it’s Texas, maybe it’s DHing, maybe it’s just better luck. But having him in an Oakland uniform was an almost uniquely frustrating experience. I say almost, because Rich Harden exists.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 8, 2008 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

And Crosby

And Chavez
And Buck
etc.

by nevermoor on Jul 8, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I understood the reasons for the trade.

The frustration with his injuries was reaching a boiling point for both the A’s, and for Milton.
We could all see how angry he was when he would be re-injured THE DAY AFTER coming off of the disabled list.
I am more saddened by his loss because I thought he was the kind of player the city of Oakland would embrace. DID embrace.
When I worked at the Parkway theatre on Lake Merritt, many of us would attend A’s games together, and M.B. was everyones favorite player. Whenever he came to bat, we would announce,” Now batting…Milton…Mother$@&%ing…BRADLEY!!!!!”. Many A’s fans like us rooted for him because, being poor and growing up in Oakland, we could understand, in part, the road he had travelled.
He is still my favorite player.

by A's bum on Jul 8, 2008 11:59 AM PDT reply actions

Milton

My personal take on Milton is that he has accountability issues. Nothing that has ever happened has been his fault, or that he shares any of the blame with. For instance… San Diego, he felt vindicated that the umpire was suspended, meanwhile he is over reaction led to him being done for the season. No,” I shouldn’t have over reacted and cost myself the rest of the season” type contrition. Just, the umpire is suspended so it is his fault that I can’t control my temper.

He also spoke of his stirring the pot in Oakland. I don’t recall exactly but he said he made statements around folks to see if it would filter up to management. That childish bull crap is laughable.

At the end of the day, I think Milton’s challenges are not sop easily described in such a general fashion… it isn’t just as simple as “attitude.” Bad attitudes are a dime a dozen… being completely unaccountable for your own actions is a bird of a different feather.

That said, he was my favorite player when he was here and I am glad to see he is playing well this season. The guy is a vulnerable soul and a hell of a baseball player. I find ti easy to root for guys like that.

by jeffro on Jul 8, 2008 12:39 PM PDT reply actions

exactly.

He needs to realize he is in control of himself, and nobody else is.

Stirring the pot is important, but so is letting it sit at times too.

by MobiusKlein on Jul 8, 2008 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Im more of a Parker Brothers guy myself.

by A'sfaninNC on Jul 8, 2008 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 8, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd take Milt

in right over anyone else we’ve regularly had there over the few years. In fact, barring Frank’s return, I’d take him as DH. Maybe we should have been DHing him the whole time…

Fortunately, this is his age-28 year: his killing productivity is likely to decline. Impressive range, though. -Monkeyball

by Leopold Bloom on Jul 8, 2008 2:53 PM PDT reply actions