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.