04-23-2009, 01:48 PM
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....on-bradley.html
In what could be a seminal moment in the Cubs' 2009 season, Bradley got his first real lesson of Life under Lou.
Asked about the nice chat, Piniella gave a CliffsNotes version of the meeting:
"I had a conversation with Milton. He's not 100 percent. When he's 100 percent I'll put him out there to play. Until then, I'll use (Reed) Johnson and I'll use (Micah) Hoffpauir in the outfield."
Bradley did not run hard on a grounder in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game, and did not go hard after a pop foul. He was booed twice by fans and blew off the media afterwards. Piniella was asked if Bradley's not running hard was what put him over the edge.
"Nothing has put me over the edge," he replied. "I don't play people unless they're totally healthy. That's been my m.o. throughout my managerial career. With Milton, when he's ready to play, we'll put him out there.
"I told him basically that I'm going to take him out of the fourth hole when he gets back and put him in the sixth hole, where he'll be a little more comfortable. And we'll go from there. But when I get him out there, I expect him to run hard and play hard, the way he always has."
Was Bradley understanding of the move?
"Yeah, he was understanding, yes," Piniella replied.
In what could be a seminal moment in the Cubs' 2009 season, Bradley got his first real lesson of Life under Lou.
Asked about the nice chat, Piniella gave a CliffsNotes version of the meeting:
"I had a conversation with Milton. He's not 100 percent. When he's 100 percent I'll put him out there to play. Until then, I'll use (Reed) Johnson and I'll use (Micah) Hoffpauir in the outfield."
Bradley did not run hard on a grounder in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game, and did not go hard after a pop foul. He was booed twice by fans and blew off the media afterwards. Piniella was asked if Bradley's not running hard was what put him over the edge.
"Nothing has put me over the edge," he replied. "I don't play people unless they're totally healthy. That's been my m.o. throughout my managerial career. With Milton, when he's ready to play, we'll put him out there.
"I told him basically that I'm going to take him out of the fourth hole when he gets back and put him in the sixth hole, where he'll be a little more comfortable. And we'll go from there. But when I get him out there, I expect him to run hard and play hard, the way he always has."
Was Bradley understanding of the move?
"Yeah, he was understanding, yes," Piniella replied.