Bradley

[BT]

<!--quoteo(post=61721:date=Sep 3 2009, 11:42 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Sep 3 2009, 11:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=61693:date=Sep 3 2009, 09:00 PM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Sep 3 2009, 09:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->FYI on Ibanez (everyone's first half darling) since the All Star Break:
AVG .212
OBP .307
SLG .390
OPS .697<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow. Alf numbers.
I wonder what his numbers are from the exact day that he got called out as a possible roid user...until then, he was killing the ball.

I have no idea if Ibanez is dirty or clean; I do think that he is a 37-year old man, and that the 162 game season is designed for younger men.
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I was too lazy to make this point earlier in the year, but as bad as Bradley started out (and it's possible he'll never recover due to his psychotic nature), I think we need to see what Ibanez looks like as a 39 year old roaming the OF of Philadelphia before we condemn Hendry as a jackass for not signing the "obvious" better player to a 3 year deal.

[veryzer]

hey hey, i see bradley up to his usual shit again.

i can't pull up links here, so if someone would kindly go to the sun-times website and post the bradley article, i'd be thrilled.

then explain to me again why we want to bring this douchebag back next year, cuz i don't see it.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=63586:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:33 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Sep 18 2009, 08:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->then explain to me again why we want to bring this douchebag back next year, cuz i don't see it.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Because I can handle him yelling at the media if he put's up an .821 OPS.

Because there are no better options.

Because there are worse ways a player can conduct himself, like shooting himself in the leg, driving under the influence, punching cab drivers, "making it rain" in strip clubs, etc.

You can pick one of those, I don't really care which.

[rok]

I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=63590:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Did he actually say that?

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=63590:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Demanded...nice. Maybe he'd like to pick up part of his own salary.

He could go play for the Big Rock Candy Mountain Lemon Drops. I'm pretty sure he'd be happy there.

Actually, I'm with Scarey...though I would like to suggest that he grow the fuck up.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=63591:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63590:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Did he actually say that?
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It's my <b>opinion</b> given the way he's been acting, getting pulled from games twice this week and then acting up again to the media as if he wants out of here. I never said that he actually said the words.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=63593:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:58 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63591:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63590:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Did he actually say that?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's my <b>opinion</b> given the way he's been acting, getting pulled from games twice this week and then acting up again to the media as if he wants out of here. I never said that he actually said the words.
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Oh. That's very different. <i>Nevermind.</i>

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=63593:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:58 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63591:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63590:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Did he actually say that?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's my <b>opinion</b> given the way he's been acting, getting pulled from games twice this week and then acting up again to the media as if he wants out of here. I never said that he actually said the words.
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I just thought it was weird that you sarcastically called him classy based on your speculation that he is demanding a trade. He very well could be, and if that's the case he can go. I don't want anyone here that doesn't want to be here. If he's willing to keep trying though, I don't see any reason to get rid of him.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=63596:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:15 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 09:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63593:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:58 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63591:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 18 2009, 08:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63590:date=Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm starting to care less and less about next season, but it sounds to me as though he's demanded a trade already. Classy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Did he actually say that?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's my <b>opinion</b> given the way he's been acting, getting pulled from games twice this week and then acting up again to the media as if he wants out of here. I never said that he actually said the words.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I just thought it was weird that you sarcastically called him classy based on your speculation that he is demanding a trade. He very well could be, and if that's the case he can go. I don't want anyone here that doesn't want to be here. If he's willing to keep trying though, I don't see any reason to get rid of him.
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I probably should have left the "classy" part out. That was more in response to how he's acted all week than any hypothetical demand to be traded.

[Coach]

Chicago Cubs clubhouse bizarre after 7-4 loss to Milwaukee Brewers
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->In 10 years covering the Cubs, I've seen my share of bizarre clubhouse scenes.

But few could top the crazy atmosphere Thursday after a 7-4 loss to the Brewers.

The Cubs may be out of the pennant race, but they still lead the league in chaos, confusion and misdirection plays.

It all began with rookie starter Randy Wells taking the blame for Thursday's loss, admitting he "lost focus," saying manager Lou Piniella "hit a nerve" with his criticism and calling his outing "pitiful."

Normally, that would be enough to stand on its own. But Wells' mea culpa was just the appetizer. As Wells left, media relations director Peter Chase flicked the switch to the sound system, ending the interview session without manager Lou Piniella.

"Where's Lou?" I shouted.

Piniella had declined to talk, he replied.

Piniella not talking after a game is a rarity. He does it about once a year and already had used his mulligan for 2009.

As the media horde wondered what was up with Piniella, it filed into the clubhouse and saw some colorful costumes hung in several players' lockers. It was rookie hazing day, where Ryan Dempster buys goofy costumes for the rookies to wear on the team charter.

Players huddled around Milton Bradley's locker, wondering why he left for a pinch-runner with no one immediately replacing him. Bradley picked up his clothes and went elsewhere to dress.

I wandered over to Rich Harden's locker, where the Cubs pitcher appeared surprised to learn he was being skipped in the rotation for his next start, and possibly one more.

Harden had told the media he was fine Wednesday, so why would he possibly miss two starts?

"Who said that?" Harden asked.

"Lou," I replied.

Harden insisted he would miss only one start and that he's just "a little tired."

I trudged to the other side of the clubhouse, where Sam Fuld was dressed as Wonder Woman, Jeff Samardzija as Buzz Lightyear and David Patton as a giant leprechaun. Carlos Zambrano was the official team photographer, naturally.

Bradley re-entered the scene and reluctantly took questions at his locker.

What happened with the injury?

"I'm not talking about that," he said. "What else you got?"

Why did you come out?

"I got knee inflammation," he said. "I got two knee surgeries. That happens when you got knee surgery, in case you don't know. What else you got?"

How long will you be out?

"What else you got? Anything significant?"

This went on and on until Bradley turned his back, ending the interview. A few minutes later, reporters were called into Piniella's office, where he calmly discussed Wells' start, Bradley's knee injury and Harden's fatigue.

So why didn't he just tell us that in the first place?

"Once in a while, I don't have anything to say, and sitting in my office here and just having a bottle of cold water, it helps me relax a little bit," he said. "And you all can't get my goat as easy."

Piniella laughed. There was no water bottle in sight, though Piniella appeared quite refreshed. As for Bradley's defensiveness, Piniella said Bradley handled things wrong, saying he should have just told the truth.

"All he had to say was I talked to [the trainer] in front of the manager, which he did, and he said, 'My patella is bothering me,' " he said. "When he went over to first base, I motioned to him and he said he couldn't run, and we just took him out of the ballgame. ... He was in his perfect rights to come out of the ballgame, and that's all he needed to say.

"All he has to say are the facts. And if he says the facts, nobody is going to dispute anything. That's all. Just say the facts."

The fact about the Cubs is there are 17 games remaining, and it's only getting weirder by the day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Butcher]

It sounds like Bradley sometimes has the right to be annoyed with the press. They badger him until he gets pissed off and says something stupid.

That said, he sort of created his own monster.

I want Bradley back next season. Nothing in that article makes me feel any different.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=63602:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:34 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 18 2009, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It sounds like Bradley sometimes has the right to be annoyed with the press. They badger him until he gets pissed off and says something stupid.

That said, he sort of created his own monster.

I want Bradley back next season. Nothing in that article makes me feel any different.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's the thing, I want him back, but he may not want to be here. What do you do?

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=63604:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:48 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 18 2009, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=63602:date=Sep 18 2009, 09:34 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 18 2009, 09:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It sounds like Bradley sometimes has the right to be annoyed with the press. They badger him until he gets pissed off and says something stupid.

That said, he sort of created his own monster.

I want Bradley back next season. Nothing in that article makes me feel any different.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's the thing, I want him back, but he may not want to be here. What do you do?
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Ignore his dumb shit, hope he's healthy, and hope he hits like he did in Texas.

He's going to be disgruntled no matter where he plays. This situation isn't unique to the Cubs. We trade him to Minnesota (or wherever) and he'll find something to bitch about there, too. Hendry knew (or should have known) what he was getting himself into when he signed Bradley.

[Coach]

Do other cities' coverage of their team affect them as much as the Cubs?