From Baker's article on Bradley:
"Some of the things that happen to you in your life as a baseball player are kind of surreal to you and getting to play with Ken Griffey Jr. is one of them,'' Bradley told me when I asked him how much interraction they'd had over the years. "There's only two guys that I wanted an autograph from in my life and that's Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds. I got to meet both of them and get their autograph and spend some time (with them). So, it's been surreal and just an absolute blast for me.
"I made my first error as a Montreal Expo on a ball Griffey hit to me at Olympic Stadium back in the day. Him and Barry Larkin really razzed me about it the next day because it hit me in my back pocket. So, Barry Larkin was walking around with a glove sticking out of his back pocket. They were making fun of me. I remember all that stuff as a rookie. I've never been so glad to be made fun of.''
The Rick Rizzs' of the baseball world will have to tip toe around Bradley but Junior pretty much has carte blanche. One simply cannot underestimate what having a guy that Milton has legit, real respect for sitting right next to him every day.
Q. Do you like Milton Bradley, Doc?
A. Sure. I think he's cool, as far as his personality.
The 1970's-ff Oakland Raiders built a dynasty, in part, out of taking misfits and giving them a home. Ted Hendricks, Lyle Alzado, Lester Hayes, Jim Plunkett, guys like that ... the Raiders just didn't care how they acted off the field.
John Madden dealt with this collection of berserkers by telling them they had two rules: show up to practice on time, and play like crazy when I tell you to.
....
Chuck Knox got Brian Bosworth in, and laughed about Bosworth's pretensions about being a character. "You want to see a character, go find Isiah Robertson," Knox said, referring to a star linebacker he had with the Rams.
But Knox also said, it's one thing to have a couple of Isiah Robertsons. It's another thing to have 10 of them.
The Mariners now have two wild cards: Bradley and Bedard.* That's fine. Griffey and Wok very well might be able to deal.
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Q. Favorite Milton Bradley anecdotes?
A. Well, when he refused in-game to pinch-hit for Lou Piniella in the middle of a pennant race, that said a lot.
Lou loves the Bradley personality type and is probably the best manager in baseball for Bradley types (considering that he's not from the 'hood like Ron Washington is. Neither is Wakamatsu from the 'hood. Whoops, were we just too honest?).
Admittedly, Lou had called Milton "a piece of @#*$" in August and the bloom was off the rose after Bradley's first half struggles :- ) but the point is, Bradley wasn't able to get along with Lou. To some extent because he wasn't playing well, I grant you.
As you probably know, Bradley has thrown bats at umps, torn knee ligaments trying to go after them, climbed all the stairs to get into the press box to fight with broadcasters, and on and on.
.........
Jose Guillen got himself tossed off the Angels in the middle of a pennant race because feuding with Mike Scioscia, of all people. But then Jose decided to be good after that. You'll get no such repentance from Milton.
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Q. Fave Bradley quotes?
A. Among them:
“I think that's what's causing everything. It's a pattern of things that have been said -- things said off the cuff that I don't interpret as funny. It may be funny to him, but it's not funny to Milton Bradley.”
Without going into controversial areas, this is a sample of the fact that: The Bradley type wants zero criticism, under any circumstances.
They call umps "Rabbit Ears" when they're just looking for something to take offense at. Go to south L.A. and tell a stranger on the street something that he perceives as disrespect. You see the nature of the problem? :- )
Just don't criticize Bradley, ever, even when he messes up, and your chances go way up.
That's more feasible than it sounds. Bradley wants to win and he's a driven player. Just pretend he's a second Ichiro speaking a different language, or something.
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Comments
That is a difference-maker.
Perhaps as Griffey did for Ichiro in 2009, he'll do for Bradley in 2010. And it's especially important with them sharing DH time.
I jest, of course ;) Everyone on the internet likes to downplay it, but seriously..draw up the ideal situation for Milton Bradley to regain his focus and will to thrive, and you couldn't *POSSIBLY* do a better job than the 2009-2010 Seattle Mariners.
Keeping Ol' Man Grif around might just pay off on the field after all, eh?
One thought I had is that with Bradley around, you figure all the lovefest stories-tickles, etc.-will be gone in '10, which will be refreshing for some. I read today in an old ESPN story that his dad-technically that is-named him while his mom was in recovery from childbirth: "Charlina Rector dated a man named Milton in the late 1970s but says she broke off their engagement because she claims he was hooked on cocaine. When she gave birth to their son in April 1978, she was still unconscious when Bradley filled out the birth certificate without her permission. He wanted a Junior, and made damn sure he got one."
If Junior dive-bombs onto Milton Bradley in the outfield and tickles him, we're going to see some real action in Safeco.
;- )
That's an amazing story about MB's name, Arne. And have heard that Milton keeps his name to remind himself of his lousy past, and to spur himself on even harder.
Milton Bradley ain't Vin Baker or Shawn Kemp, that's for sure.