POTD Achilles, Off-Field - 2
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.
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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.
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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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