Come To Think of It: Milton Bradley's Comments Honest but Not Necessarily Smart

So the Chicago Cubs newest outfielder, and the switch-hitting savior who will take us into the postseason with a vengeance, Milton Bradley, wasn't always that hurt last year when he couldn't play.

At least that's what one could surmise form Bradley's latest comments to the Fort-Worth Star Telegram.

Here is the damaging quote:

"If I'm being paid, and I've got the commitment to me that I give to them, you make more of an effort to be out there every day.  When you're on one-year deals constantly, you've got to put up as good numbers as you can. When you have days where you’re not feeling like you can contribute, you're not going to go out there, because you’re not going to want your numbers to suck.  So, if you're in a situation like I am now, if they want me to go out there when I'm feeling a little banged up, I've got no problem doing that because they've made the commitment to me."

So, he was not really that hurt but just didn't want to mess up his stats since he was on a one-year deal? Well, he may get points for honesty but is that really an advisable thing to say?

From a PR standpoint, something that The Game clearly has never concerned himself with, the comment seems self-serving and portrays him as a selfish player.

Can you imagine A-Rod being this blunt?

"Yes, I took steroids, ever since high school, in fact. And I still take HGH and some designer 'roids that are undetectable by MLB testing. I knew exactly what I was taking; I did plenty of research and made sure to pick chemicals that wouldn't bulk me up that much. Am I sorry? Only that I got caught."

Or should we be glad that we can now expect Bradley to be more available for the Cubs due to the commitment they have shown him?

Look, from the start I thought this was a questionable signing. Mostly due to health concerns, but also because of his volatile personality.

I worry about clubhouse chemistry without Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa and with a Milton Bradley.

I worry about how the Wrigley Field faithful will treat Milt if he doesn't perform well or says the wrong thing. Remember, we love our players but we can be a tough crowd at times.

I was at games where Carlos Zambrano was strongly booed.

I attended games when I thought some fans were going to come out of the bleachers and physically assault Jacque Jones.

And Jim Hendry needs this signing to work out, especially since his last two major free-agent deals haven't worked out so well thus far (Soriano and Fukudome).

Meanwhile, no matter what happens, we are likely going to have Bradley for three years. All he has to do is play in 75 games in 2009 to guarantee the final two years of his three-year deal.

Why did Jim Hendry agree to only 75 games? Does he consider that a fair return on his investment? Is that the break-even point for earning $10 million per year?

Can you imagine going to a perspective employer and telling him you will work less than half of the year for a full year's pay?

Don't get me wrong, I love Bradley's OBP and his edginess may actually be good for a team that was perhaps too nice last year, if that makes any sense. We could use some fire and passion.

But most of all, we need a healthy and productive Milton Bradley. But better  watch that third year when he's on the last year of his deal, come to think of it.

Judging by his comments, he may get the "Blue Flu" a lot in 2011.