The Milton Bradley Game

From day one I’ve not been in favor of the Milton Bradley signing. I’m a firm believer in clubhouse chemistry and I also favor high-character guys over the self-centered gaudy statistics guy.

Basically, Milton Bradley doesn’t fit on my team, never will.

Of course, come September I hope M.B. proves me wrong. And, if that’s the case, I’ll fess up to striking out on this one, which, is only fair if you’re going to say ‘I told you so.’

But here we are, 11 games into the Milton Bradley era and the Cubs are getting exactly what they signed up for…injuries, ejections and distractions.

Geez, three-years and $30 million dollars more to go.

A look at Bradley’s time line with Chicago: injured after six games, ejected for bumping an umpire during the Cubs’ ninth game and finally, an appeal of his two-game suspension after the club’s 10th game.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

Yet, here’s the rub. We know Bradley is nursing a sore groin, so if he simply takes responsibility for his actions and serves his two-game suspension it does little harm to the Cubs’ lineup. After all, due to his injury, Milton isn’t going to play anyway. Case closed.

But not Milton, oh no, he’s appealing this bad boy…even if it comes at the team’s expense down the road.

Sure, Milton had every right to be upset with home plate umpire Larry Vanover’s missed calls Thursday. BUT YOU CAN’T BUMP THE UMPIRE, PERIOD!

Milton has no leverage in his appeal and it doesn’t matter what the calls were behind the plate…YOU CAN’T BUMP AN UMPIRE.

Cubs say they support Bradley’s decision to appeal the suspension…but, what other option do the Cubs have….they’re left to coddle Bradley for years to come.

The Cubs have one agenda this season, that being a return to post season play and winning games in October. To do this you need all 25 guys working on the same page and buying into the ultimate goal of winning a championship.

As I said before the season…if there’s anything keeping the Cubs from reaching its ultimate goal it could very well be the starting right fielder.