Cubs Suspend Milton Bradley

The Chicago Cubs have suspended right fielder Milton Bradley for the remainder of the 2009 season. 

After a tense season filled with tirades against Cubs fans and the media, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry told the Chicago Tribune, "The last few days became too much for me to tolerate."  

The suspension came after Bradley pulled himself out of game versus the Cardinals Saturday and pulled himself out of a game without a pinch runner ready after getting a hit earlier in the week.

In an interview Saturday, Bradley told Bruce Miles, of the Daily Herald, "It's just not a positive environment. I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment. There's too many people everywhere in your face with a microphone asking the same questions repeatedly. Everything is just bashing you. You got out there and you play harder than anybody on the field and never get credit for it. It's just negativity. And you understand why they haven't won in 100 years here, because it's negative."  When asked by Bruce Miles if he was referring to the media, Cubs fans, or other members of the organization, Bradley responded, "It's everything. It's everybody."

This season, Bradley was suspended in April for bumping an umpire and had a confrontation in the dugout with manager Lou Piniella at U.S. Cellular Field on the southside of Chicago in June.  In August, Bradley caused a snafu when he spoke of "the hatred" he had to face on a daily basis.