TRADED: Milton Bradley (Cleveland Indians) for Franklin Gutierrez (Los Angeles Dodgers AAA)

"today"

Bradley was ejected by home plate umpire Terry Craft moments after stepping into the batter's box to lead off the sixth.

Bradley, who missed the previous two games because of a sore left ankle, had to be restrained by manager Jim Tracy. He then removed his batting gloves and left them near home plate with his bat and helmet before putting up his hands in disgust and walking to the dugout.

"Milton's a high-energy type guy with a short fuse, and he gets frustrated," said Dave Roberts, who replaced Bradley in center field. "He's going to be provoked in certain situations, but the bottom line is that he's got to understand that we need him on the field. Sometimes you've got to take the high road."

Once in the dugout, Bradley grabbed the ball bag from the top step and hurled the contents onto the field before throwing one of the balls to the warning track in left field. Tracy was then ejected by second base umpire and crew chief Joe West, who one night earlier called a balk on Odalis Perez that led to a run.

“Like rice at a wedding, Milton Bradley is throwing baseballs onto the field.”

- Vin Scully, 9 p.m.

Who started it? Depends on your definition of the term, but unless umpire Terry Craft’s statements that Bradley had been riding him are completely inaccurate, you might have to point the finger at Bradley.

“He was arguing a pitch I called against him earlier and he had argued a pitch on another batter from the dugout,” said Craft on Dodgers.com. “When he came to the plate, I told him he had better think twice before yelling at me from the dugout. Then he went off on me and I ejected him.”

The reports indicate that Craft and second-base umpire Joe West were particularly proactive in trying to keep Bradley quiet, and who knows if they’re gifted and sensitive communicators or not.

Anyway, in Craft’s opinion, Bradley had given him just about enough. Craft gave Bradley a warning, and the warning itself ignited Bradley. Unless the warning was more than a warning - unless it was truly incendiary - the idea that Bradley was provoked, as Jim Tracy said after the game, is questionable.

I’m capable of a level of anger that sometimes surprises myself, so I can relate to that feeling of injustice Bradley must have had. Even if he was provoked - and I say this dispassionately - he should find a way to handle it better.

“I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t lose it when provoked,” Tracy said. Sure enough - but it’s how you lose it that is worth examining.

Perhaps, in his mind, Bradley’s anger was a display of civil disobedience against an entity abusing its power.

I can find no such explanation for the behavior of some fans after the ejection. I’d like any of those who threw something on the field Tuesday night to explain to me a possible justification for doing so. Really - I just want to understand, because it utterly perplexes me.

******************
From the comments section:

My pet theory is that the ump was making fun of Bradley for not knowing how many outs there were when he caught the fly ball to end the previous inning. (This might be one reason why Bradley was repeatedly gesturing #2 with his hand after the ejection -- like a peace sign, only without the peace.)

...

Interesting theory - we'll see. I observed (with the help of Vinny) that Milton was upset about a called Strike 2 against him in the previous at-bat, right after Paul Lo Duca was ruled (correctly, according to the replay, but not without an argument with the same umpire) to have struck out swinging on a pitch that hit him in the arm.

...

West's only involvement in the incident was that he was the one who picked up Bradley's bat and helmet from the home plate area and handed them off to someone next to the Dodger dugout. He also picked up the infamous ball bag and tossed it at the Dodger batboy, presumably with some choice remarks included.

Last night Vinny was speculating that Tracy was upset with the way West handed off Bradley's bat and helmet. Except Vinny erroneously thought the items had been given to a security guard, when in fact West handed them to someone in a Panama Hat. (Brito? Couldn't see the face.)

It could also be that West's tossing of the ball bag prompted a few remarks from Tracy about his balk call the previous night.

:O

The Guillen stuff should come out at the hearing, if the Angels have a case.

PS Beat LA.

The wrath of god is also the only excuse for the Dodgers abysmal showing against COLORADO last night.

http://www.mondopolitico.com/discus/messages/464/1757.html?1091706221

During an hour-long interview, Paul DePodesta mentions convictions often, and reveals the famous novelist, Ayn Rand, and the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, as individuals who have had influences on his life.

"I have DVDs on Ayn Rand and have read most of her books," he says of the author whose most acclaimed book, "The Fountainhead," stressed the virtue of American individualism. "Howard Roark (the main character in 'The Fountainhead') was a guy loyal to his own ideals and principles and he eventually triumphs over every form of spiritual collectivism. He had big . . ."

???

I think LA should keep him if you ask me. I dont think they'll be able to pick up jack shit for him with all his injuries and insane ramblings. They might just release him outright.

Bradley has this tendency for late-season hysteria... isn't this like the 3rd year running with some Aug/Sep incident of note?

One of the LA Times writers uses this incident to really tear into DePo today too..

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke26aug26,0,7627483.column?coll=la-home-sports

that said, i don't think he's a RANDIAN.

RF - Shawn Green
CF - Steve Finley
LF - Milton Bradley/Jayson Werth
1B - ?
2B - Alex Cora
SS - Cesar Izturis
3B - Adrian Beltre
C - Paul Lo Duca

Plaschke hates Depo because he's anti 'chemistry' (trading Mota, Lo Duca, etc for Choi and Penny) and he's tied to McCourt, who all Times writers hate with a fiery passion. Thats one thing thats interesting about this article is that its probably one of the first flattering depictions of McCourt ever. Assuming its just lip service, it might be a smart move by him to finally get in the press' good graces.

To me this style of reporting seems more suited for politics rather than sports.

Kent, Bradley: assholes, so obviously they are killing "team chemistry"
Lowe, Penny: pitching okay, but nothing special, especially considering Dodger Stadium.
D. Navarro: nice that he's been called up, but not exactly hitting the cover off the ball
Phillips: Sucks real bad even though Tracy seems to love him
Choi: Can't get playtime because Tracy hates Koreans
Drew: Injured "just as we predicted! Probably has a hangnail!"

Plaschke doesn't seem to even begin to understand payroll concerns.

Police have responded to the Redondo Beach home of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley three times this summer on domestic violence calls, including one instance in which he allegedly choked his pregnant wife, bloodied her lip and hurled a cellular telephone into a wall.

On Monday, Bradley – out for the season with a knee injury and not accompanying the team to Chicago – angrily dispatched a reporter from his driveway.

“You come here snooping around,” he yelled from his upstairs balcony. “Get off my property. Write that down. Get off my property.”

No charges were filed against Bradley or his wife stemming from any of the three police responses. In two of the cases, police officers counseled the couple. In a third, Bradley was not home when police arrived.

Bradley’s wife, who was four months pregnant at the time, told officers she and her husband had argued about “relationship issues.” Bradley, she said, grabbed her right hand and pushed it against her mouth, causing her to hit herself. The inside of her lip began to bleed, the crime report said.

He then grabbed her cellular telephone from a bedroom table and threw it toward a wall. The phone hit a headboard, struck the wall and shattered into several pieces, the report said.

Bradley picked up the phone and walked into the hallway, followed by his wife.

“Victim said her husband turned around and used his right forearm and pushed her against the wall,” an officer wrote. “Victim stated (Bradley’s) forearm was against her throat and she was having a difficult time breathing.”

When Bradley let go of her, she ran to the bathroom and vomited.

“Victim said her husband went around the house and picked up all the cell phones, house phones, her car keys and credit cards and left the location,” the report said.

A police officer said Bradley’s wife was crying and upset when she answered the door. Her lip was bleeding.

Officers found a scuff mark on the headboard and a small dent in the drywall above the bed from where the cellular telephone hit, the report said.

Bradley DFA'd by the A's, where will he go next?

Commenter on the Susan Slusser blog post claims he threw some chairs after a meeting with Geren and Beane. Apparently there is a chance he could clear waivers and go through to Sacto, given his injuries.

Call me crazy, but I'd be happy if the Padres grabbed the guy. He's a bit of an upgrade from Hiram Bocachica.

Call Milton Bradley crazy, you mean.

I thought he threw the chairs after getting into argument about a called third strike call yesterday. Either way I seriously doubt Beane is DFAing anyone for throwing chairs.

I'm a little sad. I like Bradley, but I can understand the A's getting frustrated and finally having enough with injuries esp. since dude looks like he's carrying about 20-30 extra pounds.

:(

TRADED: Milton Bradley (Oakland A's) for Leo Nunez (Kansas City Royals)

UNTRADED: Milton Bradley (Oakland A's) for etc.

:(

Actually Bradley is attempting to become a free agent and not play for the Kansas City Royals -- no?

Like "Agh! My liver, my liver!" -- amirite?

TRADED: Milton Bradley (Oakland A's) for a Minor League pitcher (San Diego Padres)

Comments

Let us pray...hopefully Bradley will be a Sheffield-type of pickup, rather than a poison pill for the Padres.
Posted by: Pat Thomas at June 28, 2007 09:11 PM

he's a banana peal. cut him loose now.
Posted by: Jane Doe at June 28, 2007 09:21 PM

Let's hope this "in principle" phrase allows the Padres to back out. This is the worst news I have heard all day. Why would anyone want to bring his kind of poison to such a great clubhouse?

He's hurt, a loud mouth and a negative human being. He's definitely not the type of ball player we want our sons and daughters to look up to.
Posted by: jerespoon at June 28, 2007 09:32 PM

Let's hope this "in principle" phrase allows the Padres to back out. This is the worst news I have heard all day. Why would anyone want to bring his kind of poison to such a great clubhouse?

He's hurt, a loud mouth and a negative human being. He's definitely not the type of ball player we want our sons and daughters to look up to.
Posted by: jerespoon at June 28, 2007 09:32 PM

Bradley has done some erratic things in the past, but he seemed to turn around in Oakland, bringing a very positive energy to that club. Give him a break and stop repeating the cliches (bordering on racism) that you hear on sensationalist sports media outlets like ESPN.
Posted by: laxile at June 28, 2007 09:52 PM

Bradley should be an upgrade, but he is not the player we were hoping for. I hope that the Pads consider bringing in an All Star type of player this year. Unfortunately Linebrink's and Meredith's stock has most likely declined.
Posted by: Orsborn at June 28, 2007 10:06 PM

This guy is a joke, his contributions have gone downhill within the past few years as well as trips to the disabled list.
Posted by: IloveSerene at June 28, 2007 11:50 PM

Ive moved back to the East Coast but Id really be interested in hearing Towers/Alderson expain this deal....Im sure both will spit out their best "psychobabble" about how this guy will benefit the team. I know Towers well enuf to know that he's gonna say something like, "Milton really showed up in the playoffs last year, and his glove is great...blah..blah...blah"
Posted by: Laurence Adams at June 29, 2007 06:10 AM

Milton Bradley...whatever. If this is the best they do before the trade deadline I will be hugely disappointed. We can expect a handful of 2-1 losses in the playoffs unless they make a better move than this.
Posted by: Jeff at June 29, 2007 07:26 AM

C'mon KT, I was expecting DYE , and we get BRADLEY and GILES?
Posted by: Alex at June 29, 2007 09:59 AM

Dye would be a nice pick up!
Posted by: Orsborn at June 29, 2007 10:33 AM

Happy to have him! Huge upgrade over Branyan/Cruz/Sledge. The Padre offense is slowly morphing toward respectability.

Let us pray...hopefully Bradley will be a Sheffield-type of pickup, rather than a poison pill for the Padres.

IRONY!

He would've been an upgrade in Detroit's left field, too. Monroe could've been dumped somewhere. And if Bradley were to get hurt, OH DAMN, someone like Marcus Thames (or Ryan Raburn) would've been given more playing time.

IRONY!

Well, contextually speaking, Sheffield was awesome for his entire tenure with the Padres, despite a bad reputation, so it makes sense from a Padres fan's p.o.v.

<i>C'mon KT, I was expecting DYE , and we get BRADLEY and GILES?
Posted by: Alex at June 29, 2007 09:59 AM</i>

Sigh. I'm so sick of having that same conversation with other Padres fans.

a warm welcome back to texas...
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mlb_experts__51/ept_sports_mlb_experts-679249787-1270900715.jpg

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/331636/bradleyfinger.PNG

O dang these dudes in a trade from 2004 are in the same OF now. Didnt realize that.

Everyone in the world hates Bradley except me.

I don't hate him either.

It's complicated.

I bought a Milton Bradley tshirt about 2 weeks before he self destructed and called Jeff Kent a racist. Its all my fault..

GOOD OL CHRIS PEREZ

C. Perez relieved F. Carmona
- J. Arias doubled to deep right center
- T. Teagarden reached on fielder's choice, J. Arias to third
- E. Andrus walked, T. Teagarden to second

& then they pulled him

whoops, apple + f "indians" made me post itt