"I'm Milton Bradley, Know What I'm Saying?"

Good luck with that, Chicago.

almost 3 years ago RD74 23 comments 0 recs |

Comments

You neglected the second part of his quote. "…You expect me to be crazy and throw stuff and do whatever."

Obviously the guy gets more scrutinized than any other player for his interactions with anything, fair or not. Anymore I think of him as basketball’s version to Ron Artest.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on May 15, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

As far as I can tell, nobody’s stopping him from adopting a strategy of “STFU and play.” He’s Milton Bradley, know what I’m saying?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 15, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

So when he gets baited like by the likes of Ryan Lefebvre and umpires he shouldn’t react?

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on May 15, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

That depends what he’s trying to achieve. If he’s being treated unfairly, he’s not going to get past it by doing things “to prove a point” and “on principle.” Lots of players conduct themselves with dignity by choosing not to rise to the bait. His only options are to become one of those guys, or to continue as he has for his whole career. What does he want for himself, for his teammates and fans, for his family?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 15, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

He is being treated unfairly, but he couldn’t become one of dignified guys if he wanted. It’s part of his makeup.

by odradek on May 15, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with this. Its easy and all to slap expectations on a person to be something he/she is not currently, but most of this is personality, he’s quite temperamental. Personality is something a person is not something they can change like a pair of socks. On the flip side, Jay’s right that he can learn different behaviors to use in response to perceived slights against him, and maybe he has, apart from his verbal spats, he’s been able to avoid any actual physical altercations since that incident in SD (I think that was the last one right?). People say stupid stuff, but if he’s able to control his behaviors I’d say thats progress for him (And lets just get this out of the way here, getting thrown out of a game for arguing a call is an acceptable behavior as much as fighting is in the NHL). But he’ll never be “one of the dignified guys” as odradek points out, its simply not in his personality make up, expecting him too be is pointless.

by hans on May 15, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Minor correction, personality can change for an adult through a brain/head related injury. Or you know, a good ’ole lobotomy.

by hans on May 15, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s just so predictable. Even when he’s in the right he can be provoked and that hurts his usefulness. Once he grows up a bit, lumps it a few times, people will lay off of him and he’ll be free to become the big offensive force he’s capable of becoming. Or not.

by MTF on May 15, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

He isn’t going to grow up. That’s part of who he is, part of his drive. That’s why he killed the Indians last year, glaring everytime he passed the Indians’ dugout (which was quite a few times, as I recall).

by odradek on May 15, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know if it’s really part of his drive. People use excuses like that all the time, but there isn’t necessarily any substance to the claim.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 15, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

My presumption is based on how intensely he plays against the Indians, which I guess is a result of his perceived mistreatment at the hands of Wedge. Look at Milton’s career numbers against the Indians. There’s no substance to it, perhaps, but as conjecture there is support for it.

by odradek on May 16, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I could buy that parlays it into success against the Indians, but I don’t know that that kind of thing can really drive someone all year long. We have all kinds of stories that tell us romantically that it does, but I tend to think the only drive that is sustainable is innate.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 16, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree that it wouldn’t be sustainable. Cobb was supposedly driven by anger, but he clearly had a powerful innate drive.

by odradek on May 16, 2009 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s just feeding these guys by rising to the bait. Reacting to them will not make them go away.

by Ryan on May 15, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

This is a very rational point, but I bet he doesn’t see it that way (which is the problem and the reason why its pointless to expect this to change any time soon).

by hans on May 15, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Who exactly has that expectation?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 15, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

anyone who acts surprised that he screwed up again I guess, or anyone making suggestions on what he should do to stop from being targeted by the media.

by hans on May 16, 2009 5:36 AM EDT up reply actions

And who is that?

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on May 16, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the guy is just a mentally ill person who can hit the ball.

by Toxicadam on May 15, 2009 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

Milty Being Milty.

Sometimes, I just like to b****.

by emd2k3 on May 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve always wondered if it would be good for Milton to talk to Albert Belle. Belle appeared to at least have managed his internal rage enough to channel it mostly to playing the game. He took his anger out on baseballs. Maybe he could give Bradley a few pointers.

by mpstable on May 15, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions