Milton Bradley?

by cirela20 on Dec 20, 2008 1:07 AM EST Comment 28 comments

What do guys think of signing Milton Bradley? Talented guy, troubled past, but seems to fit the power hitting left fielder profile. I haven't heard a lot about him this off season, so I don't know how much he's expected to fetch. Yes there are durability issues but I wouldn't mind having him for 100-120 games a year and use the other 40-62 to get the young guys some AB's.

P.S. he's a switch hitter, a good combo batting behind chipper?

0 recs | Comment 28 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

he was an OPS machine last year and could probably be had for a reasonable price, but i don’t see it happening. he doesn’t seem like the type of player bobby cox likes or tolerates, so i really don’t see him on the braves. we don’t need a clubhouse cancer on a rebuilidng club.
also, his BABIP was .396 last year. that’s out of control, he’s very likely to regress.

by FYFs LOBs on Dec 20, 2008 1:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

great name.

by get swoll yunel on Dec 21, 2008 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather have Milton Berle

I’m on fire tonight

by Land-Man on Dec 20, 2008 2:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

milton

Maybe some structure is just what bradley needs. He’s got tons of talent, maybe bobby can get it out of him.

by ATLBravesYouthMovement on Dec 20, 2008 2:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

42, 77, 98, 101, 141, 75, 96, 61, 126

Milton Bradley’s games played since his first season.

Structure isn’t what Mr. Bradley needs. What he needs is a good physical therapist.

Anyone who advocates for Milton “My manager busted my ACL” Bradley can not say anything about Ben Sheets.

Don’t get me wrong, I will take a guy who has a career OPS+ of 118, and whose OPS+ last year was 163 (!!!), but we have to be reasonable about his games played. Our OF offense was horrendous last year. Signing a guy like Bradley makes sense until he tears a calf muscle or pulls a hamstring. We can’t hide him at DH like the Rangers could last year. He’d have to play 130-140 games in LF in all likelihood. He has NEVER done that consistently. So, he blows a knee or whatnot, then we’re right back where we started, minus the XX million dollars we gave him.

If he’s relatively cheap, and willing to shut up long enough to not get kicked out the door of his seventh (!) organization, fine, sign him tomorrow. I may be cynical, but I am not holding my breath that he figures out how to be a teammate. Actions speak louder than words, and a seventh chance to make good is just a bridge too far. Terrel Owens is only on his third team, for Pujols’ sake.

by mburris1 on Dec 20, 2008 3:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe....

I would take anything right now…He is a switch hitter but I would stay away from a long term contract..Maybe 3years. I still want to give a run at Carlos Lee or Maggalio..

by AlRoBraves95 on Dec 20, 2008 9:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the same carlos lee represented by hitler & stalin? no thanks

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Dec 20, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NO CARLOS

by heap16 on Dec 20, 2008 8:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Never

the braves will not go after a clubhouse sore spot no more kenny lofton

by jjcollins on Dec 20, 2008 10:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Under the Radar

I just thought he might be a viable option because their aren’t any large market teams who seem to want his service. Judging by the reports submitted so far it looks like our biggest competition for him would come from Texas, a team that has both a lesser payroll and a less competitive team than us. Frankly we’ve seen much better Braves teams than this one get desperate on the FA market. Even under JS, remember Raul Mondesi, Mark Redman, and ’06 Brian Jordan.

by cirela20 on Dec 20, 2008 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rays

I think the Rays have interest as well, and could use him as a DH and keep him off his knee. I’ve also read that the Cubs were looking at him for LF.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Dec 20, 2008 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You remember that time.....

That Bradley got injured arguing a call at first base? I think it was the tail-end of last season, but the dude actually hurt himself yelling at an umpire, and dancing around afterwards. Wow

by bravesguy311 on Dec 22, 2008 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not quite

It was the end of 2007 and Bradley wasn’t arguing a call. He was being baited by the umpire, who was actually suspended for his actions. He was hurt when his coach/manager basically tackled him, not jumping around.

by scstrato on Dec 22, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WHAT A FIREBRAND ASSHOLE

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Dec 22, 2008 9:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m afraid that one is over my head bigjoe.

by scstrato on Dec 22, 2008 9:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Im sorry....

I thought he got injured arguing a call at first, and as it turns out, he got injured arguing a call at first base. My bad

by bravesguy311 on Dec 23, 2008 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't be a dick

I was merely correcting your misguided statement. Judge Bradley on his past if you want, but the fact is this particular incident does not fit the bill. The incident occurred after Bradley singled and started getting his lead off first base. Are you telling me he was arguing with the umpire whether it was actually a hit?

by scstrato on Dec 23, 2008 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not trying to be a jerk, and I wasnt passing any judgement on the man, and shit I would actually love for him to be in our lineup, if he could stay healthy. I was just saying the guy got injured arguing a call. not often does that happen, and given his injury-ridden past, its makes comical that it could actually happen in such a silly way.

by bravesguy311 on Dec 23, 2008 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Both of you are retards

Neither of you contributed anything to the post and I would rather have Bradley for however long he can stay healthy than Matt Diaz and a prospect for 162 games

by cirela20 on Dec 23, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Your post however was very enlightening

by bravesguy311 on Dec 23, 2008 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm turning a new leaf

Rather than rip into you, as you so very much deserve, I’m going to take a different approach and tell you I’m sorry for not contributing to your post. So let’s see, where to start.

1. As most people have mentioned, Bradley has a history of being a club-house cancer. I for one don’t think it’s fair to dismiss Bradley for this simply because he’s only had one such instance, where he was the instigator, since he left San Diego. I’m referring to him wanting to storm the TV booth after hearing the ridiculous comments of a TV analyst who was clearly trying to make a name for himself. Regardless, I give him a thumbs up in this area.

2. Injury history – Bradley simply can’t stay on the field. He’s played exactly more than 130 games ONCE in his entire career, that was way back in 2004 in case you were wondering. Also a minus is the fact that he barely played 126 games this past year primarily as a DH. His body won’t let him play the field for any length of time. Consider this, Chipper Jones has played in more games every year the past 4 seasons and you know how fragile he is. What does this say for Bradley … thumbs down.

3. Performance – don’t let his 2008 numbers fool you. His stats were very much inflated by playing in that bandbox down in Texas. Home splits (.358/.466/.679/1.145) vs away splits (290/.410/.462/.872). So you can guarantee he won’t perform any where near his ridiculous 2008 OPS again, not unless he re-signs in Texas. Thumbs down.

4. Cost – Bradley and his agent have publicly stated that it will take a 3 year contract of more than 10mil/per. This is a player who is looking to cash in on his severely inflated 2008 performance. Not to mention the fact that a three year deal will likely block our talented prospects chances. Thumbs down.

In summary, you are advocating signing a historically injured player to play in approximately 90 to 100 games (if that) to a three year deal in order to get his slightly above average performance in the lineup? In case you were wondering, moving from Texas to Atlanta will reduce his stats back down to his career norms – (.280/.370/.457/827).

Was that enough contribution for you?

by scstrato on Dec 23, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff…but you forgot that his BABIP last season was like 60 points higher than it is for his career (including last season)

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Dec 23, 2008 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought about including that but felt I shouldn’t raise the discussion to a level beyond his/her understanding.

by scstrato on Dec 23, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

since when is a .872 OPS a bad thing?

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Dec 23, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t twist my words. An .872 OPS over 90 games is NOT worth a guaranteed 10 mil per year over three years. I would take that production over a full season for that price anytime, but you know as well as I do that’s not what we would get.

by scstrato on Dec 23, 2008 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i’d rather have an 872 OPS over 100 games and a 650 OPS over 62 games than a 650 OPS over 162 games

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Dec 23, 2008 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In the last four years when Bradley has played the field he has not played more than 90 games in a season. Last year he did manage to make it through 126 but that was primarily as a DH. That’s too big of a risk to guarantee a three year contract to. Yes, I too would like to have the production you mentioned but only if the cost was right. We can use that 10 mil much more wisely.

by scstrato on Dec 23, 2008 7:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs