Indians Milton Bradley - Doesnt Run-out Pop-up then Walks out of Camp.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Milton Bradley might soon be someone else's center fielder -- and problem. The Cleveland Indians have apparently had enough of his antics.
The club is trying to trade Bradley, who was barred from Cleveland's training camp Thursday, one day after he was pulled from an exhibition game by manager Eric Wedge for not running out a pop fly that fell for a hit.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro has discussed a trade involving Bradley with as many as eight teams, and "four or five are legitimate and serious."
Bradley was expected to start in the Indians' outfield and bat cleanup this season. But the 25-year-old outfielder, who has a troubled history on and off the field, will play elsewhere once the Indians can strike a deal.
"It's unfortunate where we are right now, but we have to do what's best for the ballclub," Wedge said.
Although the season opener is Monday, Shapiro said there is no timetable to make a trade. The Indians are at a disadvantage because teams know they want to make a deal, but having so many involved actually helps Cleveland, he said.
On Wednesday, Bradley was removed from a game against Houston in the third inning for not running hard on a second-inning popup that dropped for a single. Bradley was told quietly by Wedge that he needed to be on second base. Bradley responded, and while it was not a shouting match, the disrespect he showed for his manager in front of his teammates forced management's hand.
Bradley showered and dressed quickly after being pulled and took a 45-minute cab ride from Kissimmee to his rented spring training home. He came to Chain of Lakes Park on Thursday to retrieve his SUV and drove out of the Indians' training complex at 9:30 a.m.
Bradley's agent, Seth Levinson, said his client left camp with the "understanding and agreement of the front office" so the sides could weigh their options.
Bradley was pulled from a game last season for not running out a ball and having a verbal confrontation with Wedge in the dugout.
Shapiro would not characterize the most recent exchange between Bradley and Wedge. However, the GM said the club expects its players to display "passion, professionalism and respect."
"There is a line that they can't cross," Shapiro said. "You have to make sure that line is meaningful."
In addition to going on the disabled list four times in the past two seasons, Bradley has had other problems.
Last year, he had run-ins with Los Angeles catcher Paul Lo Duca and Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi. Bradley also threw his helmet and bat in the direction of plate umpire Bruce Froemming.
Bradley had baseball cards of Lo Duca and Giambi above his locker this spring.
In February, Bradley was sentenced to three days in jail for driving away from police after being stopped for speeding.
However, until his misstep for not hustling, Bradley had seemingly turned the corner on his troubled past.
He spent the winter in Cleveland working out and arrived in camp in great shape, promising to have a better attitude. The Indians seemed relieved by his turnaround, which is why both Wedge and Shapiro seemed so upset.
Bradley signed a $1.73 million, one-year contract in November with the Indians, who were counting on him to be a productive everyday player. He was having a solid 2003 season before hurting his back and missing the final six weeks.

wil.

him and carl everett would make a stellar 1-2 punch both playing OF

Funk,
I still hope Borat will take him #1, then Poochie in the 2nd round Saturday.

after my experience with Parker brothers? no thanks you!

Dammit, I heard you are the sixth best Monopoly player in Kazakhstan.

Wow!! A major league player that didn't run out a pop up!! Jeez, never thought I'd see the day that something like that would happen!!

Someone please fill me in here. Is there any player in the major leagues that DOES run out pop ups??!! Consistently??!! Pete Rose may have been the last one.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but IMO the problem is that there isn't a coach or manager or GM in all of baseball with nads big enough to say anything to a player UNTIL the player's lack of hustle causes a team an extra base. Well, its TOO LATE THEN!! How can you expect a player to run out every pop, if he is never told it is UNACCEPTABLE when the pop is CAUGHT??!! A player can throw down the bat, walk toward first, mumble at the ground, and then walk off the field 30 pop ups in a row and nothing at all would be said. But the first time one of these pop ups drops, everyone acts all indignent toward the player.

Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way defending the players actions, here. But I also believe that the people running these teams have no one to blame but themselves that this stuff is so commonplace today. Hell, it's not only tolerated, it's even encouraged - check out the neverending new ways players invent to pose in the batters box after thinking they've hit a home run. I mean, you know these guys are "working" on their poses during practice.

Now granted, Bradley is probably getting more flack for his angry reaction to being scolded, than he is for not hustling. But, once again, what kind of reaction do you expect from a pampered star when you as manager, make it a practice to look the other way at incident after incident of dogging it involving every player on the team, then suddenly jump down the star player's throat when HIS lack of hustle costs the team??

The whole situation is sickening to me. I am convinced that EVERY TEAM in baseball loses at least 3 to 5 games every year due to inexcusable incidents of dogging it, or posing. This easily could be the difference between making the playoffs or going home, yet not a single team will address the problem. I'd love to see one of these rebuilding teams full of young, not yet tainted, players come out and start a precedent this year of all out hustle in every circumstance. What a breath of fresh air that would be. Who knows. It might even start a trend.

Running out pop ups is simply not cool. It is such a 50's and 60's uncool thing to do. Look the major league minimum salary was $12,500 in 1967.

Hell those poor slave bastards back then HAD to runout pop ups and couldn't worry about whether it was cool or not. I mean with the reserve clause and the one year contracts what would you expect. They Had to give 100%. Phuck that sheeet!!

MD Kid: All you need to do is watch the Kansas city Royals play, at least last year they hustled damn near every time. I expect Juan Gonzalez will be given the no hustle approval since he is so injury prone this year but they were so much fun to watch last year because of how hard they played. Tony Pena is awesome.

Mr. Jones - sadly I think you're right. The majority of players think they look stupid sprinting around the bases on easy popups. If only they thought about how stupid they look when their pop up is dropped while they're standing between home and first only to be tagged out by the pitcher after picking up the dropped ball.

RF - the Royals are NEVER on here in Maryland, so I will have to take your word on this. I still am doubtful that even your hustling Royals consistently run out (I'm talking full out sprint, not a 3/4 half arsed run) routine pop ups and fly balls.

While on this topic, I'm reminded of a player from a few years back named Lance Johnson. Lance was a marginal player at best, with little power and pretty good, but not great speed. What was amazing about Lance, though, was that he led or was close to the league leader in triples almost every season of his career. In fact he led the AL in triples a major league record four consecutive seasons. I had the pleasure of watching Lance play for my team (Mets) one season, and I quickly found out why he was always on top in triples. Unlike nearly every other player, Johnson busted his arse out of the batters box on every fair ball he hit, never watching it or posing or slamming his bat in disgust. Compare Johnson to someone like Miguel Tejada. Tejada has gone his last 2 full seasons, totaling 1298 AB's, without hitting one triple. And Tejada, with 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts during this same time period, can NOT be excused for just being slow. It is a shame that Johnson is the exception and not the rule.

Bradley's latest trouble was only triggered by the base running faux pas. The real problem came when his manager Eric Wedge mildly reprimanded him.

"On Wednesday, Bradley was removed from a game against Houston in the third inning for not running hard on a second-inning popup that dropped for a single. Bradley was told quietly by Wedge that he needed to be on second base. Bradley responded, and while it was not a shouting match, the disrespect he showed for his manager in front of his teammates forced management's hand."


wil.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired troubled outfielder Milton Bradley from the Cleveland Indians on Sunday for a minor leaguer and a player to be named.

Bradley, the Indians' cleanup hitter, was barred from Cleveland's training camp Thursday, one day after he was pulled from an exhibition game by manager Eric Wedge for not running out a pop fly. He then was optioned to the minors.
Cleveland received outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, 21, the Dodgers' minor league player of the year last season, when he hit .282 with 20 homers and 68 RBIs for Class-A Vero Beach.
"It's disappointing it didn't work out here," Wedge said before Sunday's exhibition game against Philadelphia. "We feel like we have to handle this thing appropriately and that's what we're trying to do."

Bradley signed a $1.73 million, one-year contract in November with the Indians, who were counting on him to be a productive everyday player. He was having a solid 2003 season before hurting his back and missing the final six weeks.
Bradley was pulled from a game last season for not running out a ball and having a confrontation with Wedge in the dugout.

In addition to going on the disabled list four times in the past two seasons, Bradley has had other problems.

Last year, he had run-ins with Los Angeles catcher Paul Lo Duca and Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi. Bradley also threw his helmet and bat in the direction of plate umpire Bruce Froemming.
Bradley had baseball cards of Lo Duca and Giambi above his locker this spring.
In February, Bradley was sentenced to three days in jail for driving away from police after being stopped for speeding. In 2001, Bradley was taken to a hospital by emergency medical workers after refusing to leave a restaurant because he was drunk.

He seemed to turn the corner until Wednesday. Bradley was removed from a game against Houston for not running hard on a second-inning popup that dropped for a single.