Milton Bradley: A Bad Bad Man

It's official.  He's a bad, bad man.  Baseball's poster child for controversy finally got something right and announces what he feels is the obvious this time in an interview with AP Sportswriter Gregg Bell.  Milton states his case for being the premier bad guy in baseball and seemingly enjoys being so.

"If I was a musician, I'd be Kanye West. If I was in the NBA, I'd be Ron Artest," the 31-year-old former Expo, Indian, Dodger, Athletic, Padre, Ranger and Cub said this week. "In baseball, they've got Milton Bradley. I'm that guy. You need people like me, so you can point your finger and go, 'There goes the bad guy.'"

I'm always willing to give a guy a chance and don't believe a lot of hearsay, so when the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a 3 year $30M contract before the 2009 season my first reaction wasn't, "Ohh man, he's a bad dude", because truth be told, I don't know any baseball players personally.  I have no idea on a day to day basis whom is a good guy and whom is a bad guy, and I'd rather let performance do the talking.  Sure he's had run ins with umpires and managers and players, but maybe he's just someone who tries too hard and is misunderstood.  What made no sense to me was why the Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry would hand over a pile of cash to someone for a 3 year deal for that much money for someone whom in 10 seasons prior, had only two years of 60 RBI's or more, and only four of those years with 350 or more at bats.

Due to injuries and other reasons, Milton just doesn't play a full season, so why a 3 year deal for a volatile player who by his own admission, isn't a big hitter.  The Cubs already had long term contracts for players who are under-performing in Soriano and Zambrano, and were in the process of being sold, why add Milton to the roster when someone like Bobby Abreau was available at the time and signed for a one year deal for $5M with the Los Angeles Angels?  A one year deal with Milton I could understand.  A three year deal was unthinkable.  I know that GM Hendry wanted a left handed bat, which is why he traded Cubbie favorite Mark Derosa, however it needed to be noted that the multi-position DeRosa, who's not known as a "pure hitter" the way that Milton is, had his 3rd consecutive 70+ RBI season (besting Milton) and 21 HR and 86 RBI's in 2008. (photo by Jauerback, edited by BSOD)

By Milton's own account, he's not a big HR or RBI producer.  In an interview with the NY Times, Milton states:

“Two years ago, I played, and I was good,” Bradley said. “I go to Chicago, not good. I’ve been good my whole career. So, obviously, it was something with Chicago, not me.”

He added: “Just no communication. I never hit more than 22 homers in my career, and all of a sudden I get to Chicago and they expect me to hit 30. It doesn’t make sense. History tells you I’m not going to hit that many. Just a lot of things that try to make me a player I’m not.”

Milton says he's happy now that he's out of Chicago and with a team and city that wants him and that Chicago was the problem and not him.  I wish him well, I hope he succeeds in Seattle, but history tells me that he won't change, nor does he want too.  In the interview with Gregg Bell of the AP, Milton continues on...

"I had a teammate last year who said if I ever change, he'd kick my (rear)," Bradley said. "So I'm not changing. Everybody is not going to love you, no matter how you treat other people, no matter what you say. (I) never say anything bad about anybody. Somebody is always going to have something bad to say about you."

For the record, he's already been tossed from two spring training games for showing up / arguing with the umpire over the calls at the plate.

Forget Kanye West, Milton should set his sights on the MLB record of most franchises played of 12, set by both Mike Morgan and RonVillone.  Morgan and Villone were pitchers though, perhaps Milton could try for the now svelte Matt Stairs' record of 11.  Which could be 12, if Stairs makes the San Diego Padres 2010 opening day roster.  Assuming he stays healthy, Milton's stay with the Mariners will run out at the end of the 2011 season, so add another team then as his pattern doesn't seem to show him re-signing with his current team.

Today's BSOD comes from the World Wrestling Entertainment's very own John Cena.  John is a hip-hop musician  and actor who has appeared in the movies "The Marine" and "12 Rounds."



Baseball Song of the Day: 3/25/2010: Bad Bad Man
Artist: WWE John Cena and Tha Trademarc f/Bumpy Knuckles
Released: 2005

Bad Bad Man lyrics

Aww, you done did it now
Chaos you shoulda put this one in the vault man!
They not ready - they don't know what's comin man!
Oh we gonna drop this on 'em right here
Y'all ain't ready for this, Y'ALL AIN'T READY FOR NONE OF THIS!

Your boy's a bad man, and we invadin the streets
Make unclever rappers scurred, they be droppin the heat
Shocked the world, now I'm standin alone
I flip fools like them clamshell cellular phones
You can't help but nod your head to the track
Fuck the watered down rap, we be takin it back
Give it to me straight - ain't no chasin it
Check yourself in the mirror - ain't no facin it
Cause you, playin the role and you plannin to fold
This the masterplan, we got the planet on hold
We all over the streets like your favorite sneaker
Breakin up your sound like a drive-through speaker
Everything that I be spittin is strong
After I rock, fast forward through the rest of the song
We the monkeywrench, that's gonna ruin your plan
And don't fuck with John Cena - I'm a BAD, BAD MAN

[Chorus 2X: Bumpy Knuckles]
With the mic in my hands I'm a bad man
Even in a fight with the hands I'm a bad man
Livin in the streets all my life I'm a bad man
I'm a bad man, I'm a bad man

[Tha Trademarc]
We devils - rockin ambient levels
We set loose among hot tunes to instrumentals
And cats got one-liners, I drop several
And I think it's funny you choose, losin progress
or runnin in place; we makin moves, and y'all settle
I rip rappers and take responsibility
for makin future hall-of-famers look third rate
Y'all are lost for words like conversation on your worst first date
and ride beats, creep through side streets
Looseleaf notepads that's where rhymes leak
Punchlines - man, don't even beg
I got knee-slappin tracks, y'all brusin your leg
You a rhyme writer - funny man, that's a joke
You ain't worthy of bein my secretary man that's a quote
I flood tracks like cracks in boats
And pussy rappers choked up with they own lines in they throat

[Chorus]

[Bumpy Knuckles a.k.a. Freddie Foxxx]
TURN UP THE MICROPHONE and feed me I'm a beast
MC's and they beats is what I eat, 16 I'll leave you in the street
My rhymes are sicker than gangrene in both feet
It's spreadin up the leg, and headed for the head
Your rhymes are whack your style is proof that the brain corrosion
is fuckin with your chosen flows, I'm nice with mics
My hands'll break your nose like Mikey Tyson
Fightin in his prime, one rhyme
And I shake up the room one time, BOOM! To the jaw
Your face is a coat type raw
And the blood and snot they mix, jelly on the floor
My love is cop them bricks, belly on the floor
I rob you, you soft and you really ain't a problem
I solve you, 357 long nose revolve you
Acid in your face, bad look, dissolve you
I'm a bad, bad man

Yeah, check it out
It's Bumpy Knuckles baby
And I want you to say hello to the BAD, BAD, MAN - C'MON!